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"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.