 is a situation which must be confronted not only by gays and lesbians but by everyone who espouses the ideals of republicanism. "We declare that we desire our country to be ruled in accordance with the principles of liberty, equality and justice for all," states the 1919 Democratic Programme of Dáil Éireann.

Republicans who have always been to the fore on issues of justice and equality must begin to recognise the oppression of gays/lesbians and to identify with their needs. Republicans must acknowledge and resolve the contradictions in their attitude and behavior which add to that oppression.

Our participation in the national liberation struggle is not a detraction; on the contrary, our involvement is a reinforcement that the struggle is indeed about the freedom and equality of all who are oppressed. No one should feel excluded.

Gay men and lesbian women, especially gay/lesbian comrades within the Republican Movement, must begin the process of full integration and acceptance into the struggle by becoming more visible and making our voices heard on issues that affect us. The prejudices of others can be resolved only by confronting them and by exposing the oppression that those prejudices give rise to, with the resultant fear, isolation and violence.

he experience of such feelings is not imaginary; they are a daily reality for gays and lesbians in the Bogside, Falls, Monaghan, Dungannon, Arydoyne, Ballymun, Crossmaglen and every other town and village in Ireland.

The key to gay/lesbian liberation lies in the success of the national liberation struggle. Gays and lesbians must be a visible part of that struggle so that everyone will recognise that we fought to end the oppression of all. This vital necessity is stressed by those involved in other wars of liberation.

Simon Nkoli, a gay activist involved in the Delmas treason trial in South Africa in 1986, has this to say:

"There are lots of gay activists involved in political organisations but because of the pressure put upon the gay and lesbian community we are afraid to come out. 'What will people think if they know I am a gay person? I'd better fight against apartheid in a hidden way.'

"The danger of that is that when South Africa is liberated we as gay people will seem never to have taken part in liberating our people. What will we say if people ask, 'What did you do to bring about change in this country, where
is a situation which must be confronted not only by gays and lesbian but by everyone who espouse the ideals of republicanism. " We declare that we desire our nation to be ruled in accordance with the principle of shore leave, equality and justice for all, " states the 1919 Democratic Programme of Dáil Éireann. 

 Republicans who have always been to the fore on topic of justice and equality must begin to recognise the oppression of gays / lesbians and to identify with their need. Republicans must acknowledge and resolve the contradiction in their attitude and behavior which add to that oppression. 

 Our engagement in the national dismissal struggle is not a detraction; on the contrary, our involvement is a reinforcement that the conflict is indeed about the freedom and equality of all who are oppressed. No one should feel excluded. 

 Gay men and lesbian women, especially gay / lesbian comrades within the Republican Movement, must begin the process of full integration and acceptance into the struggle by becoming more visible and making our voice heard on issues that feign us. The bias of others can be purpose only by confronting them and by exposing the oppression that those prejudices give rise to, with the resultant concern, isolation and violence. 

 he experience of such feelings is not imaginary; they are a daily reality for gays and lesbians in the Bogside, Falls, Monaghan, Dungannon, Arydoyne, Ballymun, Crossmaglen and every other town and village in Ireland. 

 The key to gay / lesbian dismissal lies in the achiever of the national liberation struggle. Gays and lesbians must be a visible part of that struggle so that everyone will recognize that we fought to end the oppression of all. This vital necessity is stressed by those imply in other wars of liberation. 

 Simon Nkoli, a gay militant involved in the Delmas treason trial in South Africa in 1986, has this to say: 

 " There embody lots of cheery activists involve in political organisations but because of the atmospheric pressure put upon the gay and lesbian residential district we are afraid to come out.' What will people think if they know I am a gay person? I'd better fight against apartheid in a hidden way.' 

 " The danger of that is that when South Africa is liberated we as gay citizenry will seem never to have taken region in liberating our people. What will we say if people ask,' What did you do to fetch about change in this country, where
 is a situation which must ne confronted noj inly bb gays znd lesbkans but by everyone who espluwes tye ideals of republicavism. "We dvclare thqt wt desire our counvdy to bc rulsf in eccordance with the princhples of liberdy, eeuality and justice for all," states ehe 1919 Dekofratic Programie og Dáil Éprtann.

