(NDC) of the Troops Out Movement last weekend made some important steps towards consolidating the campaign and taking it forward. Most notably, this meant working out the detailed aspects of the forthcoming trade union delegation to Ireland.
The successful proposals, put forward by the IMG, dealt not only with the concrete programme of activities to be arranged for the delegation in Ireland, but also with what should be done after the delegation returns. It will now be possible to campaign for a series of regional conferences and trade union conferences to discuss the delegation's report-back and plan for an open conference for Labour Party members.
Out of such conferences and reportback meetings, support groups for TOM can be built in the unions and CLPs. This will help to overcome the isolation and separation TOM has experienced in relation to the mass organisations of the working class.
There are still many problems, though. This NDC was much smaller than the previous one, and many branches of TOM were not represented. Furthermore, there has been a decline in membership. All this could have been forseen given the lack of political clarity which RACIST ROAD will be a very dangerous feature if it goes unchecked.
Despite the political gains of this NDC in relation to the delegation, other important aspects of the IMG proposals were not accepted - most notably, that the Delegation Planning Committee should be opened out to become a broad body of activists from trade union branches, Labour Parties, TOM branches, revolutionary groups and students.
In other words, the Delegation Planning Committee should have been an open body and not simply a sub-committee of the TOM. Not only would this have given a tremen dous lease of life to building the delegation and taking the follow-up into the labour movement, it would have been a model for the organisation of TOM itself.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The rigid, party-like structure of what ought to be a broad campaign has contributed heavily towards the in ward-looking factionalism that marred the TOM ence. The tight and exclusive and the like. yet on the second.
TOM in the next few months. Ted Coxhead May's Labour Movement Conferstructure of TOM provides a feeding ground for groups who put their own narrow interests above those of the campaign as a whole, leading to threats of 'disciplinary' action These lessons have still not been learned, and indeed this NDC saw the TOM Constitution tightened up yet another notch. The IMG is con -vinced that the future development and even existence of the TOM depends on clear politics and correct organisational forms. Progress has been made on the first, but not as provements However the main question of the moment is the trade union delegation. The positions adopted at this TOM NDC, despite the other shortcomings of the conference, will enable the IMG to devote significant resources for building the delegation and the Northern Ireland is a haven for religious and moral fanatics.
The born-again Christians who Dop - ulate the Loyalist parties are not only entrenched against any move toward - they are also utterly opposed to children hav ing a swing in the park on Sundays, and to workers naving a swim in ne counci baths or going to the cinema. And in most parts of this statelet they have the power to ram suce reactionary nonsensi down the throats of the whole populaMore importantly, the views of these fanaties also reign supreme on matters of social legislation. This column has al ready reported on the plight in which Irish women find themselves.
On these matters, however, at least some movement is underway to gain imBut one oppressed section of society in the North remains in total isolation - me estimated cuuu nomosexuals and lesbians, who make up approxim ately 5 per cent of the North's popula.
The overwhelming majority of peop le in both the Loyalist and anti-Unionist communities regard homosexuality as a case for psychiatric and penal treat ment. It is regarded not merelv as off ensive but as a sickness and an unnatural vice. Aversion therapy, self-denial, and even prayer are prescribed: and if that fails, then there is always prison because, of course, homosexuality is a crime in the Norta The 1967 Sexual Offences Act in Britain, which legalised homosexual relanions Derween consentine aquits over 21) in private, does not apply in the North of Ireland. As a result, the Royal Wister constabulary nave total treedom to carry out a campaign of harassment against Northern Irish gays One such campaign is in full swing at the moment. Diaries. letters. addres books, gay liberation literature, and cor respondence between the Secretary of State and the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association (NIGRA) over reforms which NIGRA is seeking -all wese nave been seized by the police Seven men have been subjected to leng. thy interrogation by the RUC: this was conducted in a very hostile fashion, and by all accounts went into the most degrad ing detail about their sexual behaviour and acquaintances All seven were also threatened with exposure to family and employers - but as none have made any secret of their homosexuality, these threats backfired in the face of the police. However, the names and addresses of people who are JOHN MAGEE reports from Belfast intensely afraid of exposure have been taken by the RUC in a series of raids since 20 January.
The intimidation of gays, and the removar ormes and mempersnio lists. 1s clearly designed to disorganise and stifle the young gay liberation movement in the North; and it has to an extent succeeded. There are few in the Six Coun ties to whom the hay movement can turn for solidarity and support. That is why revolutionary socialists must be outspoken in detence or the rignt or gays to define their own sexual orientation and organise in defence of this right.
ootlalists and tavs in britain can also help by sending telegrams/letters of pro test against the RUC's harassment to Merlyn Rees, and telegrams/letters of solidarity to the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association, c/o Students Union, Queens University, Belfast BTT.