Search

YOUTH CONGRESS The International Lesbian and Gay Youth Organisation, a world wide network, will be hosting its 5th annual congress in Berlin from 30 July to 7 August. Several hundred young men and women between the ages of 15 and 25 are expected to attend what has become a highly successful annual exchange of information and ideas. In 1985 the annual congress was held in Dublin.

1st July The Dublin Gay Collective, now defunct, was formed on this day in 1982. 7th July George Bermingham, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, refused to officially open the 2nd International Gay Youth Congress in Dublin's Hirschfeld Centre (NGF'S Youth Group contribution to International Youth Year) 1985. 8th July The Department of Justice confirms that it has banned the London newspaper, Gay News, 1982. 11th July Film historian, Vito Russo, whose "Celluloid Closet" is justly famous as a critical documentary on homosexuality in cinema, born in New York city, 1946. 13th July American anarchist Amelda Sperry, who in love letters addressed Emma Goldman as "my one dear, my cherry blossom, my moonbeam, my mountain, my drop of dew", born 1879. 18th July Playwright/novelist Laurence Housman, the gay brother of gay poet A.E. Housman (their sister Clemence, a wood engraver, was lesbian) and one of Oscar Wilde's circle in the 1890's, born in England, 1865. 20th July Sex between consenting male adults in Scotland is made legal by the UK Government, 1980. 21st July Former Italian M.P., Enzo Francone, attempted to chain himself to the railings of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow as part of the International Gay Association's protest against the imprisonment (for 'homosexual offences") of Soviet citizens Viktoras Piatkus and Galery Trifonov, 1980. Also on this day...Pope Sixtus IV, who was so openly gay that a group of his cardinals safely petitioned for "permission to practice sodomy during the warm months", born 1614. 23rd July Mystery writer Raymond Chandler, who once uttered the classically ambiguous line-"In the artistic society of London about one man in three is homosexual, which is very bad on the ladies but not at all bad on me"- born, 1888. 27th July Rev. Troy Perry, gay activist and founder of the United Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, bom in 1940. Gertrude Stein, the celebrated author, dies in Paris, 1946. 31st July David Norris, Senator, Joycean scholar, wit and leading gay rights activist, born in Leopoldville, Belgian Congo (now Zaire), 1946. 2nd August Author James Baldwin, whose "Giovanni's Room" (1956) remains a breath-taking work of fiction, bom in New York City, 1924. 7th August Catherine Glendon, co-founder of Gay Community News, General Secretary of the National Gay Federation, one-time Divine impersonator, and spiritual "mother" to many, dies in Dublin, 1987.

LEO (July 22 - August 23) Leo, if you're working then things are going to get a major boost. You've got a very sound judgement which makes others trust you and this combined with your general good behaviour will not go unnoticed. If any problems arise don't be afraid to look for help; you're the type of person who has no difficulty in getting out of a tight spot. VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Virgo, your self-esteem and confidence get a big kick when you decide to break old habits and spring clean your life a little here and there. Keep an eye on your finances though as you can be a bit of a spend-thrift. LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Libra, no matter what happens in your life during the next four weeks you must make every effort to keep a grip on reality and above all set your priorities. If the need arises I think you should help out in situations outside work, for instance, a voluntary group or cleaning up your local park. There's a host of things that need doing in the community and I can tell you, you'll feel a better person afterwards. SCORPIO (October 24 - November 21) Scorpio, there are times when your life is an utter mess and I mean MESS! During our lazy Summer you should cut off all the dead growth in your life. Don't be afraid to simplify things. And remember that inner satisfaction comes from you know where...? Do I have to overstate it?!! SAGGITARIUS (November 22 - December 21) I feel romance is going to happen to you in a big way. Show off your best side to strangers and keep on your tippy-toes. Money matters should also settle out to your advantage so you've every reason to be smiling during July. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Capricorn, you often have the habit of putting work and success before friends and lovers. If you've neglected a loved one, then isn't it about time you did something about it? There are others around you who also need a bit of affection and appreciation. Open up, will you? AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Aquarius, I feel that you can too often hide your many talents; Don't be afraid to use them to impress influential people. You could find yourself in a position of making decisions that will affect you for a long time to come. PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Pisces, if you are your usual generous self you're in for a handsome reward. If you're looking for work you can expect it to happen any day now. Watch yourself with other people - that bit of flirting could get quite serious. ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Well, well, Aries, isn't it about time you sorted out your relationship problems? Spend more time listening to honest advice when it's offered. You'll have to open up a bit more - you will find it can do wonders to your heart and your head! TAURUS (April 21 - May 20) Taurus, I told you last month your love life would be on the upsurge. Things should be happening now in this area and will continue during this wonderful Summer. If you're going away on holiday before August 8 you should make sure that absolutely everything has been properly organised. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20) Gemini, you may be finding it difficult to make certain decisions which will have major consequences on your life; think carefully before making that move and if possible get the support of your lover or best friend. CANCER (June 21 - July 21) Cancer, you're a bit of a dreamer and sometimes this will hinder you in business. When you put your mind to it you can achieve great things, so put the dreams aside for the next month and be a bit ruthless! Who knows what a little bit of assertiveness will bring?

