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ACTION AGAINST HATEFUL BROADCASTER The Australian Broadcasting Tribunal in Sydney recently found against the city's local radio. Radio 2GB and its broad­casters John Pearce on the grounds of "inciting or perpetu­ating hatred against, or gratu­itously vilifying a person or group on the basis of sexual preference." The Tribunal noted that it had 13 complaints about a pro­gramme of Pearce's aired by 2GB on 15th January last year. In it Pearce discussed the subject of "gay bathhouses" (saunas) with particular reference to the then pending planning applica­tion by a sauna called Roman Spa to open a venue in Sydney's Oxford Street. The telephone debate which en­sued included numerous verbal attacks on gay men both by Pearce and many of the callers, whose attitudes Pearce actively encouraged.

DANCING QUEENS Gay people are no longer wel­come in the Sao Paolo Munici­pal Ballet School, where the city Mayor, Janio Quadres, has stationed police outside the door to prevent dancers who 'look queer' from getting in. The directress of the school, Mariana Natal, called in the Mayor when she felt that gays were damaging the good name of her school, but didn't know how to tell them apart from the rest. This request fitted in nicely with the Mayor's 'cleaning up' of the city's institutions. As a result of the ensuing purge, 72 of the enrolled 80 male dancers are no longer tip-toeing through Ballet School. For the Mayor, not only does this pro­mote wholesome community values, it should also help him with his other professional ob­jective, cutting back the city deficit by reduced public spend­ing. With no gay ballet dancers, he'll have to close down the school and the local performing arts theatre.

GAY DOCTOR JAILED Dr. Ivan Toms, the gay South African anti-apartheid activist of long standing, has been imprisoned for refusing to serve in the South African Army. Dr. Toms is a founder member of the Cape Town based Lesbians and Gays Against Oppression, a non-racial gay organisation in South Africa. On March 3rd the doctor was sent to prison for 21 months after refusing to serve in the South African Defense Force. The military authorities have waged a viciously homophobic campaign against Dr. Toms since he made his stand against conscription. Although he is appealing the decision he has not been granted bail and it looks unlikely that his appeal will succeed. Messages of support would be gratefully accepted and should be sent c/o Nurse Pat Orpen, 28 Bell Road, Kenilworth, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa. More news in issue 3.

MEN OF ALL COLOURS Men of All Colours Together, New York (MACT, NY) moved last month into their own room at the Lesbian and Gay Commu­nity Services Centre, in New York city. MACT is an inter-racial gay support group and it formed a partnership with G-MAD (Gay Men of African Descent) to de­velop the room, tentatively called "The James Baldwin Room.” ALYSON PUBLICATIONS, the popular Boston publishing house, has decided to give one-third of all direct-mail income received during March to a num­ber of AIDS organisations. Sasha Alyson, the company President, has said that the money will go to the American Foundation for AIDS Research and the PWA (People with AIDS) Coalition. Alyson ex­plained that "we've been look­ing for more ways to help in the fight against AIDS and this seemed like a good one. I think it's great for businesses to do­nate a part of their sales to im­portant causes.

The sign on the front door of the cafe said 'NO GAYS'. No, this didn't happen in 1939 it was actually seen by a driver recently at a motorway cafe on the London M25.

PROTECTION CLAUSE FOR U.S. CITY Raleigh City Council in North Carolina passed an anti-discrim­ination ordinance - gay people included - on January 5th by a 7-1 vote, with only Mayor Av­ery Upchurch voting against the ordinance. The resulting ordinance pro­hibits discrimination against gay people in city employment, in contracts with the city, and in obtaining city funding, housing and services. It also bars firms that do business with the city from discriminating in employment based on sexual orientation. Raleigh is the hometown of Jesse Helms, regarded as the most anti-gay member of the U.S. Senate and the State of North Carolina still upholds sodomy laws on the Statute Books. There was virtually no opposi­tion to the new ordinance from city residents.

