************************************************* The week of 9/04/95 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: Turkish government shuts down an 8-day lesbigay festival in Istanbul before it can even begin, while a first-ever queer conference successfully convenes in Slovenia ... The government of The Netherlands grants $60,000 to the Amsterdam organizers of the 1998 Gay Games even as reports surface of fiscal mismanagement following Amsterdam's hosting of this year's EuroPride Festival ... it appears that professional homophobe Lou Sheldon will get the Congressional hearings on "advocacy of homosexuality in public schools" that House Speaker Newt Gingrich reportedly promised him prior to the Republicans' 1994 election victories ... and several other stories [anchored by Cindy Friedman and Dean Elzinga] * It's often said that "money is the mother's milk of politics". Contributions to U.S. presidential campaigns literally run into the millions of dollars -- so why was there such a controversy this week about the return of a relatively-insignificant one thousand dollar check given to Republican hopeful Bob Dole? Don Rush reports from Washington, D.C. ... *"Eight Bullets: One Woman's Story of Surviving Anti-Gay Violence" tells the dramatic story of Claudia Brenner's escape from the self-avowed homophobic sniper who killed her lover and seriously wounded her while the couple was camping in the Appalachian woods in 1988. In the intervening years, Brenner has become a powerful anti-violence voice, putting a human face on the impersonal statistics of hate-crimes. As we conclude a two-part feature interview conducted by Sue Pierce, Brenner shares her analysis of the forces that gave -- and are still giving rise -- to homophobic violence ... ... and more! ========================*=========================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending September 2, 1995 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #388, distributed 9-04-95) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Bill Stosine, Graham Underhill and Ron Buckmire] TURKISH AUTHORITIES THIS WEEK SHUT DOWN A GAY AND LESBIAN FESTIVAL THE DAY BEFORE ITS SCHEDULED OPENING. ASSISTANT GOVERNOR NIHAT KEMAL EREN TOLD REPORTERS, "IT WAS FORBIDDEN BECAUSE IT DID NOT RESPECT THE MORALS OF OUR SOCIETY." THAT WAS THE SAME REASON GIVEN IN 1993, WHEN A SIMILAR FESTIVAL WAS ALSO BANNED. THE 8-DAY ISTANBUL FESTIVAL ORGANIZED BY THE TURKISH GROUP LAMBDA WOULD HAVE FEATURED PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND "GAY" FILMS. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] AN INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN AND GAY CONFERENCE WAS STAGED IN SLOVENIA FOR THE FIRST TIME. ORGANIZED BY THE SLOVENIAN GROUPS MAGNUS AND LILIT, THE LATE-AUGUST CONFERENCE IN LJUBLJUANA INCLUDED VISITORS FROM BRITAIN, GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS, AND THE U.S. THE HIGHLIGHT WAS A PUBLIC DEBATE THAT WAS COVERED EXTENSIVELY IN THE MEDIA AND ATTENDED BY POLITICIANS INCLUDING THE DEPUTY LEADER OF PARLIAMENT. DESPITE THE SUPPORT OF SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND A NON-DISCRIMINATORY AGE-OF-CONSENT LAW, MOST GAYS AND LESBIANS IN SLOVENIA ARE SAID TO REMAIN FEARFUL AND CLOSETED. [REX WOCKNER report citing Euro-activist LISA POWER] AMSTERDAM'S 1994 EUROPRIDE LEFT A PILE OF DEBT -- ABOUT 1,000,000 GUILDERS, OR 700,000 U.S. DOLLARS. THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED TO ORGANIZE THE EVENT HAD TO DECLARE BANKRUPTCY, AND A TRUSTEE WAS APPOINTED TO OVERSEE THE DIVISION OF ASSETS -- SUCH AS THEY ARE. CREDITORS CAN CURRENTLY LOOK FORWARD TO ABOUT 4% OF WHAT THEY ARE OWED. NOW THE TRUSTEE IS THREATENING TO SUE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDATION, CHARGING THAT THEIR MISMANAGEMENT AND NON-PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT THEY CAN BE HELD PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE. [REX WOCKNER citing report from correspondent BERT SCHURR] DESPITE THE EXPERIENCE WITH EUROPRIDE, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NETHERLANDS HAS GRANTED MORE THAN $60,000 (U.S.) TO THE ORGANIZERS OF AMSTERDAM'S 1998 GAY GAMES. THE MONEY COMES FROM A FUND MANAGED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROMOTE LARGE SPORTING EVENTS. THE GAY GAMES ORGANIZERS HAVE ALSO HIRED PROFESSIONALS TO LOBBY THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY FOR FUNDS, TARGETING A TOTAL OF $625,000. {REX WOCKNER report citing DE GAY KRANT} IN ISRAEL, A GAY MAN HAS LOST HIS COURT BID TO OBTAIN DEATH BENEFITS AS HIS LONG-TIME PARTNER'S SURVIVOR. PREVIOUSLY, THE