Moves are afoot to forco the resignation of three leading members of the Executive of the National Union of Students, following harassment of the official representative of the Gay Liberation Front at the 10th World Youth Festival held in East Berlin this summer. In a lengthy report on his visit, GLF member Petet Tatchel amol documents a sitaintion of antipathy and hostility which developed to a point where "violence flared, people were punched, kicked, clothes were ripped, etc. and threats were made upon my life! The bidassbient begin Immediately spon Peler's arrival in Fast Berlin, Hostile remarks greeted his atteiots to comtact Dar DiberRConsEs in oUn delegations, and at the British delegation head quarters pay lib announcements were inmediately and repeatewy munoed Irom the nouceboard.
At a contercnec whieh Peter addressen,sa techrsenl t perelopon in al too manguage translations as soon as he mentioned gay liberasion, and it was only as a resilt of his determination to be board that 10 004 70 10 2111032 01212 31 12 speaking. Even so, the German translacion cut out all THEOPR TO OURGE ORILUNSE LOSEN DUD BI Young Liberal resolu tiens in support of guy liberation, Asa circular from the Unhersity of Landon Gaysoc and immediately he finished speaking one of the organisers (a French delegate) made an anschoduled apeech, deoouncing me as a bourpoois, crcating dheraons Irom the class strusde troine to solit the working class, and crente trouble at the Festival, etc."
Biut worse was to come at the final relly on 5 August. ВуРу рО MOS ROOaC RO CHET AS OWE OHENCE UE picara, s0 rober made one up sayang i trennan on one side: 'Homoseual Liberation, Revolutionnry Homosccuals Support Socieism," and on tho olier Nde: Liay Inheraton Front london Liril Kiahts lar Homossuals!
German officials at first tried to prevent him froen vatrsiou this olaged, bat chaiued their mirs wtien Il seemed that it micht bring untavoutable nublicity. However, whiwn he got to the march he was bealogad cries of, 'you are raining the spirit of the whole Festival you hove disgraced the good name of the British delegatlon,' ote.
Several poople then attempted to rip has placard down, but when others came to his aid his opponents decided to call for a denioctatie" vots. After the cicalatien of mab muinburs that toe placao sl Lman Lo crutic Republic persecutes hom osexunls, 4 smail majoril indicalod that Peter should not march with his niscard.
When he corroctls refused to rocognise this "democra. tic' deninl of the right automatically accorded to every other group, he was set upon. It was alter Lluis and a snor spontancous demonstatn vTE ОТлСС pay tiberation supportors, that "the violenoe was so frightening that some people leared for my safety and ie wns torced lo pave the scene.
Anong Those meisbers of the British delegation who harried and obstrucled l'eter were three members of the NUS Executive: Judy Cotter, Digby Jacks, and Steve Pruty fall, incidentally, also members of thie Communist Parly) Judy Cotter attacked him for encang me co qeiceanen, waue Dipte Jacks ard Steve Paury beth voted agaiost his right to carry his placard on the manch. Parry is also reported to have attempted to assult him.
points aut, NUS conference enrlior this year poted overuhelnindl to instruet the Executive: "To muke public the support of the NU'S for the homosexual cause.. whienever appropriate, and To support other proups actve in the poy cans, Bolably the Gay Liherution Front,' li vicw of the blatent contempt of tlmao ibembors of the Executive for NUS pelicy, sipporters of pay liberation in the student field ane mobilising support for a motion ut NUS conference in Margite condemning Uhs behaviour and calling for the resignation of those concerned. Red Weckly urgus Its renders wholcheartedly ta sapport this more. Copies of Peter Tatcheil's full report and the resolution witich is being put forward for NUS conferenve ane avzilable from: Gaysoc, University of London