VISA CARD BOYCOTT Sasha Alyson, the President of Alyson Publications Inc., a Boston-based gay publishing firm, is continuing with his campaign urging gay people to stop using Visa credit cards be­ cause of the company's financial contributions to the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). the USOC has drawn much criti­cism from gay activists for its successful lawsuit to keep the Gay Games (once called Gay Olympics) from using the name Gay Olympics, despite the fact that many other groups have used the word Olympics without being challenged. Alyson last year asked gay peo­ple to cut their Visa cards in half and send one half to the credit card company with a letter explaining their reason. The other half of the card was to be sent to Alyson's Campaign and by last January 700 cards had been received.

CLAWS TO ENSARE BRITISH GAY PEOPLE "The situation deteriorates every day. I refrain from making prophecies only for them coming true. We have to get organised. We have to establish a nonviolent civil disobedience action campaign. We have to stand in the honourable reactions of the women's sufferage movement to assert our rights and our dignity as people, empowering ourselves in the face of those individuals that would still further oppress us. For us, as for Martin Luther King, "The choice is between non-violence and non existence." Thus writes Simon Watney (March 1988 issue of Gay Times, London) about the WHO Programmes for AIDS Prevention in the context of Clause 28. Clause 28 of the UK's Local Government bill has outpaced even AIDS as the single biggest threat to British gay people's very existence. Recently voted through the House of Lords (see GCN Issue 1) this obnoxious piece of legislation is due a final reading in the House of Commons sometime late March/early April and yet opposition to the Clause is snowballing every day.

LONDON CENTRE IN TROUBLE The London Lesbian and Gay Centre which cost STG£1,000,000 to open three years ago, is on the point of collapse unless there is an immediate and major injection of cash. This is the feeling of some angry and frustrated members from the Centre who have called for an Extraordinary General Meeting on Monday 21st March when an aggressive plan will be proposed for saving the Centre. Among the decisions being proposed are: • a reduction in existing numbers of staff: • the resignation of management committee members who served prior to 1988; • proper financial controls and the appointment of a qualified accountant and skilled business managers on eh management committee; • a new grant from the London Boroughs Grants (Richmond) Scheme; and a proper Business Plan. The London Centre has been plagued with problems since it opened, despite the Stg £140,000 funding it has received each year from the now defunct Greater London Council. An independent management report carried out some time ago was severely critical of staff management, stock control and hygiene. The report, issued last October, criticised "basic design faults” such as lighting, venting and drainage. There was also criticism of financial management and stock monitoring in the operation of the Centre's bar and cafe - last year the bar alone incurred losses of up to Stg. £4,000 per month. Concerned members of the Centre have said that unless the Centre receives grant aid as usual this year there is no chance it can be saved. All eyes will be on the March 21st meeting.

