It may further be pointed out that legislation against homosexuality has
no clear effect either in diminishing or increasing its prevalence. This
must necessarily be so as regards the kernel of the homosexual group, if
we are to regard a considerable proportion of cases as congenital. In
France homosexuality _per se_ has been untouched by the law for a century;
yet it abounds, chiefly, it seems, among the lowest in the community;
although the law is silent, social feeling is strong, and when--as has
been the case in one instance--a man of undoubted genius has his name
associated with this perversion it becomes difficult or impossible for the
admirers of his work to associate with him personally; very few cases of
homosexuality have been recorded in France among the more intelligent
classes; the literature of homosexuality is there little more than the
literature of male prostitution, as described by police-officials, and as
carried on largely for the benefit of foreigners. In Germany and Austria,
where the law against homosexuality is severe, it abounds also, perhaps
to a much greater extent than in France;[272] it certainly asserts itself
more vigorously; a far greater number of cases have been recorded than in
any other country, and the German literature of homosexuality is very
extensive, often issued in popular form, and sometimes enthusiastically
eulogistic.
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