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editorial It would seem that all our worst fears are being realised. Many of you will have been following with interest the attempts by the British Government to enact homophobic legislation in the form of Clause 28 of the Local Government Bill 1988. Clause 28 of the bill reads; 'a local authority shall not promote homosexuality or publish material for the promotion of homosexuality.’ Nor shall an authority 'promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship by the publication of such material or otherwise.' Outrageous as this is, what is even more frightening is the underlying thinking behind such legislation; the ultimate recriminalisation of homosexuality and a state clampdown on gay people which some feel could end with persecution and 'witchhunting' of not only gays but other minority groups in the U.K. At the moment the bill is still going through the committee stage in the House of Lords before it is ultimately returned to the Commons and voted on. Because of the large Tory majority in the Commons this bill will undoubtedly become law. Various attempts by opposition MPs to have the clause amended have ended in failure. Various gay and allied groups have been tirelessly lobbying parliament as part of the 'Stop Clause 28' campaign and have received support from among others Britain's only openly gay MP, Chris Smith of the Labour Party. Unfortunately the official Labour Party response has been lukewarm. The leadership of the party believe that a lot of the blame for the 1987 election defeat was the highlighting of gay rights issues at local government level. On Saturday 9th there was a large turnout for the march and demonstration through the centre of London protesting Clause 28. Despite the 38 arrests made the march is being seen as a great success by gay groups because of the large turnout (upward of 8000) and the amount of resistance shown by ordinary gay people. The lessons to be learnt are that not only must gay rights be fought for but that when they have been won, they must be protected. Solidarity is the key to success and with this in mind, Gay Community News is asking all our readers to join with us in showing our disapproval of this oppressive legislation and our solidarity with our British brothers and sisters by coming along to the picket on the British embassy.

"Safer Sex Guidelines The medical group of the Terence Higgins Trust in the UK has recently published a new set of safer sex guidelines. Wet and dry kissing, cock sucking and rimming (licking or eating ass) have been downgraded to LOW RISK activities in the transmission of the HIV virus (thought to cause AIDS). The THT says it ""cannot recommend oral sex as safe in the sense of carrying no risk. But it is demonstrably safer than anal sex."" Dr. Robin Bell of the THT Medical Group went on to say ""it is up to each of us to decide how 'safe' we are prepared to make our sex lives"". Leather Lesbians London leather lesbians now have a new motorbike group called Black Widows. The group intends organising Summer trips out of London, video parties and suchlike. Interested Irish motorbike dykes should contact Tina in London at (031) 326 5272. Jewish Helpline Britain's first ever Jewish Les­bian and Gay Helpline opened on February 8th on London 833- 8126. The line has been set up to provide information, advice, support and counselling to Jew­ish gay people and also aims to help family and friends in both the Jewish and lesbian/gay com­munities. This unique phone line is open every Monday and Thursday from 7p.m. to 10p.m. M.C.C. In Ireland M.C.C. the Metropolitan Com­munity Church, which has a pri­mary ministry and outreach to the gay community with branches throughout the world, is about to start a church in Ireland. The church's Irish representa­tive, Deacon Michael Foley, in­tends pastoring in Dublin after several years’ involvement in U.K. groups such as the Gay Christian Movement, Christian Action on AIDS, Quest and M.C.C. in Birmingham. Gay Community News will be carrying a feature on M.C.C. in a forthcoming issue. Further in­ formation in the meantime from Box 88-1, GCN, PO Box 931, Dublin 4. Provincial Activities Group It would be foolish to think that beyond Dublin there is no gay activity. One group def­initely believes that more should be done to cultivate gay life beyond the major cities. This is the Provincial Activities Group. The difficulties in being gay in a rural area are obvious and any effort to bring people together should be applauded and encouraged. Monaghan, Drogheda, Sligo, Wexford, Clon­mel and Limerick have had meetings so far. Clearly keep­ing people informed and pub­licising the venues for meet­ings is very important for good attendances and for building up momentum. Gay Community News will be giving the group a priority in publishing their venues and reporting on how meetings go. Tel-A-Friend will also be able to give details of meetings to anyone who would be interested."