Sans-Su, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre and Air Wave, Grafton Street, Dublin, held their joint Spring/Summer collection recently at a show in Parkes Hotel, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. The hotel's nightclub was packed with flat tops, gelled quiffs and bleached blonde perms. Everyone was trying not to look like a fashion victim yet few succeeded. Like an oasis in a desert of overdone hair dressers and their clients I spied the basic black entourage from SIDES and made my way eagerly to my natural allies. The heterosexual mating ritual was in progress all around me but was brought to a temporary halt by the appearance of our host, the ubiquitous Ronan Johnston, looking like a character from White Mischief - without that certain, unmistakable charm and je ne sais quoi of old money and fabulous, vulgar wealth or certainly groomed for some South Sea tropical island in the manner of the Air Wave brochure. The audience, several hundred strong, hushed up as the lazers and scanners shafted through the clouds of 'dry ice' billowing around the dance floor. On came the models to wonderful music which was atrociously mixed by some DJ from suburbia. A man wearing a trenchcoat stood out for both his relaxed air and the cut of the coat. Some striped women's two-piece suits looked good. Ronan, our M.C., was mumbling incoherently into the mike as more black and white stripes marched defiantly out onto the floor, daring to mix with the odd high waist. I'm tired of stripes whether vertical or horizontal. They’re overdone, they're last year . . . As if in answer to my frustration some wonderful yellows and greens sallied forth - to a mute reception from my black babies. The women models, for the most part, were wonderful and three of them actually looked as if they were enjoying the show, which sells clothes after all. Black and white again, this time in check. Seems to be very popular but my SIDES babies threw their collective beady eyes to heaven. Pass. Evening wear and a change of lightning heralded by an awful clatter from the DJ. Some classic cuts with a timeless feel about them wafted in and out of the smoke. A little conservative colour-wise but elegant and eye-catching. Ronan M.C. again waffling away from an inanely written script. Do all the soft pastels worn by the women have to be delicate and feminine? Huh, answer me that one, Ronan baby. Training clothes and sports gear were quite boring but then the hot-blooded men in the audience were getting frustrated at this stage waiting for the swimwear and their whole behaviour distracted me somewhat. A lot of frustration going around. Well darlings, the place simply erupted when the bikinis and one piece bathing suits arrived. Surely the highlight of the show. Fabulous colours and so very summery suits followed by very camp, 50’s style skirts and casual dresses. Overall; hated the DJ, hated the choreography, hated the M.C., loved the crowd, loved some of the models and absolutely adored the evening wear, shorts and swim wear. The best item on show and my fashion siblings all agreed - headscarves. Very camp, very colourful, nay outrageous and also practical. And isn't that just the sort of headgear we need to protect ourselves with given the awful (political) climate we live in? More next issue. Yours ever faithfully in fashion, Blondie Bombshell - Fashion Victim Extraordinaire. AIR WAVE, Grafton Street, Dublin 2. SAN-SU, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2.

"l wanted to be famous ... I wanted to be DIVINE"". Harris Glenn Milstead became both when he started making very off beat, acid head movies in the late sixties and early seventies with John Waters and friends. His death (in his sleep) in Los Angeles on March 8th at the age of 42 closes a unique chapter in vulgar and trashy entertainment. Divine worked very hard over the years in maintaining his disgusting image. On stage, all 134 kgs of his revolting figure were usually restrained in the tightest lurex/polyester number imaginable as he skillfully exploited his audience's retiscence/embarrassment of certain taboo subjects - inevitably sexual at that. He plumbed the depths of bad taste when in ""Cocaine Fiends"" he was raped by a giant lobster having only minutes beforehand devoured his boyfriend's cock. Chopped it right off with a knife, he did and hardly protested as the 3 metre long lobster, large and shiny red, got up on him. In ""Pink Flamingoes"" he stooped, in every sense of the word, to eat dog shit from a pavement-passing poodle. Such was his stage persona. He once said ""I see myself more as a clown” ... I'm not a threat to women. I'm not trying to be a woman only look like a woman ... It's just that people get off on me as a female clown"". Divine didn't continue the clowning off stage and many people found the transfer to white-haired, slightly balding (great for the wigs) middle-aged man quite astonishing. In the '80's DIVINE got into singing in a big way and brought his tongue-in-cheek nastiness to a new generation of boys and girls who helped many of his records get to best selling gold status. For someone who couldn't sing, ""my voice is horrible but luckily they have machines that can make even me sound good"", the production and mixing talents of Bobby O (he of the Pet Shop Boys' classics) helped immortalise on vinyl such songs as ""Love Reaction, ""Native Love"", ""Jungle Jezebel"" and ""Shake it up"". In recent years Divine capitalised on his chart success with ""You think you're a Man (But you're only a Boy) ""- a very camp yet ideologically sound ditty - and ""Walk like a Man."" Such was his cult stature the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, New York, exhibited this wild creation as one of the US' outstanding comedy classical traditions. A far cry from Divine's early days as a trash exponent in Baltimore, Maryland. As he once said himself: ""When I first started in America everyone was screaming because I wore a dress on film ... Can you imagine? With all the shit happening at that time they worry about me in a dress ..."""