ISRAELI SUPREME COURT HAD GRANTED SOME SPOUSAL BENEFITS TO THE PARTNER OF A GAY EL AL AIRLINES EMPLOYEE ... BUT THE CURRENT CASE WAS VIEWED BY A JUDGE IN TEL AVIV AS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, BECAUSE THE EMPLOYER WAS NOT A PRIVATE COMPANY, BUT THE ISRAELI ARMY. ADIR STEINER WAS SEEKING BENEFITS INCLUDING A MONTHLY PENSION AND A TAX DEDUCTION FOLLOWING THE 1991 CANCER DEATH OF HIS PARTNER OF 8 YEARS, COLONEL DORON MAISEL. ACCORDING TO STEINER, NOT ONLY WAS MAISEL PROMOTED BY OFFICERS WHO HAD FULL KNOWLEDGE OF HIS SEXUALITY, THOSE OFFICERS HAD ACCEPTED STEINER AS HIS PARTNER. WHEN THE ARMY REJECTED STEINER'S BENEFITS CLAIM, HE APPEALED TO A CIVILIAN COURT IN TEL AVIV. THERE THE JUDGE WROTE IN HIS DECISION, "THE APPELLANT IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE RECOGNIZED UNDER LAW BECAUSE THESE RELATIONS -- BY THEIR VERY NATURE -- DO NOT CONSTITUTE A NUCLEAR FAMILY." [YEDIOTH AHRONOTH/Jerusalem =and= REUTER NEWS SERVICE] A LANDMARK RULING IN AUSTRALIA THAT DECLARED A GAY MALE COUPLE AND THEIR SON TO BE A "FAMILY" FOR PURPOSES OF INSURANCE COVERAGE, IS BEING APPEALED. NIB, THE INSURER THAT LOST THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TRIBUNAL JUDGMENT TO ANDREW HOPE AND WILLIAM BROWN, FILED THE APPEAL IN LATE AUGUST. NIB'S ARGUMENTS INCLUDE THE CLAIM THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF HOPE'S AND BROWN'S FINANCIAL INTERDEPENDENCE AT THE TIME THEIR CLAIM WAS FILED. [MELBOURNE STAR OBSERVER] IN MUNICH, A TIMELY INTERNATIONAL PROTEST HAS SPARKED POLITICAL RESPONSE TO POLICE MISCONDUCT AGAINST A PAIR OF GAY FOREIGN VISITORS. ON AUGUST 19TH, MUNICH NEWSPAPERS REPORTED THAT IN THE COURSE OF A BAR RAID, TWO POLICE OFFICERS HAD ILLEGALLY MARKED IN THE PASSPORTS OF TWO GAY MEN FROM POLAND, THE WORDS "HOMO-SZENE" AND "HOMO-STRICH" -- THAT'S 'GAY SCENE' AND 'GAY PROSTITUTE', LITERALLY "HOMO RENT". ONLY 4 DAYS LATER, MEDIA WERE REPORTING A FAX OF PROTEST ORGANIZED BY BJORN SKOLANDER OF UPSALA AND SIGNED BY 70 PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD. WHEN THAT FAX WAS RECEIVED BY POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND THE MEDIA, THINGS REALLY BEGAN TO HAPPEN. THE MUNICH CITY COUNCIL HELD AN EMERGENCY SESSION. THE MAYOR OF MUNICH DEMANDED THAT THE MUNICH CHIEF OF POLICE MAKE AN OFFICIAL APOLOGY, WHICH HE DID. A NUMBER OF LOCAL AND STATEWIDE POLITICIANS ADDED THEIR VOICES TO THE PROTEST, MOVED BY A CONCERN FOR MUNICH'S INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION. [per report by VOLKER KURZE citing SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG & BAVARIAN STATE RADIO B5] "EVERYBODY HATES US", WRITES THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEPAL QUEER SOCIETY. ALTHOUGH THEY'VE BEEN ORGANIZED FOR 2 YEARS, MEMBERS ONLY RECENTLY SENT THEIR FIRST LETTER TO FOREIGNERS -- AN AIDS GROUP IN INDIANAPOLIS. THE SOCIETY'S DIRECTOR K.P. SHARMA WROTE FROM KATHMANDU, "WE'VE DETERMINED TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, PRESTIGE, IDENTITY & HUMAN RIGHTS." [REX WOCKNER] A MAINSTREAM FILM FEATURING A GAY PRIEST MAY NEVER REACH THE SCREENS IN POLAND, IF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THERE GETS ITS WAY. SEVERAL CHURCH-RELATED GROUPS THIS WEEK CONTACTED THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL, HOPING TO INITIATE A LEGAL ACTION FOR PORNOGRAPHY AGAINST THE DISTRIBUTOR OF "PRIEST". THE DISTRIBUTOR, SOLOPAN, PLANS TO OPEN THE MOVIE IN POLAND ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, WHERE IT'S RECOMMENDED FOR AUDIENCES AGE 15 AND UP. POLISH ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS HAD ALREADY DECLARED THE FILM TO BE "REPULSIVE" AND CALLED FOR ITS BOYCOTT, AS CATHOLIC CLERGY HAVE ALREADY DONE IN SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES. BUT FOR BISHOP ALOJZY ORSZULIK, THE FILM CALLED UP MEMORIES OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION UNDER COMMUNIST RULE. HE SAID, "THE FILM MEANS THE COMEBACK OF THE 1960'S, WHEN THE SECURITY POLICE WAS ALSO PORTRAYING PRIESTS AS PERVERTS AND HOMOSEXUALS." [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] CANADIAN GAYS AND LESBIANS HAD BEEN ASSUMING THAT THE BLOC QUEBECOIS PARTY WAS FAIRLY SUPPORTIVE OF THEM -- IT IS, AFTER ALL, THE PARTY OF ONE OF CANADA'S TWO OPENLY GAY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, REAL MENARD. BUT WHEN THE GROUP EQUALITY FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS EVERYWHERE ACTUALLY SURVEYED THE BLOC'S 53 MP'S FOR THEIR POSITIONS ON LEGISLATION REGARDING HATE CRIMES, CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS, AND LEGAL