Gay Society Banned!

Norther women who are on the one hand incarcerated for struggling agquinst rep-ession and on the other hand find that even the implementation of British legislation is It is possible for women to unite would expose major weakneis in the political parties fighting in the general election. But this must not opposed |by the Unionist ruling ctass.

around a programme for action which ular from our political independence.

more difficult. “make contact" with Northem women seemed an empty gesture in this conNorth. If the brouder women's move assistance . In an unprecedented decision, the Joint Board of University College, Cork refused an application by the newly formed GAY SOCIETY for recognition as a college society. The president of the college, Sean Feegan, has banned the Gay Society from meeting in college. The refusal of recognition means that no college money will be made available to the society and in general the work of the society will be made When the vote was taken the three student representatives voted in favour while the four academic staff voted against without giving any reason. However, it is generally felt that the reason had to do with the sexual predjudices of the acad~ emics. In an earlier decision they again voted en bloc to stop the purchase of GAY NEWS, SPARE RIB and other progressive publications for the student reading rooms saying that Charles Kerrigan (the gay general secretary of the $.U.) was foisting his‘degeneracy‘ on others.

The anti-gay views of the college authorities have not gone without challenge. A leoflet calling on students to protest at violation of gay and human rights has been produced by the Gay Society. Many other societies have passed motions condemning the oction and the Students Union, Class Council has promised continued financial dramas of prison struggle. Instead she portrayed the complex problems The emergence of on active Gay Society in UCC is one of several progressive developments in the Cork area. The Gay community has become more open ond vocal. The spearhead of this radicalisat ion has been the Cork Gay Collective. Over the past eight months this group has realised through discussion that there can be no liberation without the direct participation —_in this process. Consequently they have initiatives including interviews on local radio, a lobby of the Labour Party and, most significantly, a forum for gay activists at the Glencree Reconciliation Centre. This led to a mandate being given to the Collective to organise a national conference of gay activists.

Already a planning committee, consisting of members of the Collective, the Gay Society and individual members of the Cork Irish Gay Rights Movement (IGRM) has been set up. It is hoped to have open forums, films ond workshops as well as general discussion and socials. Gays from all 32 counties are invited and many are expected from Britain and the Continent.

MARTIN MAC AN GHOILL Letters of protest should be sent to: Joint Board, University College, Cork. Send copies to: Gaysoc. c/o Students Union, UCC.

(which despite being anti-abortion still mark a step forward) but as Nell points out: "It has so far proved easier to feminise Republicans, who hove much to gain from the inclusion of women in the struggle thon to republiconise feminists.....---+ % The limitations of the book on this question ore clearly the limitat ions of the anti-imperialist feminist current at this point in time. If we are not simply to repeat the hist ory of women in the struggle, but are to transcend it by building an autonomous movement of women which con gain acceptance for the fundamental demands of women's liberation, then anti-imperialist feminists must develop beyond the support of women prisoners.

It must base itself on a broader anti-imperialist programme which links up key issues facing women (abortion, contraception, childcare) with the fight against imperialism, by ensuring that these questions all result from the form of imperialist domination in Ireland.

Only by broadening its programme and fighting to involve working class women will the anti-imperialist feminist current make a historic contribution to integrating working class women's struggles for their own demon@s into the Fight for national liberation.

Despite these aspects, the book is o valuable contribution to the fight for such a women's movement. It presents a powerful image of 'the Armogh women' whose determination and courage is a challenge to cll Irish women, North and South. Nell's book will undoubtedly bring that chailenge home to many thousands of women, particularly in the 26 counties, in a way that they will not be able to ignore.