2 - Friday, June 5, 1987 - North Shore News AGAINST DOUG COLLINS Protestors picket News ABOUT 50 representatives of various Lower Mainland lesbian and male homosex- ual organizations rallied Wednesday morning in front of the North Shore News offices to demand the news- paper cease publishing what they claim is the sexist, racist and homophobic views of News Get This Straight columnist Doug Collins. News Reporter The demonstration was orga- nized to protest a May i5 Collins column that described the Fourth Annual Lesbian and Gay Con- ference held at the University of British Columbia May 16. In the column, Collins criticized the inclusion of such conference agenda items as Lesbian S24 (sado-masochism) and Feminism for Men and questioned the good sense of a university that would allow ‘‘its premises to be used by groups whose unnatural sexual Practices are responsible for the deadly plague (AIDS) now creep- ing across the continent...”’ But speakers at the demonstra- tion accused Collins of spreading fear and misunderstanding about lesbians and homosexual men and misleading information about AIDS. James Johnstone, one of the or- ganizers of the UBC conference, told demonstrators that Collins was a ‘‘trouble-maker. He is not concerned with educating people about AIDS and curbing hysteria... It is not we who are the menace, but Doug Collins and people like him.’” In an interview later with the News, Johnstone, 31, said Collins had zeroed in on a very small part of the conference’s agenda in his column. He said the conference also in- cluded workshops on such subjects as Unlearning Racism, Integrating the Disabled into our Community and Dealing with Addictions. “The conference was about breaking down barriers,’’ Johnstone said. . He added that the statement in Collins column, suggesting the conference’s Living with AIDS Weather: Friday, mainly cloudy ‘with isolated showers. Saturday, mostly sunny. && Highs near 19° C. INDEX Classified Ads Doug Collins Editorial Page Entertainment Home & Garden Horoscopes Bob Hunter Lifestyles workshop be retitled Dying with AIDS,was particularly cruel. But Collins called the demonstrators ‘‘a bunch of loonies’’, and said he could not see how workshops on lesbian sado- masochism did anything to break down barriers. “What they say is what they say. But what they won’t admit is that they (homosexuals) are the group mainly responsible for spreading AIDS,”’ Collins said. ‘*And anyone who takes them (homosex- uals) on is immediately vilified.”’ Representing such organizations as the Vancouver Gay and Lesbian Community Centre, the Vancouver Lesbian Connection and Persons with AIDS Coalition, the demonstrators picketed the News for about an hour. IGLOO 3 PIECE 2 coolers, Jug Reg. 44.99 34” x 70" Special Purchase < =f WOODEN SKATEBOARDS Asst. Styles Reg. 49.99 SPALDING TIN OF 3 TENNIS BALLS = ES Sa =~ oe SUPER 12” | OSCILLATING FAN ‘| 3 Speeds Reg. 29.99 COOLER COMBO SET of! : VENTURE VALUE PLUS 07: 3 LB, SLEEPING BAG 19 ee EE A OD TRO EE 39?! Approximately 60 letters demanding the newspaper cease publishing Coliins Get This Straight column were signed and left with the newspaper. News publisher Peter Speck said the newspaper provided a medium for people to say what they wanted, whether in letters to the editor, columns or editorials. ‘““We may not always agree with what they say,’’ Speck said, ‘‘but it is important for Doug Collins and our other columnists to have the freedom to say what they want. A lot of people support Doug Col- fins. We can’t let the paper be swayed by the protests of a few, especially organized minorities, or else we would be bending over backwards for everyone.” BS Men's or Ladies’ Reg. 159.99 GUT TRIMMER ROWING EXERCISER Ba Deluxe Model Special Purchase 7 VENTURE 3MAN VINYL BOAT 96"x54” Reg. 29.99 CAST IRON HIBACHI 10"x17” Reg. 12.99 See smmheheanenees Pad 16”x20”. FRAMED PRINTS Ass’t. Scenes: Reg. 9.97 SPRING TENSION LAWN CHAIR Canvas Reg. 7.97 TAYLORMOTIV 50:Bays.for T. service: 27th year of service to tens of thousands of domestic & foreign car & 42 SP. ROADRUNNER 97 MOUNTAIN BIKE 129 ‘ 2 | PAPER PLATES light truck 1.C.BC. vendor BCAA approved A.R.A. certified Quality workmanship ~- Trustworthy service 174 Pemverton Ave. N. Van. 985-7455 | put your waste on a diet ECYCLE my SALE. SUNDAY, JUNE 7th OWAILE QUANTITIES LAST. ROYAL CHINET 8%” si Pack of 40 Reg. 3.99 J De 12500 ML WIDE MOUTH CANNING JARS With Lids Reg. 5.49 Air =| TIDE 6 LITRE : |) LAUNDRY DETERGENT | ou Fresh Scent Reg. 5.49 & SUS Se SOY MALBORO 4 ROLL SS BATHROOM TISSUE a 1 ply Reg. .97 | HARTZ 4.54 KG KITTY LITTER Controls odor Reg. 2.49 _ Mailbox TV Listings What's Going On STORE HOURS: Mon., Tues. Wed.-Fri. Saturday Sunday Lynn Vaeey Centre 980- 9:30am-6:00pm 9:30am-9:00pm 9:30am-6:00pm 41:00am-5:00pm | Accepted .