RECOGNTION OF SAME-GENDER COUPLES, THE RESPONSES TOLD A DIFFERENT STORY. ALMOST 60 PERCENT FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS. LESS THAN 30 PERCENT CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF PROTECTIONS FROM DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, WHILE 15 PERCENT OPPOSED THEM. [XTRA/Toronto] U.S. PROFESSIONAL HOMOPHOBE LOU SHELDON, OF THE TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION, BELIEVES HE'S ABOUT TO GET THE PAY-OFF ON A PRE-ELECTION PROMISE FROM HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH -- AND HE'S MAKING IT PAY OFF IN FUND-RAISING, TOO. SEPTEMBER 12TH HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR A HEARING BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ON WHAT SHELDON CALLS "THE ADVOCACY OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS". THAT'S THE HEARING SHELDON SAYS GINGRICH PROMISED HIM BEFORE THE 1994 ELECTIONS THAT GAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE. WHILE SHELDON HAS MOUNTED A DIRECT-MAIL FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN TO HIRE WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS A "CHRISTIAN PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM" TO PUBLICIZE THE HEARING, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES CHAIR PETER HOEKSTRA'S OFFICE HAS A DIFFERENT VIEW. HIS PRESS SECRETARY SAID, "THE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE A LARGER ISSUE OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN SOCIAL PROGRAMS AT SCHOOLS. THE ONLY ISSUE IS NOT GOING TO BE 'HOMOSEXUAL PROMOTION'. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE ABSTINENCE EDUCATION, CONDOM DISTRIBUTION. OUR POINT IS NOT TO BASH HOMOSEXUALS." ELIZABETH BIRCH, DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND, A U.S. NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN POLITICAL ORGANIZATION, IS NOT SO SURE THAT'S HOW IT WILL TURN OUT. SHE SAID, "THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE REPEATEDLY REJECTED SHELDON'S EXTREMIST AGENDA, BUT NOW HE IS BEING GIVEN FREE REIN TO PROMOTE DISCRIMINATION AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE. HE IS SHAMELSSLY DISTORTING THE PURPOSE OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE AND HEALTHY. CONGRESS SHOULD RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO STAGE SIDESHOWS FOR RIGHT-WING LOBBYISTS AND GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNING." THE CAMPAIGN FUND ALSO REPORTED THAT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL STAFF HAD YET TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF THE HEARING WHEN ONLY 7 WORKING DAYS REMAINED BEFORE ITS SCHEDULED DATE. [SAN JOSE (CA) MERCURY NEWS and HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND press release] AND FINALLY...SAFER SEX APPARENTLY CAN BE HOT -- REALLY, REALLY HOT. THERE WAS A FIRE IN NEW YORK CITY IN EARLY AUGUST THAT BURNED FOR 15 HOURS AND DESTROYED AN ENTIRE WAREHOUSE. ITS CAUSE, ACCORDING TO NEW YORK CITY FIRE COMMISSIONER HOWARD SAFIR, WAS 500 BOXES OF LATEX EXAMINATION GLOVES, WHICH IN THE EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED. [BAY AREA REPORTER/San Francisco] ************************************************* Some "THIS WAY OUT" operating expenses are funded by grants from THE C.P. ESTES GUADALUPE FOUNDATION and THE ADVOCATE, the award-winning national gay and lesbian newsmagazine, and by individual donations from listeners worldwide. THIS WAY OUT is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit under the corporate name of OVERNIGHT PRODUCTIONS, INC. -------------------------------------------------------- THIS WAY OUT airs on over 85 public/community radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, and on global shortwave station Radio For Peace International (RFPI). For a complete Station Carriage List and/or more information, write to THIS WAY OUT at P.O. Box 38327, Los Angeles, CA 90038-0327, or e-mail your request to: TWOradio@aol.com . ---------*----------- For a current list of participating stations and lots of other information about THIS WAY OUT (including audiocassette subscription information), you can also check out our new WORLDWIDE WEB home page! Find it on the Queer Resources Directory ... Our page is at http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/media/radio/thiswayout ************************************************* HAVE YOU SEEN THE IMPORTANT LETTER ABOUT FUNDING "THIS WAY OUT" FROM LESBIAN-FEMINIST HUMORIST KATE CLINTON? YOU CAN REQUEST AN E-MAIL COPY FROM TWORADIO@AOL.COM. ********************THANKS!**********************