that capitalist society does not of itself enlightenThat polite be rendered They have also indicated that the increasingly public existence of gays is that will example. On the contrary it is something that will be powerful forces and must be defeated by powerful forces.
There has had to be a turn towards the defence of gay rights by mass only gays themselves but non-gay organisations of oppressed groups and the labour between the two major struggles in the US in this period shows the kind of political development that has taken place.
When Anita Bryant campaigned in Miami for the repeal by referendum of a gay anti-discrimination law, Children campaign, the ad hoc coalition that relied on advertisements and sponsorship from activists holding public vote was lost; but the loss Willi When Senator Briggs introduced his referendum proposal in California to exclude gays from the schools, the the gay movement was still there of course 1978 The Concerned Voters of California insisted that the presenters of TV ads, were paying, be non-gay and as right-wing as possible.
did picycill the formation of coalitions throughout California which adopted open and of canvassing, voter registration and demonstrating, focussed on winning the support of | the working class and the oppressed.
The National Organisation Women gave strong support to the campaign, which supported demand for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
A 'Workers' Conference Against Briggs' attracted, hundreds of trade unionists from diverse sectors. School students went on one day strikes to help in the campaign.
The climax of the campaign was a demonstration quarter strong in San Francisco, a third of WElC women and including thousands of Chicanos and blacks and with delegations from the largest unions in the city The Briggs proposal overwhelmingly rejected, contrary to all expectations. The same turn has been made in other countries.
In Sydney in June and August gay demonstrations brutally attacked by the police as part their campaign against militancy in the city.
The gay movement, allied with the women's movement and the fought for and won support from the trade union movement against this • repression.
In Britain, the prosecution of Gay MARIA PALLA giving evidence to the judge duriag ber trial Whitehouse led to the organisation of of a demonstration of 5000 people with a of anti-fascist organisations dented on a gay demo, as well as small but signinicant labour movement.
Similarly, in Canada, forces were mobilised in massive opposition to the prosecution of the Body Politic, to a police raid on a gay bar in Montreal when 140 people were arrested, and to million Anita Bryant's tour of the country The efficacy of sations is shown by the passing soon afterwards of an anti-discrimination law by the Quebec State parliament and by the unexpected acquittal of the was Body Politic defendants. Allies were • The trade union support obtained in these mobilisations did not emerge all spontaneously, but had in most cases been built for over the years by caucuses in the unions allied closely with the left.
A recent example in this country is the overwhelming approval by •Civil and Public Services Association successful conference, by dațion of the executive, of a change in women's and nation orientation unpreceWinning support the but these mobili- clandestine Franco Today, in Spain, The need to gay tant as big the In this against the recommen Canada.
June, the hear . UrOlLar were necessary. will struggle.
has made government's down. the constitution making one of the union's aims opposition to discrimion the basis of sexual this kind of formal support is vital in laying the basis for mobilising the unions against attacks 'on gays at work or outside.
The importance close links between the gay movement and the jabour movement is also shown ini Spain, where close collaboration was up, necessity between gay groups ana the Neighbourhood Commissions under these links ensure a present of non-gay organisations on gay demonstrations and effective protection of the still illegal gay organisations experience of the last few years of the gay struggle points to the will support other organisations of the oppressed and to fight with class-struggle methods.
This becomes increasingly imporcapital gives increasing support to the demagogic politics of the petit bourgeois right.
way the fight for gay liberation will become part • struggle for socialism in reality as well poured in from Europe, the US, and In acquitting her, the judge called the charges an attack on the freedom of the press, and said abortion should And it will be. This weekend, national campaign fol contraception and abortion |ČNAC will be holding & counter tribunal co show the effect of the present law, which bans all abortions.
Up to 1000 people are expected to sociologists, and psychiatrists talk about the horrifying conditions abortions are conducted under, and the physical and menti harm of repeated illegal abortions women will publich sadmit to abortions and tell why the And trade unionist stress that contraception is not widely availa and abortion is illegal, womer never be able to take a full part in But if the acquittal of Maria F it easier to talk not stoppe attempts to The first women in memory arrested for having an abortion on trial in Lisbon on 5 July. SI well known like Maria Pilla need support from wome out the world if she is to be Socialis Chalkinge 21 Juné 1979.