"Virago Upstarts (Virago Press) 086068-271-4 Price Stg. £3.95 REVIEW BY CLAUDINE MAGUIRE Liza and Annie meet in a museum where Liza is transfixed by Annie's singing. So starts the wonderfully romantic love story of Annie on My Mind. Liza and Annie find themselves thrown into problems and situations, such as coming out, school, sex, and getting caught in bed together by their teacher. However, their love manages to see them through most things and they inevitably become stronger women as a result of this. A refreshingly light, easily read love story. We may find ourselves suddenly thrown back to our own first loves and comings outs and we inevitably start rooting for the good guys (or girls as the case may be). The book was originally published in 1982 but is now available in a new edition published by Virago Upstarts - a series of books for girls and young [sic]. Nancy Garden's classic is both entertaining and inspirational. It is well recommended."

"Interesting to note that at the moment there are three songs in the charts which deal exclusively with gay issues. The most obvious of them must be Boy George's ""No Clause 28"", which should be bought by every gay man and woman, thus ensuring that it gets into the Top 10 and shows how strongly we feel about this fascist piece of legislation. Comments voiced on RTE Radio 2 have ranged from it being a ""very politically motivated"" song to full descriptions of the Section and why the song was written. Well done George! Along the same lines is Erasure's ""Chains of Love"", which is also a good song in its own right. Of the Communard's ""There's More to Love (than Boy meets Girl)"", Radio 2's Night Train Extra has been overheard saying: ""It's a good song, but I'm not so sure about the sentiments"". Well, Radio 2,1 am. Also recently heard on Night Train Extra, the new single from the Joan Collins Fan Club, an outrageous version of ""Leader of the Pack"". Followers of the London carbaret scene will be familiar with the wonderfully camp TJCFC (or, if you prefer, Julian Clary)."

"Dear Dorothy, I had a relationship with a women when I was 15, (she was 20). We were in love and it seemed very natural to me, although I suppose I should have felt guilty about it. A year later my lover had to go away and I was heartbroken. I haven't seen her since. Now I am 20 and find myself increasingly attracted to women, although I will never forget my first. My problem is, and this is my reason to writing to you, I come out to my family a few weeks ago and they have given me one month to get out of the house. I am torn apart with this. I cannot neglect my sexuality, however neither can I neglect my family as I love them very much. Can you please help me, give me some hints on reconciling myself with my family. I hope to hear from you soon. Anxious Dear Anxious, This is a problem that many gay men and women face and it is not an easy one. Most parents have a problem coming to terms with their child's homosexuality and such thoughts as: 1. ""What have I some wrong"" 2. ""Is there something wrong with my genes"" 3. ""Was he/she abused as a child"" 4. ""Is it just a phase"". Go through parents heads. You must realise that you have had time to become accustomed with your homosexuality. Your parents haven't. They do need time. It is important for them to realise that you are the same daughter you were before you came out to them. Remember that they do really love you. otherwise they wouldn't be so shocked, there is no point going back into the closet at this stage so you must be very sure of yourself. Stick to your guns and give them time. We do have a Parents Enquiry Group. Maybe sometime in the future you could mention this to sexual people. They have come to terms with their children homosexuality and can be very helpful to talk to there is also a lesbian discussion group that you could attend if you wished. There you will receive encouragement and reassurance If you wish to find out more about this contact: Gay Youth Line - Sunday 2-4p.m. Tel: 777847"

