collectives, going beyond the ambit of the AIDS education work and increasing their eftorts to put lesbian and gay politics specifically and clearly on the Sandinista programme.
This battle has not been easy, but it has borne fruit as the interview with Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega in the video testifies. "The struggle must include the whole of society' he repeatedly states.
And as Rita Arauz, one of the lesbian activists featured in the film explains 'The big advantage we have is that we are able to sit down with our leaders and at least speak the same language. Our discourse is of liberation, oppres sion, anti-discrimination, equality.
'When we speak the companeros have to say - "yes, you're right, I can understand your arguments. It's just that I am machista and it's very hard for me to accept". We won't get rid of their homophobia easily, but at least there is communication.
Whilst the gay movement in San Francisco think they're very strong, they could never sit down with George Bush and find themselves agreeing on principles, speaking the same language of freedom.
Recognition of the achieve ments under the Sandinistas in the arena of sexual politics was also made in the course of the documentary by Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo, Archbishop of Managua, who LLGC.
said in condemnatory tones that the Sandinista era had been a time of 'excessive sexuality and family breakdown' as well as witnessing an explosion of 'illicit pleasures'. After the electoral defeat in 1990 it is his voice and the reactionary chorus of the rest of the Church hierarchy that the UNO government listens to. Measures, including police raids, have been taken to try and 'clean up' the cruising areas in the centre of Managua, and though the video was shot by a Nicaraguan crew from the independent Managua video production company -Videonic, it will not be publicly shown in Nicaragua. However, the strength and progress gained from the revolution and the period of Sandinista rule remains. The lesbian and gay movement is confident, not crushed. It continues to grow and demand international solidarity. The documentary presents the diversity of lesbian and gay culture in Nicaragua -in the shell or mising ground from the Cathedral, ruined by an earthquake, to the historical heritage of an indigenous les bian warrior goddess, from the drag queens working in the market in Managua, to safer sex workshops involving condoms and bananas. It firmly situated in the centre of the revolutionary process with which their struggle for liberation is inseparably entwined. It is an experience the western movements have much to learn from - make sure you see it! PRESENTE! The British lesbian and gay group in solidarity with the Nicaraguan lesbian and gay movement can be contacted via the London Lesbian and Gay Centre, Cowcross St, London EC1, and can provide copies of the video for hire. Their next meeting is on Thursday July 11th, 7.30pm at the No. 5 July 6, 1991