A charter for gay rights

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LAST OCTOBER the Labour Campaign for Gay Rights in Nottingham initiated proposals for gay demands upon local authorities which were sub sequently taken up by most of the other gay groups in a joint publication called 'A Fair Deal for Gays - A Charter for the 1983 District Elections'.

Employment: non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in appointments, promotion and dismissals, the creation of a working environment which allows gays to come out in safety at work; staff training to include an input by 'guest lecturers' from gay organisations; compassion ate leave for gay partners, monitoring anti-gay discrimination by prívate employers in the City, publicising the equal opportunities policy in job Housing: recognition of same-sex couples as joint tenants for council housing; inheritance of the tenancy on the death or loss of a gay partner; joint mortgages for gay couples; joint-sharer schemes for single gays; 'housing counsellor' to liaise with staff of a Gay Centre on gay homelessness etc, Leisure: financial and administrative support to establish a Gay Centre, with permanent paid workers, funding of gay switchboards and counselling services, publicity materials and exhibition spáces for gay groups; resources centre for gay and other community organisations, support for the establishment of gay youth groups, and encouragement to existing youth groups to recognise the existence and needs of gay youth within their own memberships, grants to other bodies to be dependent upon their acceptance of Other functions: support for visiting rights for gay partners in hospitals and positive teaching about homosexuality in hospital training ete via council nominees on the Area Health Authority and the Community Health Councils, encouragement to schools and FE colleges to recognise the needs of gay teachers and students, the removal of prejudiciai teaching materials, and provision of positive role models in teaching establishments sia nominees on school and FE colleges, liaison with county council on police and social service functions affecting gays; liaison with local MPs for 'Fair Deal for Gays' should be useful to comrades active in preparing . manifestos for their local elections. Copies are available (s.a.e. 16½p) from LCGR, 21 Devonshire Promenade, Lenton, Nottingham NG7 2DS (0602 blacks and women are clearly oppressed but gays are too insignificant in numbers or degree of oppression to be considered at all.

This objection was eventually overcome by conceding that gays were one of the 'disadvantaged groups' in society.

The next obstacle was reluctance to specify gays wherever the disadvantaged groups were mentioned. The objection was raised that if all such groups were mentioned the document would resemble a dictionary. If gays were to be included, what about other minorities, such as fat people?

This was eventually overcome Labour Campaign for Proposals in the document include.

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encouragement for gay housing co-ops. the needs of gay users. changes in laws discriminating against gays.

780124). cided not to support the proposal when it came up for discussion at the next District Party.

It was not surprising, after these obstacles, that the 'corruption theory' should put in an appearance. And of course it did.

The City Council's support for the establishment of youth groups would be the hottest potato of all, and would lose us the election without any doubt. So out it came.

But it the Right were to be believed, the election had already been 'lost' several times over.

It had been "lost' in the East Nottingham Constituency a fortnight before when that Party agreed that security of council tenancies on the death of a gay partner and joint mortgages for gays would be included. in the housing section.

But they were already housing committee practice' , cried the Housing Committee chairman, so there was no need to mention them at all.

Comma

No matter that most gays would not know this. To tell the gays would mean telling everyone else too. And many straights would certainly object.

However, after numerous hours spent in working parties and four special meetings of the District Party the manifesto was completed and approved down to the last dot and comma..

A vain attempt by the Right to have it 'edited' by the Executive Committee failed and we now await its publication. Before the election, we hope!

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•International n Rescuing the Reagan DISMAYED US officials were last week trying to salvage pieces of their latest Middle East strategy, atter it ran aground on the rocks of Palestinian resistance.

The Reagan Plan' was from the Syrian regime, which fears that the outcome would leave Zionist troops on the Syrian Golan s heights, menacing Damascus.

With these divisions in the Arab camp, the attention of the US imperialists has been focussed on persuading the Saudi rulers Salvadoran troops on the hunt for guerillas

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Gay Rights, c/0 61A Bloom St, Manchester