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BACKGROUND — the need for a gay club.

One of our Aims is to provide pleasant meeting places for homosexual men and women. But at present we are totally unable to meet the demand in Glasgow.

Starting with discos, it is clear that the demand for social events for gay people far outstrips our ability to book outside venues, and exceeds our ability under the Glasgow licensing system to obtain licenses for them. We can offer regularly only our discos in the Gay Centre, which is much too small for the demand.

There are at present three other gay discos in Glasgow each week, but two of them are very small, and problems have been reported with management and bouncers. In any case, the commercial scene comes and goes, depending on the relative profitability of other ventures.

A private club of suitable size could hold dances on a regular basis, several times a week, without any ongoing licensing problems; just the initial license for the club. Also, it would be under our control, and not dependent on the twists and turns of the entertainment market.

Apart from discos, there is the question of providing somewhere for people to meet for a chat. The commercial gay pubs are too noisy for conversation to be pleasant, while our Centre is not licensed. Also, some people feel that in both cases “anyone can walk in”, and that what is required is somewhere licensed, not too noisy, and a bit more private. This adds up exactly to a private club for gay people.

Thirdly, SHRG itself needs larger premises. We tend to stand on each others’ toes in the Gay Centre because of the lack of space. Adequate office accommodation is required, e.g. for the advisory service. Moreover, we are not allowed to conduct campaigning work from the present Centre, under the terms of our rates relief, and club premises would provide a base for that aspect of the group’s Aims.

It might be felt that these requirements are contradictory: somewhere for a quiet chat with discos four times a week? But here again it is simply a question of space. The premises we seek must allow both types of use, even simultaneously, and it is felt that the present proposal will meet this requirement.

MEMBERSHIP

There are two possible approaches here. Either there would be a membership subscription (in addition to the SHRG one) of say £15 per year, or members pay a small amount (say 75p) on busy nights. It seems clear to us that the latter course is what most people want.

Accordingly, membership of the club will be free to any member of SHRG over 21 years old. SHRG membership costs £7 per year (ts to non—earners). Owing to licensing requirements, the joining procedure takes a fortnight, but members can sign in guests over 18 years of age if they take responsibility for their good conduct.

How private is private? There are several paradoxes here. On the one hand, a members—only club means that the club members have complete control over use of the club. There could be no question of “anyone walking in”, and at least to this extent, a private club would provide a protected environment for those who have not yet come out.

On the other hand, to have a license, the club’s roll of members must be open for inspection by the licensing authorities. This does not mean that any policeman can inspect the list, but even so, providing names and addresses for the list of members may cause some people a moment’s thought.

And of course, there will be several hundred members of the club.