Looking at companies that help and hinder our equality.   Being Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual is hard. Being Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth is even harder and the situation is exacerbated by homophobic companies. And there are a hell of a lot of them out there! What I'm not talking about is going in to Safeway with your boyfriend and not being served because of your sexuality, although that is a heinous crime! What I am talking about are companies that discriminate against same-sex relationships (and Tescos, you were only an example, those cute-boy shelf stackers can't all be straight anyway!) I'm sure that we all heard about the case late last year involving South West Trains and a lesbian employee, Lisa Grant and her partner Jill Percey, whom did not receive the same priviliges that straight couples were entitled to. The case went to The High Court and the European Court but, unfortunately for us, but not for South West Trains, was thrown out. However, the case did receive a huge amount of media attention and since that time two companies have adopted equal policies for straight and gay couples. In the, not so, recent "Ellen" coming out episode, and I'm referring to the American airing here, companies including Volkswagen (actually placing a gay-themed ad), Sony, Slimfast Foods, Time-Warner, Universal Pictures and Viacom offered their support (and money) by advertising, whilst other companies (e.g. Chrysler, Johnson + Johnson) withdrew their adverts. So, what can we do? A complete boycott of these and other homophobic companies would be the definite answer. Writing to supportive companies and unsupportive companies is also an option. In a local story Rob Brown, a gay and bisexual men's health worker of Sheffield's SHOUT! Centre, recently sent a leaflet on stress and anxiety for gay and bisexual men to Qualicoat for laminating. The company Flatly refused to do the job. Nigel Anderson, Qualicoat's Managing Director, confirmed it was his personal policy "not to touch anything gay." After Mr. Brown, Healthy Gay Manchester and other health educational authorities and LGB groups mounted a letter writing campaign over the discrimination Mr. Anderson wrote back to the SHOUT! Centre expressing that his policies would now change. In an article in Printweek, Mr. Anderson was quoted as saying it was all a misunderstanding, "When I was told it had gay contact numbers I thought it was a sex line." This story reinforces letter writing and boycotting. Okay, it may be tedious, but it needs to be done so that we are recognised for who and what we are, and not some archaic idea held by bourgeois fools. PRIDE SUPPORTERS-Virgin, Waterstone's, American Airlines, B&H. MARDI GRAS SUPPORTERS: Grolsch Premium Larger, Galaxy 102, Gay Times, Diva, boys, British Meat, Pork Farms, Qantas, Bacardi, Pink Paper, PG Tips, Airline Network, Manchester City Council. If you hear of any discrimination, please write and let us know, we may report on it, or maybe you can! Do not forget, letter writing and boycotting does work, if you feel strongly enough about it, do it!