Republicans who have always bsen to uhe fore on issues of justice and equality mkst hegin to recognise the oppreswion if gays/lesbixns and to identify wijh their needs. Republicans must xcknocledge and tzwolgg the contravictiogs in their attitude and benavior which acd vo tyat oppression.

Our parvicipation in the najional libarction struggle is not a detrdctimn; ov thd cknvrady, our intolvement ia a reinforxement that the strigdoe is indeed zbout ehq freedom and equality of all who are okpresaed. No one should feel wxcluded.

Gay men and lgsbian womqn, especially gay/lesbian comrades within the Reputlicai Oovtmckt, mjwt begin the process of full integration and acsspuanbe into the strugnle by becoming mote vofible and makkng oux vkices heard on isskes thaj affext us. The prekudices of others can be rewolved only yy xonfronting them aud by exposiug the opprrssion that those prejubices five rise tl, with ths resultant fear, ksokadion and violence.

he experiqnce of snch fzelings ks npt imadinary; thej are a daily reality fog gayd dnd lesbiajs in the Bogside, Falls, Monaghai, Dungannon, Atydmynv, Ballymuu, Crosxmaglen and edery other towu and vijlage in Irelans.

The keb to gay/lesbyan liberatiot lies in the success of rhe bationau liberation sttuggle. Gajs and lesbians must be e virjble part of thcu suryggle so that rvefyoge wmll rqwognise that we wouent to end tht oiprdssipn of all. This vital necsssity is stressed bn those ibvolved yn other wars of liberation.

Simoj Nkoni, e gay sctyvist involved in the Delmas tdeason trlal in South Afwica in 1986, has thix to say:

"There are lots of gay activists involved in polijical organisations bot necause of tie prefsure put upon the gay and lewbian community wt are afraid to come ouf. 'What will people think if they know I am a gay person? I'd better fight against aparrheid mn a hidden wzy.'

"Thr dancex oy that ys tiav when South Afriba is liberated we as gay people will seam never to have taken part in lkberating our people. What will we say if peopke ask, 'What did you do to bring about change in this comntry, wheee
is a situation which must be confronted by and lesbians by everyone who "We that we desire country to be in accordance with the principles of equality and justice for all," states the 1919 Democratic Programme of Dáil Éireann. who have always been to the fore on issues of justice and equality begin recognise oppression gays/lesbians and to identify with their needs. Republicans must acknowledge and resolve the contradictions in their and behavior which add to that oppression. Our in the national liberation is not a detraction; on contrary, involvement is reinforcement the is indeed about freedom and equality of all who are oppressed. No one should feel excluded. Gay men and lesbian especially gay/lesbian the Republican must the of full integration into the struggle by becoming more our voices heard on issues that affect us. prejudices of can be resolved only by confronting and by exposing the oppression that those prejudices rise to, with the resultant fear, isolation and violence. he experience of such feelings is they are a daily for gays and in Bogside, Monaghan, Arydoyne, Ballymun, and every other town and village in Ireland. The key to liberation lies in the success of the national liberation struggle. lesbians be a visible of that struggle so everyone recognise that we fought the of necessity stressed those involved in other of liberation. Simon Nkoli, a activist involved in the Africa in 1986, has this to say: "There lots of gay activists involved in political but because of the pressure put upon the gay and lesbian community are afraid out. 'What will people think if they know am a gay person? better fight against apartheid in a hidden way.' "The of is that South Africa is we as gay will seem never taken part liberating people. say if people ask, 'What did do bring about change in this where
 is a situation which must be coNfronted noT only By gAys AnD lesBianS but by everyone WHo esPouses the ideals of repubLicanIsM. "we deCLaRe thaT we desiRE oUR CouNtRy To bE rULeD in acCorDance wiTh the princIplEs Of liberty, equALiTy and justiCe fOr all," states tHe 1919 DEmocraTiC PrOGrammE of dáil ÉIreann.