Starved of serious street fashion and culture I decided to take a peek at the Leather and Lace Night in SIDES Dance Club, Dublin, on Sunday 3 July. Down I descended into the murky depths of this trendy night club. I'm referring here to the punters' morals more than the actual club environment - although that could also be worked on. At the bar stood Kate, Manager and Side(s)-kick to John, The Owner, the Blessed One, he of the Easter Sunday Tequila Resurrection. I sometimes wonder as I wander about Sides which one of these august Denizens of Dublin nightlife does the actual kicking, but that's another story. Anyway, I beheld a wonderous vision. The bold Kate was dressed a la Millenium in Viking-long, golden tresses and wrapped fetchingly in what could only once have been some poor clone's black handkerchief. Being a seasoned leather queen- mes cheres, believe me when I say I've lived the life many of you can only dream of - I sniffed my way through the throng and thongs to the packed and sweaty dancefloor. I had to remind myself it was 1988 and not 1978. There were leather clones everywhere, no doubt orchestrated by leather supremo Oliver - he of Oliver's Kitchen, where the chips resemble assertive moustaches and the bunburgers . . . .well, enough said. As I was thinking these evil (and very unsafe) thoughts Oliver actually materialised in front of me with an inscrutable grin on his face. Strange, I've only ever seen that grin before on the moving Madonna of Ballinaspittle. The Supremo was adorning a brick wall - which is the closest one will find to a grotto in a Dublin disco. The same stretch of wall also sported the most wonderfully psychedelic projection I've seen since my seminal, drug-hazed adolescent days. There were hi-hats everywhere: leather, peaked ones on many a clone's skull and umpteen in the music which was surreptitiously segued by DJ Tony M. Fashionwise? Well, my siblings, with the gutter style so hip in certain quarters I expected to see more debauched mannequins strutting about. Sadly, it was not to be. The disco brats were no doubt stumped by the 'lace' requirement. Bravo to all involved in hosting what was an enjoyable and outrageous night. Next time though someone should work on getting the S&M/Leather dykes out. A few were in evidence on the night, which set my heart alight, but others must have been put out by the ubiquitous lace code. I left early as a tooth was killing me and all the ethyl in the world wouldn't have eased the pain. On reflection, maybe I should have stayed and got one of Oliver's leather boys to work on it.... Next month I've got a wonderful story abut Dublin's Street Carnival which I hope I can share with you. In solidarity with fashion victims everywhere, I remain yours ever faithfully, Blondie Bombshell.

HELLO AGAIN Starring Shelly Long and Judith Ivey. Dir. Frank Perry. Yet another Fairy Tale, or to be more precise another re-working of Sleeping Beauty. There is I regret to say a case of amnesia also involved in Hello Again. However don't let that put you off, it is once again a very enjoyable and funny film. Lucy Chadman (Shelly Long) is a happily married upper middle class suburban lady. She has a grown up son, who wants to be a chef, works part time in a day care centre, has a beautiful home and a lovely life. She is also unbelievably clumsy and somewhat gauche. Her husband (Corbin Bersen) is beginning to attain dizzy heights, both socially and at work, and whilst she's the woman he fell in love with, she's obviously not the woman to help him scale the sophisticated heights of Manhattan. Neat solution number 203 is obviously called for. Lucy dies, thus leaving the way clear for Jason to look for a new climbing partner. However - Zelda, Lucy's sister (Judith Ivey) is a white witch and brings her back to life again. The medical and media world are ecstatic, her plastic surgeon husband, less so, his second wife and her former best friend is most definitely not amused and she herself is somewhat bemused. To say any more would totally spoil the plot, how she overcomes the obstacles put in the path of her new life with the help of a new doctor (Gabriel Byrne) and old friends is extremely entertaining. Her gaucheness will strike a cord in all of us who've ever spilt wine over the guest of honour and other horrors too dreadful to repeat. The script is witty and well paced, the acting from all concerned good, it's the type of film that enables one to leave the cinema smiling. Anne Marie McCarthy

BISEXUAL LIVES Written to fill a gap in available literature on bisexuality, this book contains profiles of seven women and five men with a lot of information to boot on a myriad number of subjects. From OFF Pink Publishing, price £3.75.

EN ROUTE A vibrant youth However uncouth, Without any fuss At the back of the bus. Oh mercy me What ecstasy! The sensation of him Limb to limb! Such moments erotic: The elected narcotic Of a fastidious queen On the number fifteen. RICHARD RIORDAN.

LYN: A STORY OF A PROSTITUTE by June Levine and Lyn Madden. Published last year Lyn is the real-life story of one woman's life as a prostitute in Dublin. Spanning some twenty years, much of Lyn's life will be known to readers from the newspapers' reports about her former lover and pimp and his psychopathic behaviour. However, this is one courageous woman's viewpoint, recounted painfully and with honesty. Attic Press 1987, 267 pp. pb. £5.40.

SOUTH RIDING by Winifred Holtby. A memorable evocation of a Yorkshire landscape, originally published in 1936 and reissued as a Virago Modern Classic last January. Winifred Holtby was a prolific writer, critic, feminist and pacifist and South Riding remains her best remembered work. A fascinating indictment of social injustice. Virago Modern Classics 1988, pb. £4.30.