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FORTHCOMING EVENTS The Parliament Inn, following the success of their recent collaboration with Hooray Henries have decided to alternate Thursday nights in their top bar between Leather n' Denim and Women. Only .... . André Adore is due to play there at the end of August.......... The Pride Party 2 takes place in the IFI on Saturday 20th August .... Barry Humphries, aka- Dame Edna aka Sir Les Patterson plays the Gaiety at the end of September. AROUND THE CLUBS Competition seems to be just what Dublin's club scene needed to remove the stagnation that had set in. HOORAY HENRIES has started up a new mid-week venture, 70's night, on what used to be just an ordinary club night. Resident DJ Albert O'Connor has been joined by Martin Jones to provide a nostalgia trip for everyone, young and old. Every song is a classic, and guaranteed to have been originaly released before 31 December 1979. They have also had two theme nights recently, the first a 'Nuts and Screws' night that was sprung upon unsuspecting customers one Friday night. Fun was had by all, the new ventilation system barely able to cope with the heat generated by nuts finding a screw the right size! The extended dance floor was still not big enough for the numbers that DJ Gerry Moore attracted to it. Thursday 4th August saw the Leather n' Denim night, run in conjunction with the Parliament Inn, of which photos and a review are to be found in this issue. Hopefully their current renovations won't stop where they are.The lighting rig needs to be updated, and the sound system certainly needs a pair of good bass bins to add some solidity.

I remember as an adolescent boy reading A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh which was part of the leaving cert. English course. At the time the book seemed to have been such a sad book but no more so than many others. I went to see this movie wondering if Charles Sturridge (director of Brideshead Revisited) could bring out this melancholy - I wasn't disappointed. It is a long time since I have seen such a moving film. It is completely heart-rending and superbly produced in every way. The setting is an actual gothic British stately home which is probably the most hideous that the period produced. The plot is young aristocratic couple living in hideous stately home, she (Kristin Scott) gets bored with husband (James Wilby), decides to become a London socialite and has an affair with another man (the gorgeous Rupert Graves) - the rest of the plot I will leave to your viewing. One person worthy of mention apart from the excellent leads is Angelica Huston who plays a wonderfully madcap but sensitive friend of the family. If the film has a drawback it is that the essentially worthless people come across as having some form of worth, a view with which Waugh would not have agreed. One final note, bring a box of tissues.

DESIRE, at Sides on Sundays saw GHA host a 'Loads a Rubbers' Night on July 31. Condoms were given away, and the night turned into a 'see who can blow the biggest' competition. Sunday 7 August saw a 'Vikings and Viqueens' night, with Mr. Pussy as host, and featured the gorgeous Dusky singing. MINSKYS has not yet had any special theme events as such, but is still proving popular with the punters. Alfred manages admirably to do the bar work and play the music the customers want. Beware of their policy on coats at the weekend, and leave your coat in with Paul. BLONDIE BOMBSHELL will be doing a special feature on Minsky's in the next issue. Keep your eyes peeled. GAY STAR is hosting discos every Friday in August at the Old Museum Building, College Square North, Belfast. I've been told they're going down very well. From 10pm-2am, you get in for a mere Stg.£1.50 before midnight. The PYRAMID FUN BAR, 59-65 York Street, Belfast, operates every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I'm told it's the main dance venue in the city and a bit of a rip-off at that. More information hopefully in the next issue. Tony Murphy. FORTHCOMING EVENTS The Parliament Inn, following the success of their recent collaboration with Hooray Henries have decided to alternate Thursday nights in their top bar between Leather n' Denim and Women. Only .... . André Adore is due to play there at the end of August.......... The Pride Party 2 takes place in the IFI on Saturday 20th August .... Barry Humphries, aka- Dame Edna aka Sir Les Patterson plays the Gaiety at the end of September. AROUND THE CLUBS Competition seems to be just what Dublin's club scene needed to remove the stagnation that had set in. HOORAY HENRIES has started up a new mid-week venture, 70's night, on what used to be just an ordinary club night. Resident DJ Albert O'Connor has been joined by Martin Jones to provide a nostalgia trip for everyone, young and old. Every song is a classic, and guaranteed to have been originaly released before 31 December 1979. They have also had two theme nights recently, the first a 'Nuts and Screws' night that was sprung upon unsuspecting customers one Friday night. Fun was had by all, the new ventilation system barely able to cope with the heat generated by nuts finding a screw the right size! The extended dance floor was still not big enough for the numbers that DJ Gerry Moore attracted to it. Thursday 4th August saw the Leather n' Denim night, run in conjunction with the Parliament Inn, of which photos and a review are to be found in this issue. Hopefully their current renovations won't stop where they are.The lighting rig needs to be updated, and the sound system certainly needs a pair of good bass bins to add some solidity.