"Safer Sex Guidelines The medical group of the Terence Higgins Trust in the UK has recently published a new set of safer sex guidelines. Wet and dry kissing, cock sucking and rimming (licking or eating ass) have been downgraded to LOW RISK activities in the transmission of the HIV virus (thought to cause AIDS). The THT says it ""cannot recommend oral sex as safe in the sense of carrying no risk. But it is demonstrably safer than anal sex."" Dr. Robin Bell of the THT Medical Group went on to say ""it is up to each of us to decide how 'safe' we are prepared to make our sex lives"". Leather Lesbians London leather lesbians now have a new motorbike group called Black Widows. The group intends organising Summer trips out of London, video parties and suchlike. Interested Irish motorbike dykes should contact Tina in London at (031) 326 5272. Jewish Helpline Britain's first ever Jewish Les­bian and Gay Helpline opened on February 8th on London 833- 8126. The line has been set up to provide information, advice, support and counselling to Jew­ish gay people and also aims to help family and friends in both the Jewish and lesbian/gay com­munities. This unique phone line is open every Monday and Thursday from 7p.m. to 10p.m. M.C.C. In Ireland M.C.C. the Metropolitan Com­munity Church, which has a pri­mary ministry and outreach to the gay community with branches throughout the world, is about to start a church in Ireland. The church's Irish representa­tive, Deacon Michael Foley, in­tends pastoring in Dublin after several years’ involvement in U.K. groups such as the Gay Christian Movement, Christian Action on AIDS, Quest and M.C.C. in Birmingham. Gay Community News will be carrying a feature on M.C.C. in a forthcoming issue. Further in­ formation in the meantime from Box 88-1, GCN, PO Box 931, Dublin 4. Provincial Activities Group It would be foolish to think that beyond Dublin there is no gay activity. One group def­initely believes that more should be done to cultivate gay life beyond the major cities. This is the Provincial Activities Group. The difficulties in being gay in a rural area are obvious and any effort to bring people together should be applauded and encouraged. Monaghan, Drogheda, Sligo, Wexford, Clon­mel and Limerick have had meetings so far. Clearly keep­ing people informed and pub­licising the venues for meet­ings is very important for good attendances and for building up momentum. Gay Community News will be giving the group a priority in publishing their venues and reporting on how meetings go. Tel-A-Friend will also be able to give details of meetings to anyone who would be interested."

"Safer Sex Guidelines The medical group of the Terence Higgins Trust in the UK has recently published a new set of safer sex guidelines. Wet and dry kissing, cock sucking and rimming (licking or eating ass) have been downgraded to LOW RISK activities in the transmission of the HIV virus (thought to cause AIDS). The THT says it ""cannot recommend oral sex as safe in the sense of carrying no risk. But it is demonstrably safer than anal sex."" Dr. Robin Bell of the THT Medical Group went on to say ""it is up to each of us to decide how 'safe' we are prepared to make our sex lives"". Leather Lesbians London leather lesbians now have a new motorbike group called Black Widows. The group intends organising Summer trips out of London, video parties and suchlike. Interested Irish motorbike dykes should contact Tina in London at (031) 326 5272. Jewish Helpline Britain's first ever Jewish Les­bian and Gay Helpline opened on February 8th on London 833- 8126. The line has been set up to provide information, advice, support and counselling to Jew­ish gay people and also aims to help family and friends in both the Jewish and lesbian/gay com­munities. This unique phone line is open every Monday and Thursday from 7p.m. to 10p.m. M.C.C. In Ireland M.C.C. the Metropolitan Com­munity Church, which has a pri­mary ministry and outreach to the gay community with branches throughout the world, is about to start a church in Ireland. The church's Irish representa­tive, Deacon Michael Foley, in­tends pastoring in Dublin after several years’ involvement in U.K. groups such as the Gay Christian Movement, Christian Action on AIDS, Quest and M.C.C. in Birmingham. Gay Community News will be carrying a feature on M.C.C. in a forthcoming issue. Further in­ formation in the meantime from Box 88-1, GCN, PO Box 931, Dublin 4. Provincial Activities Group It would be foolish to think that beyond Dublin there is no gay activity. One group def­initely believes that more should be done to cultivate gay life beyond the major cities. This is the Provincial Activities Group. The difficulties in being gay in a rural area are obvious and any effort to bring people together should be applauded and encouraged. Monaghan, Drogheda, Sligo, Wexford, Clon­mel and Limerick have had meetings so far. Clearly keep­ing people informed and pub­licising the venues for meet­ings is very important for good attendances and for building up momentum. Gay Community News will be giving the group a priority in publishing their venues and reporting on how meetings go. Tel-A-Friend will also be able to give details of meetings to anyone who would be interested."