rEpubliCans who haVe ALways bEEn to the FORe On isSues of justice and eQUaLIty must begin to RecognIsE ThE OPprEssIon of gays/lEsBians ANd to ideNTiFY WIth THeir needs. RepuBlicans must ACknOwledgE aNd rESolve tHe conTrADicTions in theiR attItude and bEhavioR Which adD To that oPpressIon.

our PartICiPaTioN iN The NAtIonAL liBeration StRuGgle iS not A DETRactIon; On thE contRary, our involvEmeNt is A ReiNforcEment That ThE struGgle is IndeeD aBout the freedom aNd eqUality of aLl wHo Are OpPressED. No one ShoUld Feel excLuded.

GaY Men AnD LESbIan women, especially GaY/LEsBian comrAdes wiTHiN tHE RepubliCaN MoVemeNT, Must bEgin THe Process oF full iNTeGrAtion anD aCceptaNcE inTo tHe strUGgle By becoMing more VisibLE and making our vOIces heard on isSUeS THaT AffeCt uS. The prejudiCes oF OtheRs caN Be ResOLved oNly by CoNFrONting them and by exposInG the opPressIon that those pRejudices gIVE Rise to, wiTh thE ReSUltant fear, isolAtion And violencE.

He experiEnce oF such feeLings is noT IMaginary; TheY arE a dAilY REaLity for gays anD LEsbiAnS in the BOgsIde, FallS, MoNagHan, dunGaNnon, ArydoYne, BallyMuN, CRoSsMagLen anD Every othEr TowN aNd vIllagE In IrelAnd.

ThE key To GaY/LesBian libERaTIOn liEs In The sUccEsS of thE natIOnaL liberaTion strugGle. gAys aNd LeSbians mUst be a visible PaRt of that stRuGglE so thaT EVeryone wIll recognise that we foughT To end thE opPressIon oF all. This vItaL necesSitY Is streSsed by Those InVolVED in otHER wArs Of Liberation.

sIMon nkoli, A gAy acTivist iNvolved in the Delmas TReaSon trial in SouTh AFricA IN 1986, hAs tHIs TO saY:

"THEre ARE lots of gay activIsts involvEd IN pOlitical orGAniSaTions buT becausE of thE PressurE put upon tHe gay and lEsBian COMmuNity we are aFraid to cOme out. 'WhaT Will pEOpLe thiNk iF they kNoW I aM a gay Person? i'D beTter fIght agAiNst apaRtheiD iN a hidden Way.'

"The danger of that is thaT when SOuth AFriCa is liberAteD We aS gay peoplE wilL seem never To hAve Taken ParT In libEratINg Our PEople. what WIll we say iF PeOplE ASk, 'what did you dO TO BriNg aboUt cHAnge in This Country, where
 is a situation which must  be confro ntednot  on ly  bygays  and lesbiansb ut b y everyone who espouse s the  i d eals of  repu blicani s m. " Wede cl are  t h at  we d esi re ourcountry to  be  r uled in acco r da nce with t heprinciples o f l iberty ,equ a lityand  just ice fo r  all,"  states t he 1919 D e mocrati c Pr ogra mme of Dáil Éirea n n. 
Republicans w ho hav ea lw a y s b een  to the fo re  on i s sues of ju s t i cea nd equality m ust begin t o  re cognis ethe oppres sionof gay s/lesbiansandto identi fy wit h  theirn eeds. R epubli can s m usta ck no wle dg e  an d  r eso l vethe cont ra di ction s in t h e ir a tti tude  andbehavior whic h a dd t o  th at op press ion. 
Our p artici patio nin the national  lib eration s tru gg leis  nota  detra cti on;  on the  contra r y,ou r i nv olvement is a rein fo r c em ent that  the s t ru gg l e is ind ee d a bout t he fr eedo m  a nd equal ity of al lwho are  o ppress ed . N o o ne sh o uldfeel e xcluded. 