"DUBLIN ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED by Anglo-American qualified massage instructor, 26, to use as base for 1 year minimum. Nick Farrow, 99c Elgin Avenue, London W9. Tel: London 289-7004. AMSTERDAM gay group interested in making contact with gay people from Ireland and elsewhere in the world. Members between 18 and 89 years, with interests in cultural things, sport, science, music, dancing, etc. Languages available: English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Greek. If you want to write, please do so to: J. Bakker, Postbus 2335, lOOOCH Amsterdam, Nederland. I AM DAVID MERRICK, 36, of 4274A 23rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94114, USA, and would like to correspond with other gay men and women from Ireland. I like to write about gay culture, lifestyle, etc. 21 YEAR OLD male seeks com­panion of same sex, around 18-23 age bracket. Ennis area. Very interested in outdoor sports. Box 88.2 AMERICAN MAN of Irish her­itage, 22, seeks penpals to help make that connection with. I'm an American man of Irish her­itage, 22, living in New Jersey, and would like to hear from people in Ireland. There are no gay groups, bars or anything here and I'd like to have a con­nection with my homeland Write to Gary. Box 88.3 JOHN, 30 year old Spanish man, bad English, would like friends to write in Spanish and possible visits in London. Box 88.4 TO LET. In Milford, Co. Donegal. Cottage sleeps 4+, long or short lettings. Groups or singles welcome. Saunas and sunbed. Telephone: 074-53175 PERSONAL ADS are free. When replying place your sealed reply with appropriate postage and box number in an envelope and mail to GCN, Personal Ads, PO Box 931, Dublin 4. All personal ad requests are handled by one person of the GCN staff in strictest confi­dence. If you wish to place an ad please either write or tele­phone us at the above ad­dress/telephone (01)732693 2-5pm."

pride week 1988

Make a splash this year and subscribe to Ireland's newest and brightest gay newspaper. Tread where no-one has dared before. Dive in at the deep end with our journalists and fish out the essential information to complete your understanding of Irish gay politics, culture and the 'scene'. Subscribe today to Gay Community News. Just fill out the subscription form below. Yes! I'm going to take the plunge. Here is my subscription to Gay Community News. I enclose a cheque/postal order/draft for £5 made payable to GCN. Name: Address: Post to: Gay Community News, P.O. Box 931, Dublin 4. GCN is mailed in a stylish plain brown wrapper.

CONTINUING PROGRESS FOR LESBIAN AND GAY WORKERS Latest news from the Lesbian and Gay Rights at Work Group is that the trade union movement in Ireland is giving increasing practical support to lesbian and gay workers. This support has been copperfastened by resolutions adopted at various Union annual conferences this year. A wide ranging programme to counter discrimination against lesbian and gay workers was recently adopted by the Local Government and Public Services Union, the largest public service union, at its annual delegate conference in Limerick. The Union of Professional and Technical Civil Servants (UPTCS) adopted a resolution calling for the Union to implement the Lesbian and Gay Rights in the Workplace; Guidelines for Negotiators, published last year by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The second largest Union in Ireland is also to take action to prevent discrimination against lesbian and gay workers. The Federated Workers Union of Ireland (FWUI) at its annual delegate conference in May adopted a resolution calling on the Union to negotiate agreements with employers which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of AIDS or sexual orientation. Further information from Kieran Rose. The ICTU Lesbian and Gay Rights Guidelines are free from the ICTU tel. 680641.

HIRSCHFELD CENTRE Latest news regarding the Hirschfeld Centre is that the insurance claim is being contested. Shortly after Easter a sum was offered by the insurance company to Hirschfeld Enterprises Ltd., the Centre's holding company. This figure was not acceptable and a loss assessor has been working to achieve an adequate settlement for the reinstatement of the building and its contents. The Hirshfeld Centre has been closed for the past seven months since a fire destroyed the ground and first floors of the building. The building hasn't been in use in that time. An insurance official unconnected with the Centre’s claim, who did not wish to be named, told GCN that claims of comparable size and complexity usually took up to three years to settle. However, in the Centre's case a claim would be effected sooner rather than later, the official said, because of the consequential loss factor (i.e. loss of profits). Notwithstanding the hassle for the various groups and organisations which had to vacate the Hirschfeld Centre after the fire last November, the Centre's loss has been most keenly felt at the social/entertainment level. Pub-goers complain of nowhere to go after closing time and yearn for the return of a major entertainment venue such as the Hirschfeld Centre (and in particular Flikkers Dance Club) was justifiably famous for in its eight year history. The National Gay Feder­ation, which managed the Hirshfeld Centre up to its closure, is still looking for a venue from which to run even the odd, once-a-week fundraising dance night. Its attempts have been met with a certain amount of hostility and prejudice but members of the NGF's Administrative Council remain optimistic.

