************************************************* The week of 9/11/95 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: The British government has confirmed rumors that it's reevaluating its military policies covering gays and lesbians ... Congressional hearings on "the promotion of homosexuality in public schools" set for September 12th, and much ballyhooed by professional homophobe Lou Sheldon's Traditional Values Coalition, have been postponed indefinitely ... The lesbigay Human Rights Campaign Fund invades a conference of the notoriously anti-gay Christian Coalition ... Tasmania and Costa Rica police forces take steps to improve relations with the queer community ... and several other stories [anchored by Cindy Friedman and Dean Elzinga] * "Serving In Silence: The Greta Cammermeyer Story", the NBC-TV movie which chronicled the coming out of the highest-ranking member of the U.S. military, took three top awards at the 47th Annual Emmy Awards on September 10th -- both Allison Cross, who won for best teleplay, and Best Actress award-winner Glenn Close paid tribute to Cammermeyer during their acceptance speeches [we have excerpts] ... * The idea of a gay man interviewing fierce lesbian-feminist separatist/activist/performer ALIX DOBKIN would have been impossible ten or fifteen years ago, but Dobkin has mellowed considerably since the 1970's; she talks about her early activisim in various social causes, and the evolution of her once womyn-only performances in the first of a two-part feature interview with Philadelphia-based Bert Wylen ... ... and more! ========================*=========================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending September 9, 1995 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #389, distributed 9-11-95) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Bill Stosine, Graham Underhill and Ron Buckmire] THE RUMORS ARE NOW CONFIRMED: BRITAIN'S MINISTRY OF DEFENSE HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS REVIEWING ITS CURRENT POLICY OF PROHIBITING GAYS AND LESBIANS FROM SERVING IN THE MILITARY. A TASK FORCE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO PRESENT A REPORT IN JANUARY. THEY PLAN TO HEAR FROM BRITISH SERVICEMEMBERS OF ALL RANKS AND TO VISIT MILITARY BASES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. THE REASSESSMENT WAS STIMULATED BY FEARS THAT THE BAN WOULD NOT WITHSTAND A CHALLENGE IN THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AS WELL AS BY THE BRITISH HIGH COURT DECISION IN JUNE THAT CRITICIZED THE POLICY, EVEN THOUGH IT UPHELD THE MILITARY'S RIGHT TO ESTABLISH IT. [Source: REUTERS] BUT EVEN WITH THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AS A TIMELY HOOK, THE LONDON PRODUCER OF A PLAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUAL WITCHHUNTS IN THE U.S. MILITARY IS DROPPING THE CURTAIN. "BURNING BLUE" OPENED IN THE WEST END IN JULY TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM, AND WITHIN A WEEK WON A CONTRACT FOR A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE, AS WELL AS GAINING THE INTEREST OF THEATRE PRODUCERS IN FIVE OTHER COUNTRIES. NONETHELESS, LONDON PRODUCER ROBERT FOX DECIDED TO CLOSE THE DOORS AFTER ONLY SIX WEEKS' RUN, ALTHOUGH PLAYWRIGHT DAVID GREER IS DETERMINED TO FIND ANOTHER LONDON VENUE. GREER DREW ON HIS OWN EXPERIENCES AS A U.S. NAVY PILOT IN CREATING THE DRAMA, WHICH HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN BRITAIN'S DISCUSSION OF ITS OWN MILITARY POLICY. AND BY THE WAY, THE LONDON PRODUCTION OF "BURNING BLUE" IS SOMEWHAT "BLUE" -- IT FEATURES FRONTAL MALE NUDITY. [REUTERS] AND IN THE CONTINUING REAL-LIFE DRAMA OF THE U.S. MILITARY BAN, GAY AIR FORCE CAPTAIN RICH RICHENBERG HAS LOST HIS BID TO STAY IN THE SERVICE. A FEDERAL JUDGE IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA REFUSED TO DELAY HIS DISCHARGE UNTIL THERE'S A DECISION IN RICHENBERG'S CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT AGAINST THE AIR FORCE. [U.S.A. TODAY] AFTER THE HEAVY PUBLICITY U.S. PROFESSIONAL HOMOPHOBE LOU SHELDON BROUGHT TO SCHEDULED CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS CONCERNING HOMOSEXUALITY, THE HEARINGS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED INDEFINITELY. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ADVISED THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND, THE U.S.' LARGEST NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN POLITICAL GROUP, THAT THE DELAY WAS INTENDED TO ENSURE FAIRNESS AND BALANCE IN THE SELECTION OF WITNESSES TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY AT THE HEARINGS. SHELDON'S TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION HAD ALREADY PROVIDED UNPAID ASSISTANCE TO THE HOUSE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE IN PREPARATIONS FOR THE HEARINGS, WHICH HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 12th. [HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND press release] THE LEADER OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND FOUND A SIZABLE AUDIENCE IN A SURPRISING PLACE: THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE POLITICALLY-POWERFUL, AND POWERFULLY ANTI-GAY CHRISTIAN COALITION. ELIZABETH BIRCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HRCF, HAD PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN TO THE COALITION SEEKING A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE WASHINGTON, D.C. CONFERENCE. MIFFED THAT THE LETTER WENT OUT TO THE MEDIA AT THE SAME TIME IT WAS SENT TO THEM, THE COALITION REFUSED THAT REQUEST. SO, HRCF WENT IN THE BACK DOOR, PRIVATELY HIRING A ROOM IN THE SAME HOTEL AS THE CONFERENCE DURING ONE OF ITS LUNCH BREAKS. 300 PEOPLE CROWDED INTO THAT ROOM TO HEAR BIRCH'S 20-MINUTE ADDRESS. HOPING TO INITIATE A DIALOG, BIRCH CALLED ON THE AUDIENCE'S CHRISTIAN VALUES IN ASKING THEM TO REJECT A HOMOPHOBIC AGENDA AND ACCEPT THE GAY AND LESBIAN MEMBERS OF THEIR CHURCHES AND FAMILIES. MEANWHILE, THE FORMAL CONFERENCE WAS ADDRESSED BY EVERY REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE EXCEPT ONE -- ARLEN SPECTER. SPECTER BECAME THE RECIPIENT OF THE ONE-THOUSAND-DOLLAR CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION FROM THE LOG CABIN GAY AND LESBIAN REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS RETURNED BY BOB DOLE. [REUTERS and HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND press releases] THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA, ELCA, HAS BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH POSITIONS ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES LIKE ABORTION AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, AND IS WORKING ON STATEMENTS ON PORNOGRAPHY AND PROSTITUTION ... BUT IT'S GIVEN UP ON THE QUESTION OF HOMOSEXUALITY. THE FIFTH-LARGEST PROTESTANT DENOMINATION IN THE U.S., WITH MORE THAN FIVE MILLION MEMBERS, HAS CANCELED PLANS FOR A 1997 POLICY STATEMENT ON SEXUALITY, AND INDEFINITELY POSTPONED ANY DENOMINATION-WIDE ACTION. THE LUTHERANS BEGAN DEBATING GAY AND LESBIAN ISSUES SEVEN YEARS AGO. A DRAFT STATEMENT TWO YEARS AGO SAYING THAT "RESPONSIBLE BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION" SUPPORTED BLESSING SAME-GENDER COUPLES SPARKED WHAT ONE ELCA OFFICIAL CALLED "THE MOST VOLATILE EXPLOSION IN THE LIFE OF THIS CHURCH": 21,000 RESPONSES, MOST OF THEM CRITICAL. A SECOND DRAFT ISSUED LAST YEAR URGED ABSTINENCE FROM SEX OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE BUT ALSO REJECTED CONDEMNATIONS OF HOMOSEXUALITY -- A POSITION WHICH MANAGED TO ANGER BOTH LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES. AT THE BIENNIAL ASSEMBLY HELD IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA IN MID-AUGUST, THE ELCA CHURCH COUNCIL ADMITTED IT WAS FAR FROM CONSENSUS AND DETERMINED TO LET THE WHOLE MATTER REST FOR AWHILE ... BUT EVEN THAT DECISION DREW PROTEST FROM THOSE WHO FELT A DECISION AFFECTING ELCA'S GAY AND LESBIAN MEMBERS WAS URGENTLY NEEDED. [ASSOCIATED PRESS and BAY WINDOWS/Boston] A CHURCH OF ENGLAND SPOKESPERSON HAS SAID IT'S "ALL RIGHT" FOR OPEN, SEXUALLY-ACTIVE GAYS AND LESBIANS TO SERVE AS GODPARENTS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, A RURAL CURATE, WITH THE APPROVAL OF HIS BISHOP, REFUSED TO ALLOW AN OPENLY-GAY MAN EVEN TO ATTEND THE CHRISTENING OF HIS NIECE. BUT IN A MID-AUGUST STATEMENT, THE CHURCH SPOKESPERSON SAID "A GODPARENT IS SUPPOSED TO SET AN EXAMPLE OF GODLY LIVING FOR THE CHILD. THE SIMPLE ISSUE OF SEXUALITY SHOULD NOT BE RELEVANT TO WHETHER SOMEONE COULD BECOME A GODPARENT". [SYDNEY (Australia) STAR OBSERVER] AUSTRALIA'S ISLAND STATE OF TASMANIA IS BEST KNOWN FOR RETAINING THE NATION'S LAST SODOMY LAW, BUT NOW IT'S WELCOMING GAYS AND LESBIANS TO SERVE AS POLICE OFFICERS. THE INVITATION CAME SEPTEMBER 1st FROM THE STATE'S POLICE MINISTER, FRANK MADILL. MADILL ALSO REMARKED THAT, SINCE APPLICANTS ARE NOT ASKED ABOUT THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, HE DID NOT KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY GAYS OR LESBIANS CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE POLICE FORCE THERE. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] POLICE IN COSTA RICA WILL NOW BE RECEIVING SENSITIVITY TRAINING REGARDING GAYS AND LESBIANS AND TRANSVESTITES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS INSTITUTED THE TRAINING IN RESPONSE TO LAWSUITS FILED BY DRAG QUEENS CLAIMING POLICE ABUSE. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] IN FRANCE, THE MURDER OF A RIGHT-WING POLITICIAN HAS SENT POLICE INVESTIGATORS INTO TOULON'S GAY COMMUNITY AND SPARKED SOME PECULIAR COMMENTS. POLICE SAY THAT NATIONAL FRONT PARTY OFFICIAL JEAN-CLAUDE POULET-DACHARY, A VETERAN SOLDIER WITH A MACHO IMAGE, HAD VISITED GAY BARS JUST BEFORE HIS DEATH LAST WEEK. NATIONAL FRONT PARTY LEADER JEAN-MARIE LE PEN TOLD THE PRESS, "THERE MAY BE HOMOSEXUALS IN THE FN, BUT THERE ARE NO QUEENS AMONG US. WE DON'T HAVE A POLITICAL COMMISSAR IN OUR PARTY CHECKING WHETHER PEOPLE'S FLIES ARE OPEN OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS A HOMOSEXUAL, BUT IF ALL HOMOSEXUALS WERE MURDERED IN FRANCE, THERE WOULD BE A MASS SLAUGHTER, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE ESTABLISHMENT". [REUTERS] THE BOYS IN THE BAND THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS LIKE TO KISS EACH OTHER, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE HETEROSEXUAL, MAGAZINE PHOTOS OF THEIR SMOOCHING HAVE SPARKED CONTROVERSY IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. IN THE U.S., PEPPERS FLEA AND DAVE NAVARRO APPEAR SHIRTLESS ON THE COVER OF THE OCTOBER EDITION OF THE MUSIC TRADE PUBLICATION GUITAR IN A CLEARLY LESS-THAN-PASSIONATE SMOOCH. TO THE AMAZEMENT OF GUITAR'S DISTRIBUTORS, THAT WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE NEARLY ONE HUNDRED U.S. RETAILERS TO REFUSE TO DISPLAY THE MAGAZINE, MOST OF THEM COMPLAINING THAT IT "PROMOTED HOMOSEXUALITY". MEANWHILE, MTV HAS HAD NO PROBLEM AIRING THE PEPPERS VIDEO "WARPED", WHICH INCLUDES A KISS BETWEEN PEPPERS NAVARRO AND ANTHONY KIEDIS. IN AUSTRALIA, PEPPERS KIEDIS AND FLEA APPEARED SHIRTLESS WITH THEIR FACES DISTORTED BY GRIMACES AND THEIR LIPS BARELY TOUCHING ON THE COVER OF THE JULY EDITION OF JUICE MAGAZINE. THE JUICE COVER ITSELF CAUSED NO INCIDENT, AND IN FACT THAT ISSUE WAS ONE OF THE MAGAZINE'S BEST SELLERS. BUT WHEN THE COVER WAS REPRODUCED IN AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR JUICE IN A HIGH SCHOOL CAREER GUIDE PUBLISHED BY THE NEW SOUTH WALES TECHNICAL AND FURTHER EDUCATION COMMISSION, IT WAS ANOTHER STORY. THE COMMISSION RECALLED THE MORE THAN 100,000 COPIES OF THE CAREER GUIDE AND SPENT ABOUT $100,000 PRODUCING A SECOND VERSION WITHOUT THE KISS PHOTO. A COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON CITED CONCERNS THAT THE AD WASN'T CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AS COMING FROM AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE, SAID THAT "THE CONTENT OF THE ADVERTISEMENT COULD BE CONSIDERED OFFENSIVE TO SOME PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY", AND REPORTED THAT ONE COMPLAINT HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM A SCHOOL. [LOS ANGELES TIMES and SYDNEY STAR OBSERVER] AND FINALLY ... AUSTRALIA'S INDEPENDENT TELEVISION COMMISSION RECENTLY RELEASED A REPORT ON VIEWER COMPLAINTS, AND HERE'S HOW ONE ITEM IN IT READ: "ONE VIEWER WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT A MAN WEARING AN ARTIFICIAL PENIS ON HIS NOSE ... WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE ... THE MAN WAS IN FACT DOING AN IMPRESSION OF BARRY MANILOW". [SYDNEY SUNDAY HERALD] ************************************************* 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. 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