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.