International AIDS Day 1988 International AIDS Day was once again used to promote awareness of AIDS, and to raise money for the organisations involved in providing support to PWA's and providing information to help stop the spread of the disease. Events were held in Galway, Cork and Dublin. Friday 27th May saw four concerts being held to raise funds for AIDS Action Alliance, the cover organisation that was responsible for the weekend events. Not one, but two concerts were held in Dublin, with over fourteen acts taking part in these concerts, and Mary Coughlan the MC at both of them. Saturday 28th May was the actual day itself, and there were collections countrywide, as well as information stalls in Dublin and Cork. On Sunday there were concerts in Cork, and the Hot 'n' Healthy Disco in Sides Nightclub in Dublin, organised by GHA, who also gave a talk to the Lesbian and Gay Youth Group that afternoon. There was a candlelight vigil outside Leinster House on Monday night, to remember those with AIDS, which coincided with similar vigils in 86 cities worldwide.

MINSKY'S A new nightclub has opened recently in Dublin. The club is called Minsky's and is at 22 Ely Place, just off St. Stephen's Green. The club is open every night.

VIENNA IN SUMMER Voluntary Service International (VSI) is a worldwide organisation promoting peace and international understanding through different forms of voluntary service. The VSI Dublin office, which coincidentally is next door to the GCN office, has informed us of a workcamp with particular interest to gay women and men over eighteen. The venue is Vienna from 14- 27 at the Rosa Lila Villa - an information and advice centre with cultural facilities for lesbians and gay men. The camp will be run in English and German and the work will involve clearing and arranging of the Villa's yard. There will also be a certain amount of study about homosexuality. Interested individuals should contact VSI at 37 Nth. Gt. George's Street, Dublin 1, Tel: (01)712067 for further information and an application form.

DDR OUT OF THE CLOSET With the recent publication of Reiner Werner's book "Homo-sexualität: Herausforderung an Wissen und Toleranz" (Homo­sexuality: Challenge to Knowledge and Tolerance), East Germany would seem to be at an historic crossroads. Homosexual offences were removed from criminal law in 1968, but nonetheless since then public discussion of homosexuality has been sparse. The only organised gay groups have been formed under the protection of the East German evangelical church. Reiner Werner is professor of forensic psychology at Berlin's Humboldt University and member of the board of editors of the paper Deine Gesundheit (Your Health). The latter has begun to publish in its question and answer page letters from homosexuals (four of which are quoted here) and Reiner Werner has transcribed dozens of them in his book. The appearance of this book is welcomed and its contents praised, but at the same time the inclusion in it of two articles by other authors would seem to be inconsistent with Werner’s enlightened doctrines: one by Günther Dömer, a biologist who has developed a theory concerning "the weak immunity connected with homosexuality" and the other by Helga Hörz which deals with ethical questions and which warns against the organisation of gays and the politicisation of homosexuality.

DESTINATIONS Vivian Cummins, currently Director of the Tel-A-Friend, Dublin's Gay Switchboard, will be shortly retiring from the post. Vivian has been offered an appointment in London which he intends taking up. As we go to press a new Director for TAF is expected to be appointed at the organisation's Annual General Meeting. Bill Collins, a founder member of GCN and its Literary Editor, recently left for London with his lover Tommy Cooper, a former D.J. at Flikkers Dance Club (Hirschfeld Centre) and one-time member of NGF's Administrative Council. They both intend working in London for the foreseeable future.