************************************************* The week of 02/12/96 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: Nobel peacemaker Desmond Tutu adds his voice to the struggle for lesbigay rights, while military queers make news in Great Britain, France and Australia ... Swedish researchers document gay-bashing, lesbians organize in The Netherlands around co-parenting rights, a gay male couple is given public housing--as a couple--in Italy ... and other stories [anchored by Brian Nunes and Cindy Friedman] ... * When ANDREW SULLIVAN, the controversial young editor of "The New Republic" released his recent book "VIRTUALLY NORMAL: AN ARGUMENT ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY", he made a permanent place for himself as a leading gay political analyst. In the third of a multi-part feature interview with TWO's Jon Beaupre, Sullivan deconstructs binary politics and expresses the importance of conservative values, like marriage, from a gay and lesbian perspective ... * Earlier this year a lesbian couple filed suit against giant British Rail over its refusal to provide them employee domestic partner travel benefits. Reporter Alison Gregory visits the couple at home in Southampton to find out why they took the "David" role in this seemingly "David versus Goliath" court case ... ... and more! ========================*=============================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending February 10th, 1996 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #411, distributed 02-12-96) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Bill Stosine, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon and Ron Buckmire] SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU HAS BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS INTERNATIONALLY. HE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE NORWEGIAN CHURCH'S POLICY AGAINST HIRING GAYS OR LESBIANS IN A LETTER TO NORWEGIAN BISHOP ROSEMARIE KOEHN, COMPARING IT TO THE TREATMENT OF SOUTH AFRICAN BLACKS UNDER APARTHEID. HE ALSO JOINED 300 LEADERS OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN SIGNING A CALL FOR THAT CHURCH TO BECOME MORE TOLERANT OF GAYS AND LESBIANS, WHICH APPEARED AS A FULL-PAGE AD IN BRITAIN'S RELIGIOUS PRESS. THE STATEMENT EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR BRITAIN'S CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT OF GAYS AND LESBIANS, WITHOUT CITING SPECIFIC ISSUES SUCH AS ORDINATION OF GAY AND LESBIAN CLERGY OR SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE. OTHER SIGNATORIES FROM OUTSIDE BRITAIN INCLUDED BISHOPS MICHAEL PEERS OF CANADA, RICHARD HOLLOWAY OF THE SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AND EDMOND BROWNING OF THE U.S. EPISCOPAL CHURCH. [Source: cybercorrespondent BJORN SKOLANDER citing KVAELLSPOSTEN iDAG/Sweden and THE EASTERN PROVINCE HERALD/Port Elizabeth, South Africa] IN BRITAIN, THERE ARE FURTHER INDICATIONS THAT THE BAN ON MILITARY SERVICE BY OPEN GAYS AND LESBIANS WILL REMAIN INTACT, DESPITE AN INTERNAL REVIEW BY A MINISTRY OF DEFENSE TASK FORCE. ARMED FORCES MINISTER NICHOLAS SOAMES APPEARED BEFORE PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK AND WAS PRESSED BY A CONSERVATIVE MEMBER TO PROMISE THAT THE BAN WOULD BE UPHELD. WHILE CLAIMING NOT TO HAVE SEEN THE TASK FORCE REPORT, SOAMES SAID IN SUPPORT OF THE BAN, "THE VIEW OF THE SERVICE CHIEFS AND OF MINISTERS IS NOT BASED IN ANY WAY ON ANY MORAL JUDGMENT BUT ON THE IMPRACTICALITY OF HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR, WHICH IS CLEARLY NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SERVICE LIFE." THE TASK FORCE REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO A PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE IN PREPARATION FOR RENEWAL OF LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING MILITARY DISCIPLINE. A POLICY SIMILAR TO THE UNITED STATES' SO-CALLED "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" WAS ONE POSSIBILITY THE MINISTRY HAD CONSIDERED. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] IN FRANCE, WHERE MILITARY SERVICE IS OPEN TO GAYS AND LESBIANS, A GAY MALE DRAFTEE WAS DENIED A DEFERMENT TO CARE FOR HIS HIV-POSITIVE PARTNER. THE PARTNER HAD THREATENED TO STOP HIS OWN MEDICAL TREATMENT UNLESS THE DRAFTEE WAS ALLOWED TO STAY HOME WITH HIM, BUT THE ARMY INDUCTION BOARD IN LYON SAID THERE WERE NO LEGAL GROUNDS FOR SUCH A DEFERMENT. FRANCE REQUIRES TEN MONTHS OF COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE FORCE, WHICH ALSO ALLOWS MILITARY SERVICE BY OPEN GAYS AND LESBIANS, HAS FINALLY AGREED TO GO ONE STEP FURTHER BY APPROVING A SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP TO ENTER A FLOAT IN SYDNEY'S GAY AND LESBIAN MARDI GRAS. DAVID MITCHELL, PRESIDENT OF THE GROUP CALLED G-FORCE, SAID, "THE AIM IS TO THRUST OUR GROUP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AND SHOW GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE IN THE FORCES THAT THERE ARE OTHERS." AUSTRALIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS HAD ORIGINALLY DENIED PERMISSION FOR THE FLOAT, AND MITCHELL CALLED THEIR APPROVAL "WORLD HISTORY IN THE MAKING". [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS citing CAPITAL Q and MELBOURNE STAR OBSERVER] IN ZIMBABWE, THE BRITISH MAGAZINE "GAY TIMES OF LONDON" HAS BEEN BANNED AS PORNOGRAPHIC. ALTHOUGH THE GLOSSY MONTHLY IS PRIMARILY A NEWS AND LIFESTYLE PUBLICATION, ITS EXCLUSION BY ZIMBABWE'S DEPARTMENT OF CUSTOMS IS NOT SURPRISING, GIVEN THE VEHEMENTLY HOMOPHOBIC REMARKS IN RECENT MONTHS BY ZIMBABWE'S PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE AND HIS FOLLOWERS IN THE PARLIAMENT. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] IN SWEDEN, STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS HAVE RELEASED A STUDY ON VIOLENCE AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS AND CALLED FOR LEGISLATION TO INCREASE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR GAY-BASHERS. CRIMINOLOGISTS EVA TIBY AND INGRID LANDER SURVEYED MORE THAN 500 LESBIANS AND GAYS. WHILE 40 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS REPORTED CONTINUING ANXIETY ABOUT GAY-BASHING, MORE THAN ONE-FOURTH REPORTED ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE OR THREATS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. OF THE VICTIMS, THREE-QUARTERS DID NOT REPORT THE ATTACKS TO POLICE, ALTHOUGH OF THOSE WHO DID, 70 PERCENT FOUND POLICE TO BE RESPECTFUL AND CONCERNED. THREE-QUARTERS OF THE VICTIMS ALSO REPORTED CONTINUING PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR BASHINGS. TIBY AND LANDER ALSO LOOKED INTO TEN RECENT GAY-BASHING DEATHS IN STOCKHOLM, AND FOUND THAT IN HALF OF THEM THE PERPETRATORS ACTUALLY STATED THEIR NEGATIVE FEELINGS TOWARDS GAYS AND LESBIANS. SWEDEN'S CURRENT HATE CRIMES LAW COVERS ONLY VIOLENCE AGAINST ETHNIC MINORITIES, BUT AS A RESULT OF HER RESEARCH, TIBY IS CALLING FOR IT TO BE EXTENDED TO VIOLENCE AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS. [per cybercorrespondent BJORN SKOLANDER citing DAGENS NYHETER] IN INDIA, DELEGATES TO AN INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE CALLED FOR REPEAL OF SODOMY LAWS IN INDIA AND ELSEWHERE. THEY BELIEVE SODOMY LAWS INTERFERE WITH AIDS PREVENTION EFFORTS. DIRECTOR OF INDIA'S YOUTH ALLIANCE FOR AIDS REMOVAL ALOK SRIVASTAVA SAID, "A LOT OF MEN HAVE SEX WITH OTHER MEN IN INDIA WITHOUT IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS GAY, BUT BECAUSE OF THIS LAW, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT TALKING TO THEM ABOUT HIV TRANSMISSION AND ITS PREVENTION". [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] IN THE NETHERLANDS, LESBIANS ARE ORGANIZING TO ESTABLISH LEGAL RIGHTS FOR CO-PARENTS. CURRENTLY, IF A LESBIAN BIOLOGICAL MOTHER DIES, OTHER BLOOD RELATIVES CAN CLAIM HER CHILD. BUT THE NEW GROUP TEST CASE DUO-MOTHERHOOD IS OUT TO CHANGE THAT BY ESTABLISHING LEGAL CO-ADOPTION FOR LESBIAN CO-PARENTS, AND THEY'VE SWORN TO CARRY THEIR LAWSUIT TO THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE IF NECESSARY. SPOKESPERSON ISABEL HOVING SAID, "WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT AN OUTRAGEOUS DEMAND BY A HANDFUL OF URBAN DYKES WHO WANT TO BECOME MOMMIES. IT IS A LEGITIMATE FAMILY ARRANGEMENT THAT IS BECOMING EVER MORE WIDESPREAD". [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] IN ITALY, A GAY MALE COUPLE IN VENICE WAS GIVEN PUBLIC HOUSING TOGETHER. IT'S BELIEVED TO BE A FIRST FOR ITALY, BUT A VENICE HOUSING OFFICIAL SAID, "WE ONLY WANTED TO SOLVE AN EMERGENCY CASE. THEY'RE JUST A COUPLE FOR US". TO THE HEAD OF ITALY'S NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS GROUP ARCIGAY/ARCILESBICA FRANCO GRILLINI, IT WAS "A HISTORICAL MILESTONE WITH SYMBOLIC VALUE". [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] AND FINALLY ... IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHERE THERE'S RECENTLY BEEN INTENSE CONTROVERSY OVER GAY AND LESBIAN MATERIALS IN SCHOOLS, THE GROUP CALLED KIDS VOTING NEW HAMPSHIRE PERHAPS GOT A LITTLE MORE THAN THEY BARGAINED FOR IN ARRANGING AN EVENT FOR VALENTINE'S DAY. THEY PLANNED FOR THE WIVES OF U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO SPEAK TO ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THEIR VISIONS OF THEIR ROLE, SHOULD THEIR SPOUSE BE ELECTED, AS PART OF THE GROUP'S EFFORT TO "BRING THE ELECTORAL PROCESS DOWN TO A MORE PERSONAL LEVEL FOR THESE YOUNGSTERS". THEY SENT INVITATIONS TO ALL THE CANDIDATES, EVEN THE NEWEST, STEVE MICHAEL. FROM THEIR REPEATED REFERENCES TO MICHAEL'S "WIFE", IT'S CLEAR THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE WITH THE AIDS PLATFORM IS AN OPENLY GAY MAN. MICHAEL'S PARTNER, WAYNE TURNER, RESPONDED THAT HE'D BE "DELIGHTED" TO ATTEND. [per a press release from AIDSVOTE96] ************************************************* Some "THIS WAY OUT" operating expenses are funded by grants from THE C.P. ESTES GUADALUPE FOUNDATION, THE GILL FOUNDATION, and THE ADVOCATE, the award-winning national gay and lesbian newsmagazine, and by individual donations from listeners worldwide. 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