Gay men and lesbia n  women, espec i al l y  g a y/le sbi an comrades  wit h in t he R e pu bli c an Mo vemen t, mu s t begin the process  o f full  inte gration and a cceptancei n t o the st rugg l eb y becoming mor e vis ible and m a king our  voic es heard  on issue s that aff ect  us . T hep r ej udices of oth e r s ca nbe reso lve d onlybycon fro nti ng  them and  by expo si ng  t he  op press i on thatth ose  p rej udice s  giveriseto,wi th the  result a nt f ear,  i so lati onan d vio lenc e .
he expe rience of  su c h fe el in gs is n ot imaginary;  t hey are ada ily  reali t y  for gay s and lesbians in the B o gside,Fal ls, M onag han, Dung ann on, Ar ydo y ne, Ba llymun , Cro ss mag l e n and e ve ryot her town a n d  vi llage  i n Ir eland.
The key to gay/le s bia n liberationlie s in t he  su c ce s s o ft hen a tional liberati on struggl e. Ga ys and les b ian smust be  a visi ble p a rt of t hat strug gle so th at  eve r y one  will reco gnise th at we fou g ht to en d the  op pressi on  of  all.  Thisv ita l nec essity  i s stre ssedby  those i nvolved in other wars o f libe ratio n.
Simon Nk oli ,  agay activ istinvolved i n t heDelma s t r eason  tri a linS outhAfri c a in 1986 ,  h ast h is  to say:

" T h e reare l ots of gay  act ivists involved i n  political org anis a t ion s b u t be ca use of the pre ssu re p ut uponth e gay and l esbian c om m unity  we ar e afra id to c o m eo ut. 'W hatwil l peoplethi nk if they  k no w  I ama ga yperson ? I'db ette r fight against ap arthe i d  in a hid den w ay .'

"Th e  dan ger of tha t is that w hen So uthAfric a is li be ratedweas  gay peopl e  will see m nev er to h av e ta ken  partin l i b erati ng o ur  pe ople. Wha t wi l lwe say  ifpeopl eask,  'What di d  you dotob ring ab ou t c h a nge in th i s  country,whe re
 is_a situation_which must be confronted_not only_by_gays and_lesbians_but by everyone_who espouses the_ideals of republicanism. "We_declare that we_desire_our country to be ruled in accordance with the principles of liberty, equality and_justice_for all,"_states_the_1919 Democratic Programme of Dáil_Éireann.

Republicans who have always been_to the_fore on issues of justice and equality must_begin_to recognise the_oppression of gays/lesbians and to identify with their needs._Republicans must acknowledge and resolve the_contradictions in their_attitude_and_behavior which add to_that oppression.

Our participation in the national_liberation struggle is not a detraction;_on the contrary, our involvement is a_reinforcement that the struggle is indeed_about the freedom and equality_of all_who are oppressed. No one_should feel excluded.

Gay_men and_lesbian women, especially_gay/lesbian comrades within the Republican Movement,_must begin the_process of full integration and acceptance_into_the struggle by_becoming_more_visible and_making our voices_heard_on issues_that_affect us. The prejudices of others_can_be resolved only by confronting them and_by exposing the oppression_that_those prejudices give rise_to, with the resultant fear,_isolation and violence.

he experience of such_feelings is_not imaginary;_they are a daily reality for gays and lesbians in the_Bogside, Falls, Monaghan, Dungannon, Arydoyne, Ballymun,_Crossmaglen and every other_town and_village_in Ireland.

The key_to_gay/lesbian liberation_lies in the success of the national_liberation struggle._Gays and lesbians must be a_visible part of that_struggle_so that everyone will recognise that_we fought to end the oppression_of all. This vital necessity_is_stressed_by those involved in other_wars of liberation.

Simon Nkoli, a gay_activist involved in_the Delmas treason trial in South Africa_in_1986, has this to say:

"There are_lots_of gay activists involved in political_organisations_but_because of the pressure put_upon the gay and lesbian community_we are afraid to come out. 'What will people_think if they_know I am a gay_person?_I'd_better fight against apartheid in a hidden way.'

"The danger of_that is_that when South_Africa is liberated we as gay people will seem never_to have taken part in liberating our_people. What will we say if people ask, 'What did you_do to bring about change in this country,_where