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AROUND THE CLUBS Dublin's club scene is getting quite busy, considering that students have gone home for the Summer and people are going on holidays. Minskys, the new 7 - nighter has taken off very well, and now seems to be the place to go after the pubs, although the new licencesing laws mean that people perhaps tend to go out later at nights and spend less time in the clubs. Hooray Henries, the established night club, has a new DJ, Gerry Moore, whom people might remember from Friday nights at the Hirschfeld Centre's Flikkers Dance Club. Continuing in that tradition, he has started a new one-nighter on Fridays, called Frenzy. All styles of music will be catered for, from charts and House to Soul and Funk, with perhaps even some Eurobeat! Gerry also plays on Mondays, where the music is slightly less up-temp and the tastes of the customers on the night are accommodated as much as possible. Desire, SIDES' Sunday nighter continues to gain in popularity, with DJ Tony Murray making to provide the best in Hi-NRG, with top-class mixing. Times have been changed to 11.00-3.00 to coincide with the new pub hours. Tony Murphy.

SIDES may well win back the reputation it once had for presenting new and exciting forms of music and performance art, if it continues in presenting acts such as Binttii & Princess Tiny meat. All the 'interesting' people were there for this gig which, I suppose, was a good sign (?). The stage setting was quite effective and consisted of the usual rostra, but with some vertical flats attached. The flats were of paper (rather than canvas) on a wooden frame, with a representation of the female nude on them in red paint. Binttii emerged through these at the start of the gig, revealing the band behind him. Two dancers were with him, a man and a woman- so much for the press release "this time they will all be boys”. Later on, another male dancer emerged from behind one of the remaining flats. The dancers, band and Binttii himself wore mostly black clothes. I particularly liked the dancers make-up, especially the false eye effect painted on their eye-lids. My compliments to the make-up artist. Sound-wise, the gig was certainly different. The backing tape was played through the house system, while Binttii and the band were relayed through four Bose 802s. The decision to place the 802s behind the mic. meant that there was a tendency for feedback at times, but I'm not so sure that a better position would have made the music sound any better. The songs themselves started off with a very good rhythm track laid down on tape, but they got progressively more rough as the songs went on, ultimately ending in a mass of feedback and general noise. However some Goth friends of mine thought that this was a good thing, so I suppose it just must have been me that didn't like it. Leaving that aside, the songs were not too bad, "Hungry for Love", "Germ in You" and "Lonely Avenue" sticking out quite well. Thankfully his "Father Figure" is not a bit like the other song of that name. Bintii's raw energy on stage is undeniable, and he certainly managed to get the audience's attention when he wanted to, even going so far as to drag someone up on stage and practically make love to her on stage. However, least I be prejudiced, here are some comments from the rest of the audience:"Dreadful. Different but dreadful"."That was great!""Wasn't Damien fab." (Damien was one of the danceis). Personally, I was happy when Martin McCann, the DJ (normally on Saturday nights) came back on after a 45 minute break (the duration of the show) and played some Flikkers classics such as "Native New Yorker" et al.

DAME EDNA FOR DUBLIN BARRY HUMPHRIES, aka Dame Edna, will be presenting his riotous show Back with a Vengeance at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre from 20th to 24th September next. Booking has already opened at the Box Office.

NGF BENEFIT PARTY Following on the success of the Pride Party at the Irish Film Institute in Dublin, the National Gay Federation (NGF) plans to host another fundraising party at the same venue on Saturday 20th August. The I.F.I. is at 4/5 Eustace Street, off Dame Street, Dublin, and the party starts at 11.00pm. The Pride Party 2 will include disco, slides, wine and food. Admission will be £3 with concessions to unwaged and students.

THE DANCE CHARTS 1. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore - Quantise - 126 BPM 2. Chains of Love - Erasure -123 BPM 3. Carwash/ Is it Love You’re After -Rolls Royce - 122 BPM 4. Tribute - The Pasadenas 5. Reach Out - Romi & Jazz -119 BPM 6. Maybe (we should call it a day) - Hazel Dean -120 BPM 7. The Race - Yello -130 BPM 8. Boys (Summertime Love) - Sabrina 9. Flames of Love - Fancy -124 BPM 10. Multimegamix - Sabrina GCN Charts are compiled from what is being played in the dance clubs in Dublin. Thanks to Albert ‘O’.

"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."

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

"After a period of intense negotiation between representatives of Hirschfeld Enterprises Ltd. (the Hirschfeld Centre's holding company), the National Gay Federation and the Centre's insurance company, a settlement was finally achieved at a meeting on July 7. The meeting was also attended by Hirschfeld Enterprises' auditors who advised on aspects of the consequential loss (loss of profits). The settlement was achieved verbally and has yet to be agreed in writing before any payment is actually made to the Centre's holding company. As this should only take about four to six weeks one can expect an announcement on the future of Dublin's famous landmark sometime in August. The payment will auto­matically go to the Centre’s bankers, Hill Samuel and Allied Irish Banks. Once these and other debts are cleared it will be possible to plan for the building's future. The Hirschfeld Centre has been closed since a fire badly damaged the ground and first floor of this early 18th century warehouse in the heart of Dublin city. Architects working for Hirschfeld Enterprises Ltd. and the National Gay Federation (NGF) have said it could take between three to four months to re-open the Centre to the public. In the mean time, NGF, which managed the Centre up to its demise last November, has been offered short-term office accommodation in the Dublin South-East Constituency offices of The Labour Party. The NGF Administrative Council was due to make a decision on the offer as we went to press. Early indications are that the offer will be taken up which means the Federation will be on the move, yet again, before the end of July. NGF is also currently arranging an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss the future of the Hirschfeld Centre and the Federation's role in such a venture. This meeting will probably happen sometime in mid-August. Full details will be carried in Issue 7 out on August 14."

"LESBIAN AND GAY PRIDE WEEK '88 was celebrated with fun and dignity between 19-26 June. Issue 7, out on August 14, will be carrying a centrespread devoted to the weeks events."

"While watching a Barbie doll commercial the other day, I suddenly realised that lesbianism is encouraged among our young toddlers. Imagine the scandal of poor Barbie in court charging her owner with indecent exposure or assault! Worse again, vice versa. Today's dollies are even trained to tell their dykey mistresses that they love them. The scandal, the out and out perversion of it all!!! So you used to think that little girls, sorry women, looked cute cuddling up to their little dollies in bed at night? Well think again, what are you a paedophile? So I propose a campaign in affiliation with the UK's glorious Section 29. We really cannot let our children be exposed to such perversions, well sisters if you are interested write to:- HANG THE BARBIE DOLL CAMPAIGN c/o GCN (name witheld pending judicial enquiry)"