Bigotry at Labour club
Socialist Organiser1982 1982-07-01Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 6 →
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HULME Labour Party (Manchester) members walked out of their meeting in Hulme Labour Club on Monday night June 21 and voted to boycott the Club, cancel all councillors" advice bureaux in the building and call on Manchester City Labour Party: to immediately move their office out of the Club.
This protest action is the result of the refusal of the Club Committee to condemn an attack on two gay men which took place in the Club at an Election Night Social in May. The attack, which was entirely unprovoked, resulted in both men. requiring hospital treatment. The club, despite knowing who the assailant is, have refused to revoke his membership and bar him from the club.
Hulme Labour Club has a history of discrimination against gay people. In 1978 it attracted national publicity when it banned gay discos from taking place on its premises.
The Club Committee last week refused to issue a statement, requested by the Labour Party, condemning violent attacks on gay people, weicoming leshians and gay mer as members and guests and agreeing to accept bookings tions social discos ›m gay organisa meetings. ant events, includin!
Ms. Karen Reissman, chairperson of the Party, commented after • the Labour Party meeting: 'The Labour Party in Moss Side is totally opposed to all forms of discrimination and has a strong policy in support of gay rights. For four years we have attempted to change the policy of the club from withn, and have got nowhere.
•We now have no choice but to break all connections between the Party and the club until they stop discriminating against lesbians and gay men.
•Having walked out of the club, the Labour Party reconvened its meeting at the Transport Club down the road. It will now organise a weekly picket of the club every Friday evening between 7.30pm and 9.00pm, and is calling for a Special Meeting of Labour Club members to overturn the decision of the Club Committee.
It is calling on all organisations who use the club also to boycott it until the policy is changed.