Divine:

Marie Laurencin

5th October

The Council of Europe, by a 2/3 majority, adopts extensive recommendations "On Discrimination Against Homosexuals", Strasbourg, 1981.

Also today, Pope John Paul II in his first pronouncement on the subject stressed that homosexual activity would continue to be "morally wrong", Chicago, 1979.

9th October

Film director James Whale commemorated today (see last issue).

Also today: English artist Simeon Solomon, whose homoerotic paintings pervaded Victorian art and who was arrested in a London public urinal in 1973, bom in London, 1840.

10th October

Jsutice McWilliam upheld the constitutionality of Ireland’s anti-gay laws, quoting "current Christian morality" as a main factor, in a spectacular High Court (Court No. 8) decision, Dublin, 1980.

15th October

The Roman poet Virgil was bom today near modem Mantua, 70 B.C.

16th Ocotober

In every sense our very own, Oscar Wilde, born in Dublin, 1854.

17th October

Montgomery Clift bom in Omaha, Nebraska USA, 1920.

18th October

Jean -Jacques - Régis de Cambaceres, author of the liberal Code Napoleon, bom in Montpelier, 1753.

19th October

Decadent film star and trashy chanteuse Divine bom in Baltimore, USA, 1946.

20th October

Arthur Rimbaud, who renounced poetry at the tender age of nineteen and spent many years with an African lover, bom in Charleville, France, 1854.

Also today, the National Gay Federation and civil liberties groups opposed the Criminal Justice Bill which was introduced by Fine Gael Minister Michael Noonan as a response to "escalating crime", Dublin, 1983.

21st October

150 Save Ulster from Sodomy extremists jeered delegates to the gay rights conference organised by the National Union of Students - first of its kind in Northern Ireland - at Queen's University, Belfast, 1983.

Also today: The Italian poet Pietro Aretino, who began life as a male prostitute but progressed (?) to writing obscene yet witty verses, died during a fit of laughter after hearing a dirty joke, 1556.

24th October

The Emperor Domitian, who divorced his wife to be with his lover Paris, bom in Rome, 51 A.D.

28th October

Evelyn Waugh, whom we are told passed through the "extreme homosexual phase", born in London, 1903.

31st October

Silent film star and idol to thousands, Ramon Navarro was murdered by two hustlers in Hollywood, 1968.

Also today: French artist Marie Laurencin, who oncer asked "Why should I paint dead fish, onions and beer glasses when girls are so much prettier?", born in France, 1885.

30th October

The 1st Annual Drag Ball - precursor of the Halloween Ball - held at Flikkers (Hirschfeld Centre), Dublin, 1982.