THE DANCE CHARTS 1. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore - Quantise - 126 BPM 2. ChainsofLove.-Erasure-123BPM 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.

"QUINNSWORTH, the second-largest supermarket chain in Ireland, claimed recently that they did not show any anti-gay prejudice in the dismissal of a former gay employee. On the contrary, a representative of Quinnsworth said the dismissal had absolutely nothing to do with the employee’s gayness . . . furthermore the company employs many openly gay people"". The claim came after a young man in his 20's, who does not wish to be named as his case is being investigated by the Employment Equality Agency (E.E.A.), alleged he was dismissed from his job because of his homosexuality. The individual was taken on at the large Merrion Centre (south Dublin city) branch of Quinnsworth last May. He was employed as a pro-rata clerk (i.e. check­ out), having been told there would be ""no problem with [his] experience getting a full­ time job by the end of September"". However, shortly after acknowledging his gayness to colleagues the employee was let go.The excuse given for dismissal was put down to financial considerations. The young man subsequently tried to contact the Dun Laoghaire Head quarters of Quinnsworth but found nothing forthcoming. Because the employee only worked five weeks he has no redress in any case he might consider taking against Quinnsworth.This would hold for an employee regardless of that person's sexual orientation. When contacted by GCN, Kevin Foley, the Information Officer of the Employment Equality Agency (E.E.A.) confirmed this indicating that an individual was required to work a ""qualifying period"" of 12 months before she/he could benefit from various protective legislation. Mr. Foley couldn't confirm or deny any knowledge of the Quinnsworth case as he stressed the confidential nature of cases sent to his office. He did however say that a number of complaints had been received in the past from gay workers claiming anti-gay harassment or dismissal. ""A few complaints have been received by us"", Mr. Foley said, ""but it's unlikely that gay people will complain in the first place because there's no level of redress. Although we investigate every case before us, the existing legislation leaves us unable to offer consistent support and advice."" On a more positive note, the E.E.A. representative was able to tell GCN that the E.E.A. had contacted the Minister for Labour as far back as 1986 requesting an amendment outlawing anti-gay discrimin­ation to various items of labour legislation. Unlike many of our neighbours in Europe, Ireland's labour laws do not include sexual orientation as unreasonable grounds for dismissal, etc. There are two groups in Ireland which handle gases of anti-gay discrimination at work; The Lesbian and Gay rights at Work Group, PO. Box 1890, Sheriff Street, Dublin 1; and the National Gay Federation, PO. Box 931, Dublin 4. Individuals who encounter problems at work which could be put down to sexual harass­ment/discrimination should contact these groups immediately."

"Soul singer Sylvester is critically ill in San Francisco with AIDS-related complications. He was recently rushed to hospital when his lungs collapsed. The 42 year old star was one of the original ""disco divas"", presenting an outrageously camp stage presence with soaring gospel-induced vocals. In the 70's he toured extensively with The Weather Girls (then known as Two Tons of Fun) and shot to international recognition with his 1979 classic ""You make me feel (Mighty Real)"". Many of Sylvester's songs have become dancefloor 'anthems', among them ""Dance Disco Heat"", ""Take me to Heaven"", ""Rock the Box"", ""Living for the City"", ""Summertime"", ""Sex"", ""Do ya wanna funk"" (which he wrote with synthesiser genius Patrick Cowley, who died of AIDS-related illnesses in 1984) and many more. Sylvester's lover died from an AIDS illness last year."

