************************************************* The week of 9/18/95 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: A French city and a Canadian bank recognize same-gender couples ... an openly-gay man is appointed to the Supreme Court of South Africa ... but the Religious Right is victorious in a school board election in Des Moines, Iowa ... and several other stories [anchored by Cindy Friedman and Brian Nunes] ... * What is the nature of homosexuality, and is it "nature" or "nurture"? Who cares, says Val M. Cox, in a brief personal commentary ... * Legendary lesbian-feminist performer and activist ALIX DOBKIN offers her personal perspectives on transsexuals at womyn's music festivals, and sadomasochism -- a platterful of food for thought -- in the conclusion of a 2-part feature interview conducted by Bert Wylen .... * The big-budget mainstream Hollywood drag film, "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar" was the number one movie at the U.S. box office last weekend, with a reported gross of 9.1 million dollars. Jon Beaupre has seen Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo in their tresses and dresses, and has a review ... ... and more! ========================*=========================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending September 16, 1995 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #390, distributed 9-18-95) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Bill Stosine, Graham Underhill, Ross Stevenson and Ron Buckmire] SAINT-NAZAIRE HAS BECOME THE FIRST CITY IN FRANCE TO OFFICIALLY CERTIFY SAME-GENDER COUPLES. IN ANNOUNCING THE MOVE ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, DEPUTY MAYOR MAXIME BATARD SAID, "ALL WE HAVE SOUGHT TO DO IS GIVE HOMOSEXUALS THE SAME RIGHTS AS OTHER CITIZENS ... OURS IS A SYMBOLIC GESTURE. IF IT CAN GET THINGS MOVING ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, THAT WOULD BE PRETTY GOOD." ALTHOUGH THE CERTIFICATES ARE NOT LEGALLY BINDING, AND IT'S NOT YET CLEAR WHICH AUTHORITIES WILL RECOGNIZE THEM, THE PORT CITY'S OFFICIALS HOPE THEY WILL ENTITLE GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES TO FAMILY TRAVEL FARES, RENT SUBSIDIES, AND NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR AN UNEMPLOYED PARTNER. [Source: REUTER NEWS SERVICE] IN CANADA, THE NATIONAL SCOTIABANK HAS EXTENDED MOST SPOUSAL BENEFITS TO THE PARTNERS OF ITS GAY AND LESBIAN EMPLOYEES. ONLY SPOUSAL PENSION BENEFITS ARE STILL DENIED THEM. THE MEMO ESTABLISHING THE POLICY STATED SCOTIABANK'S COMMITMENT TO A WORKPLACE FREE OF DISCRIMINATION AND HARRASSMENT. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] A JUDGE IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA HAS AFFIRMED A RULING THAT DENIES SAME-GENDER COUPLES THE SERVICES OF THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT. ALTHOUGH VIRGINIA LAW IS WRITTEN IN GENDER-NEUTRAL LANGUAGE AND COVERS "COHABITING" COUPLES AS WELL AS LEGALLY MARRIED ONES, STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES GILMORE RULED LAST YEAR THAT "CUSTOMARY LEGAL USAGE" RESTRICTED THOSE TERMS TO HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES. THE LITTLE-KNOWN RULING CAME TO LIGHT IN JULY, WHEN ELLIS EARLY SOUGHT A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST HIS MALE FORMER DOMESTIC PARTNER FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ALTHOUGH THE JUDGE IN THAT INSTANCE FOUND MERIT IN EARLY'S PETITION, HE FOUND THAT GILMORE'S RULING PREVENTED HIM FROM TAKING ACTION. AT THE END OF AUGUST, ALEXANDRIA CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE DONALD HADDOCK DENIED EARLY'S APPEAL, AFFIRMING THAT THE DOMESTIC COURT'S JURISDICTION DID NOT INCLUDE SAME-GENDER COUPLES. THIS MEANS THAT GAY AND LESBIAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES CAN ONLY GO TO GENERAL DISTRICT COURTS TO BE TREATED AS MISDEMEANOR ASSAULTS, INSTEAD OF TO THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURTS WHERE COUNSELING, MEDIATION AND OTHER SERVICES ARE OFFERED. IT'S POSSIBLE THAT EARLY WILL NOT APPEAL FURTHER, SINCE AN APPELLATE COURT DECISION AGAINST HIM WOULD STOP THOSE DOMESTIC COURT JUDGES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHO HAVE BEEN CHOOSING TO ACCEPT GAY AND LESBIAN CASES DESPITE THE STATE RULING. [THE WASHINGTON (D.C.) BLADE] AN OPENLY-GAY MAN HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE SUPREME COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA. EDWIN