Violence Against Gays

-by Corinne Bjorge

VANCOUVER (CUP) -— Gay and lesbian restaurants, bars, and community centres are tightening their security following the recent bomb- ing ofa downtswn gay book- store.

The February 6 bomb- ing of Little Sisters book- store is only one of several recent violent acts against the gay and lesbian com- munity. Since December, several downtown gay busi- nesses, including three bars, have received bomb threats.

Fred Gilbertson, vice chair of the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre, said he thinks the violence is increas- ing.

“The beat- ings are not limited to parks and beaches. They’re (now) happening outside bars, even hospitals,” said Gilbertson.

Bet Cecill, of Vancou- ver Lesbian Connection, said the violence has affected the gay and lesbian community in different ways: “Some try to hide more, some come out more. on how many are willing to stand up.”

Cecill said the provin- cial government must take

New Student Lobby Group Pushes

by Laurel Hyatt OT- TAWA (CUP) — The room was filled with more dark blue suits than a corporate board room. :

But rather than Bay Street movers and shakers, the people giving a press

Our safety depends.

part of the blame for the in- creased homophobia in the province.

“There are four or five provinces that actually have sexual orientation protection

‘in their province,” she said.

“[m angry we're sitting here with a government that doesn’t give a damn about what’s happening.”

Gilbertson said the vi- olence is also affecting gay men in an unexpected way: “It’s making gay men face women’s issues.”

Gay men are learning what it’s like when “they can’t walk in a dark city street by themselves, and when they have to arrange for a ride after a meeting,” said Gilbertson.

Cecill criticised news coverage of gay issues. The media only mentions gays and lesbians when there are violent in- cidents, and even then the coverage isn’t that good, she said. “Had this (the bomb- ing of Little Sisters) been Duthies Books, it would be all over the place.”

“The lack of Cable 4 and media response to direct at- tacks is terrifying and infuri- ating,” she said.

conference at the Chateau Laurier Monday were stu- dents, the founding members of a student lobby group sup- porting the Mulroney gov- ernment’s free trade initia- tive.

The Alliance for the Fu-

Referendum results

Vice-President Commu-

- nications amendments ap- proved Yes 220 votes No 6 votes Other constitutional

amendments approved yes 200 votes no 13 votes abstain 3 votes

Therefore all the amend- ments will be taking affect

shortly.

Ron Cameron Chief Returning Officer

Increasing In

Vancouver

I hope you realize that your heterosexuality will not necessarily prejudice my eventual affectional-preference choice.

But Gary Holmes, man- ager of the gay bar The Gandydancer said “consider- ing the newspapers we have, the coverage has been fair.

“They’ll print what sells newspapers, but they haven’t tried to sensational- ize the issue,” said Holmes.

A member of Vancou- ver’s commercial media dis- agreed with criticisms of the press.

ture of Young Canadians read from prepared speeches and handed out press kits boasting the membership of university student council presidents across Canada. During the press brief- ing, the alliance’s executive read the ideals they want to

present to the federal gov- ernment and young people. On Mondgy, the group sent a telegram to Brian Mulroney supporting free trade.

“Our call is for youth to participate and encourage young Canadians to look at the deal, whether they sup- port it or not,” said the At- lantic co-chairman Edward Farren.

The agreement with the U.S. “will mean a more se- cure economic future for our young people,” said Lars Hansen, co-chair for Ontario. “The widely-held consensus is that this deal will mean more jobs in the future.”

Carleton University’s student council

|. Sthursday March 34 080

“If there is a bombing in a downtown store you re- port the fact that there is a bombing,” said Vancouver Province city editor Bonnie Kettner.

“It’s a straightforward news story,” she said.

The Province’s coverage of the bombing of Little Sis- ter’s bookstore did not men-

president Bruce Haydon was listed as a founding member, but said in an interview after the conference that he had not given the alliance per- mission to cite him as a stu- dent council president.

“JT had reservations with the fact that I was intro- duced as the president of CUSA. Even though I sup- port free trade personally, I was not given the mandate to represent CUSA,” Hay-

don said. Haydon did not attend

the morning press conference because he was not notified of it until late the night be-

fore, he said. Haydon said another stu-

dent council president, An- | Queen’s, |

thony Carty at “was uncomfortable with the

~— fact that he was listed as the

president of Queen’s.”

The president of the stu- dent council at the Univer- sity of Manitoba (UMSU) said he was not travelling on

UMSU funds and wasn’t at | the press conference repre-

tion the anti-gay aspect c vhe bombing.

Most members of the gay and lesbian community ari happy with how the Vancou ver police have dealt with thi bombs and threats.

“They gave us a circula on what to do, left instruc tions. They’re taking it ver: seriously,” said Holmes.

Free Trade

senting U of M students.

“We are not represent ing anyone but ourselves, Janzen said.

Once the free trade issu is settled, Haydon said, th lobby group will likely dis band. Haydon said it’s un likely the government will in terpret the group’s demand as representing the views o all students across Canada.

“No government coul accept them as the alterna tive to CFS (Canadian Fed eration of Students),” h said. “There’s a strong anti free trade movement a Guelph and Queen’s (univer sities).”

Brad Wall, the West ern co-chairman, said the al liance had to call for th government to finish nega tiations right away. “Ou future’s economic securit: hinges on the fact that thi choice must be made now.. We need to seize the oppor tunities of today so youn

_people will benefit tomo:

row.”