Sinn Fein, to put their point of view. Once a free discussion has been allowed, it is possible to win the union votes. This is why party bosses like David Hughes have reacted so strongly to the proposals of the London region. And that is why, more than ever, pseudo posturing on the purist, resolutions has to be dropped in favour of a position that will Conference believes that 12 years of direct rule has failed to alter the fundamentally sectarian nature of the Norhern relane shate waistome une contnung muran sigence of Loyalist politicians this should not be allowed to block political progress. onen ane wee anone acoale movement on the matter of British withdrawal.
Conference notes the statement by 32 leading Irish trade unionists and the recent private member's Bill both advocating withdrawal and requests the NEC to promote uch discussion by a) Circulating all a cohdrawal Bill together with its introduction, and request that organisations discuss it and send back their b)ine NEw organise regional public meeungs on unis issue with Labour Party, trade union, women section and Irish speakers We believe there should be an •roughoul unc laboul CLPs and affiliated organisations with Irish trade unionists statement and the the IT'S NOT the AIDS virus, but the hysteria surrounding it that's the biggest threat to the lesbian and gay movement today.
That is essential point for socialists grasp: AIDS is foremost ideological threat. Two cranics 11lustrate this.
First, lesbians have been affected by the moral panic almost as much as the gay men, yel licy group at risk. SeCold. labelling AIDS the 'gay plague' has led American researchers blind alley of investigating gay men's life styles, as a possible cause of the disease.
now seems, from available evidence, tional trade inheino -tional trade in blood.
rapidly there because their health service is private - there was no incentive to fight the disease or find a cure.
It spread among the gay male ghettoes of San Francisco and Manhattan because anal sex is a par ticularly efficient way transmitting the disease cases there.
In France and Belgium havemen Africans ups have been Africans per cent in Belgium. The infection there has been passed on by heterosexual sex. As yet there is no anti gay hysteria.
In Britain there are just 40 cases. pected to rise to over 400 the end of the year. Already there have been a number of cases of gay men sacked because of the Hysicila. started to cal for ga s to The right has carry identification cards stricter laws and much more besides. In Germany in the '30s the Nazis used the Jews against remarkably similar way The point is that the AIDS hysteria has fertile ground in the conscious and sub-conscious belief that can catch' homosexuality.
This 'leakage' argument underlies society's gays right from panic about them looking after children, to liberal attitudes that say what people do in private is alright as long as they don't promote it So far the movement's silence and inaction has been eloquent. Kinnock Meacher might claim to have thei hearts in the right place but their mouths certainly aren't.
LCGR will be discussing plans for movement conterence on AIDS at its annual It has already produced leaflet requesting information the state of play in the workplace. NALGO's in to all its workforce is the best yel movement has moved foy The lesbian and wala over least few years, nowhere faster than during the year of the miners' With the moral minority on the move, it's time for the left to put its foot down, start organising and join us in defending our movement.
• Further details London LCGR, 39 Chippennam Road, London W9 (phone: 01-286 4823) Alternatively, contact the Terrence Higgins BM AIDS, London 3XX (phone: 01-278 8745).
Socialist Action 3 May 1985