"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. We will forward your sealed reply to. the relevant box number. All personal ads 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 weekdays 2-5pm. Dublin Lad, seeks contact with other guys who are interested in corduroys and shorts. I am not involved in scene and prefer young, he-man types. Please write telling me of your interests. I'm in my 30's, tall, slim, brown eyes; some say handsome. I like music, walking, a pint, also love tight jeans and cords. Will be discreet and expect same in return. Write to Box No. 88.11 Young Guy, boyish 25 yrs, Mediterranean type (from Naples) with black moustache, masculine, 1.75m, slim, healthy, 65kg, living in Paris. Looking for fantasy Irishman friend and Elder Brother or Daddy with full red or blond beard, well built, chubby and very hairy. Height, size not too important, but sturdily built. Initial contact by mail with a view to future visits. Photo(s) very much appreciated. Write to Box No. 88.12 From California, Hi to the Masterbaker and Netty. I hope all is well. Love ye fagetess."

"HIRSCHFELD CENTRE There have been no further developments in the insurance claim on the Hirschfeld Centre, Dublin's Lesbian and Gay Community Centre. The Centre has been closed since it was badly damaged by fire last November. Former Centre Management have said they expect to see the building open again by Christmas '88.

Mick Quinlan and friend Terry at a recent benefit in the Irish Film Institute. The benefit was organised by friends of Mick to see him off on his Social Studies course at UCC next September.

OMAGH BAR REFUSES GAY PEOPLE The Clock Bar In Omagh, Co. Tyrone, recently indicated that gay people should stay away from the bar as they were not wanted. The bar had been a regular Tuesday night haunt for a gay group which was set up in Omagh last April. GCN tried to contact the pub's management on two occasions but was given the cold shoulder. Meanwhile a gay publican, who does not wish to be named, has decided to make the lounge of his pub exclusively available to the Omagh gay group and friends on Thursday nights, from September 1st. The Monaghan town gay group is also expected to take up this kind offer. At the moment gay people are using a private house in Monaghan for monthly meetings. Tel-A-Friend, the Gay Switchboard, will provide specific details to genuine callers as required."

SIDES SPECULATION SIDES, the popular dance club in Dublin which hosts a gay night on Sundays, is up for sale. The night club's lease was recently put on the market and is expected to sell for anything up to £100,000. Speculation on the future of SIDES has been rife for some time amongst city drinkers and nightclubbers. Up to the middle of last year SIDES had cornered a chunk of the trendy gay and straight nightclub market. Its only rival was the Hirschfeld Centre's Flikkers with which it enjoyed a mutually supportive relationship. The 2 1/2 year old club earned itself a reputation for exciting crowds, innovative design and decor and good gay community relations. Things however began to go wrong when a fire caused considerable damage to the premises last November - incredibly a mere week after the fire at the Hirschfeld Centre. The club never totally recovered although numbers continued to pour into the place. Decor inadequacy, poor sound equipment and discontent among staff over the past few months fueled speculation and gossip about SIDE'S ultimate demise. Notwithstanding the speculation there is an incredibly loyal club membership that wishes to see SIDES continue in business and overcome its present financial problems. Is there life after SIDES many clubgoers are asking themselves? The answer is blowing in the wind.

LA VIE EST GOOD The following letter appeared in a recent edition of Gai Pied, the weekly French newsmagazine. It was too wonderful not to print and even our Dorothy would have approved. "I am 62 years of age. Until 1980 I had always suppressed the homosexual tendencies I felt in me. I married and five children were born during my marriage. When I eventually had to bow to the facts, I have tried, as best I could, to adopt and live up to my real personality, which I think I have now achieved. My wife left me as a result and all my children were informed about the 'situation'. Strangely, however, the 'revelation about me has brought the children (who are all heterosexuals) and me closer together. Eighteen months ago I met a man 7 years my junior. Our physical relationship has developed rapidly. In short, we love each other in the strongest meaning of this term. My friend, however, is English and after a sabbatical year in France, he went back to his country and his wife, whom he loves dearly. We correspond frequently and abundantly which strengthens our love for each other. My friend had originally failed to admit to his wife (who had her suspicions!) the exact and true nature of our relationship which she discovered subsequently .... She, however, showed no harshness towards me. On the contrary she invited me to spend a few days in their house in London and suggests he spend part of his own holidays with me. Another striking aspect of this relationship is the absence of any feeling of jealousy. We are putting into practice the words of Roger Garandy who said: 'Love begins the moment we prefer the other to ourselves, and respect his/her indefeasible freedom'. Yves (Angers) Editors answer: Your letter needs no comment. It expresses how sensible beings, when arriving at a crossroads in their lives, succeed in believing in happiness, in living it without playing havoc with the lives of others around them."