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"Have You A Problem? Dear Dorothy, I have been reading your column since the very start although I wasn't sure how serious you were because of the little pictures. I am not gay but my mother is and it was me who picked up the copy of Gay Community News in college and brought it home for my mother to read. Now the problem I'm writing to you about is concerning my mother and her girlfriend. She has been living with us for the past 5 years but recently they've been fighting and arguing a lot. Usually it’s over silly little things like leaving clothes around the house. I have seen my mother cry a lot over their arguments and her girlfriend gets upset too. The problem is I don't know what to do. Sometimes I hate coming back in the evenings because I'll find my mother moody as usual and just sitting around the house not interested in anything or anyone. From a frustrated girl in Dublin Dear Frustrated, Firstly all letters received are taken very seriously. Regarding the problem of your mother and her lover. Because they haven't written to me personally with their problems it makes it much more difficult for me to advise you or them. However, from what you've described I can see some classic routine symptoms rearing their ugly heads here. Arguing over what appears to be silly things is very common among couples who have hit a low spot and are feeling resentment toward their partner or very often toward themselves. This is usually a cover up for what they really want to say, e.g. ""pick up your socks!"" (I'm pissed off). They can either make or break their relationship at this point and this is where you can help. You said your mother was moping around the house. This is what you have to avoid. Encourage her to go out as much as possible. Go out with her if you can; she needs to get involved in some outside activity. Your mother requires other interests and hobbies to fill up her life and occupy her time, so that when she does see her lover again they will have new things to share and talk about. You'll be surprised how well this course of action can work. It's up to all three of you to get this plan into action. I see you are from Dublin. The lesbian and gay community here in Dublin needs a lot of motivated, interested people. We have a lot of work to do and not enough people to go around. Perhaps your mother would be interested in getting involved. If not, there are plenty of other organisations, groups, clubs and activities she may be interested in. I wish you, your mother and her lover luck for the future. Dorothy"

"JOAN COLLINS FAN CLUB at Edmund Burke Hall, Trinity College, Dublin If you sat in the front row, arrived late, decided to take a trip to the toilet or even laughed in an unusual way, you inevitably fell victim to the sharp and wonderfully abusive tongue of Julian Clary who is the Joan Collins Fan Club. The Joan Collins Fan Club is an alternative Drag Act which is camp, witty and entertaining. The eighty minute set gave us some riotous moments though slow paced and at times he laboured on a joke to the point of boredom. Clary especially had it in for James Anderton, supply teachers, Roger Whitaker, policemen, heterosexuals and Judith Chalmers. Whilst his set was often gratuitously smutty and contained standard material, the presentation was refreshing original. Without Fanny the Wonder Dog in this show, Clary was accompanied by 'the lovely Russell' (the only heterosexual in show business, according to Clary) and together they provided some hilarious musical entertainment. Especially memorable was their brilliant rendition of 'Leader of the Pack' and their own 'You put sugar in my tea again, you bastard!' The Joan Collins Fan Club makes a welcome change from the typical, outdated drag shows. We didn't leave the theatre with aching faces, but certainly felt well entertained. Tim Pitt"

"All American boy, 26 yrs, w/blonde hair, hazel eyes, 6 feet, 1651bs, seeks Irish pen pal to share warm thoughts, and possible photo. Love music, parties and romantic evenings. 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."

"SIMON FANSHAWE AND JENNY LECOAT Project Arts Centre, Dublin, October 3rd-8th. Simon and Jenny both toured Ireland in 1984 with ""Three of a Different Kind"", performing at the Hirschfeld Centre and University College, Dublin. They’ve got a good comic line in sexual politics but seeing them a few years ago prepared me for their show at the Project which I felt was a little wanting in parts. Jenny Lecoat's act was once described as ""politically conscientious filth"" which, based on her performance at the Project, was quite true. However, I don't know if it was the late time (billed for 11.30pm although she didn't come on until 11.45pm) or my own perceptions of the act but I found the whole thing dragging somewhat. There was no denying the humour of Jenny's performance; very sharp and outrageously funny as she put (mainly) men, our lifestyles, attitudes, pecadillos and more often than not, our penises, under her acidic tongue. Metaphorically speaking of course. Simon Fanshawe came on and regaled the audience with jokes which centred around his gayness. I began to find this a bit of a bore after a short while although it was interesting to observe the reactions of other people in the audience. For example, the British Embassy, who sponsored the show, was impassive during some of silly Simon's speak while a faggot contingent nearly collectively creased itself with laughter. Religion and America got a good poking but I just wanted my bed at that stage. Simon needs to tighten up his act or he could be left behind by his endearing colleague Jenny. That said, the venue was ideal for this type of cabaret/political theatre. Jon Hues"