CAMERON, A PROFESSOR OF LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WITWATERSRAND, IS DESCRIBED AS "A LONGTIME ESTABLISHED GAY ACTIVIST". [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] IN DES MOINES, IOWA, AN OPENLY-GAY MAN'S BID FOR RE-ELECTION MADE THE RACE FOR SEATS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE STATE'S HISTORY, AND DREW BOTH NATIONAL PUBLICITY AND A RECORD NUMBER OF VOTERS ... BUT IT ENDED ON SEPTEMBER 12th AS A VICTORY FOR THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT. EARLIER THIS YEAR, DURING HIS FOURTH TERM ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, JONATHAN WILSON CAME OUT AS A GAY MAN IN RESPONSE TO A FAILED PROPOSAL TO ADD INFORMATION ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY TO THE CURRICULUM. ALTHOUGH HE RAISED AN UNPRECEDENTED 50 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR HIS CAMPAIGN FROM GAYS, LESBIANS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ACROSS THE U.S., HE CAME IN A WEAK FOURTH IN THE FIELD OF 8 VYING FOR TWO SEATS ON THE BOARD. DES MOINES SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT PAID FOR THEIR WORK. BOTH WINNERS WERE SUPPORTED BY "CONCERNED PARENTS OF DES MOINES", WHICH FORMED IN FEBRUARY SPECIFICALLY TO OPPOSE WILSON AND WHAT IT CALLED A "GAY AGENDA" IN THE SCHOOLS. THAT GROUP WAS SUPPORTED BY U.S. CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVES, INCLUDING THE CHRISTIAN COALITION, AND THE PRODUCERS OF THE HOMOPHOBIC PROPAGANDA VIDEO "THE GAY AGENDA". REPUBLICAN U.S. PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS, ESPECIALLY PHIL GRAMM, HAD ALSO CALLED ON DES MOINES RESIDENTS TO OPPOSE WILSON. VOTER TURN-OUT FOR THE ELECTION ALMOST DOUBLED THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR A SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION, AND WAS ABOUT FOUR TIMES THE TYPICAL PARTICIPATION. WILSON SAID, "THIS ELECTION ... SADLY, REPRESENTS A LOSS TO EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DIFFERENT IN ANY WAY". [DES MOINES REGISTER, ASSOCIATED PRESS, and a NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE press release] A NUMBER OF OTHER GAYS AND LESBIANS ARE DECLARING THEIR CANDIDACY FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE. BRITAIN'S LABOUR PARTY SELECTED OPENLY LESBIAN ATTORNEY LIZ DAVIES TO RUN FOR A LEEDS SEAT IN THE PARLIAMENT, BUT IT'S BEEN A DIVISIVE CHOICE. LABOUR PARTY LEADER TONY BLAIR REPORTEDLY WENT "BALLISTIC" AT DAVIES' NOMINATION, AND THE PARTY'S NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HAS REFUSED TO ENDORSE HER. [THE ADVOCATE] IN NEW ZEALAND, GAY ACTIVIST TIM BARNETT HAS WON HIS LABOUR PARTY'S NOMINATION TO REPRESENT CHRISTCHURCH IN THE PARLIAMENT. IT WAS A WIN-WIN SITUATION, THOUGH -- BARNETT BEAT OUT ANOTHER OPENLY GAY CANDIDATE AND A GAY-SUPPORTIVE CANDIDATE FOR THE CHANCE TO ASSUME THE SEAT BEING VACATED BY LIANNE DALZIEL, WHO'S LOBBIED STRONGLY FOR GAY AND LESBIAN CIVIL RIGHTS. BARNETT BELIEVES THE CHRISTCHURCH CENTRAL DISTRICT VOTERS ARE MATURE ENOUGH THAT HIS ORIENTATION WILL HAVE NO NEGATIVE POLITICAL IMPACT. [NEW ZEALAND EXPRESS and THE PRESS/Christchurch, N.Z.] MAINE'S OPENLY LESBIAN STATE SENATOR DALE McCORMICK HAS FILED HER CANDIDACY FOR THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SHE'S BEEN SERVING IN THE STATE SENATE SINCE 1990. NO OPEN LESBIAN HAS SERVED IN THE CONGRESS, AND ALL 3 OPENLY GAY CONGRESSMEMBERS HAD FIRST BEEN ELECTED TO OFFICE BEFORE COMING OUT. [WASHINGTON BLADE] NORTH CAROLINA'S ONLY OPENLY GAY OR LESBIAN ELECTED OFFICIAL, ALDERMAN MIKE NELSON OF CARRBORO, IS HOPING TO BECOME CARRBORO'S MAYOR AFTER NOVEMBER 7TH VOTING. AND HE MAY NOT BE ALONE FOR LONG, BECAUSE OPENLY GAY ORTHODOX CATHOLIC PRIEST ANDREW GENTRY IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. GENTRY IS CURRENTLY THE FIRST OPEN GAY APPOINTED TO ASHEVILLE'S COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL. [THE FRONT PAGE/Raleigh, North Carolina] THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF AUSTRIA, CARDINAL HANS GROER, OFFICIALLY RETIRED SEPTEMBER 14TH, AFTER 6 MONTHS OF WIDELY PUBLICIZED ALLEGATIONS THAT HE HAD MOLESTED SEVERAL OF HIS YOUNG MALE STUDENTS YEARS BEFORE. GROER HAS NEVER ADMITTED OR DENIED THOSE ALLEGATIONS. AFTER 9 YEARS IN OFFICE, GROER STEPPED DOWN WITHOUT FANFARE, EVEN FAILING TO ATTEND THE FAREWELL MASS IN HIS HONOR. HE'S SUCCEEDED BY THEOLOGIAN BISHOP CHRISTOPH SCHOENBORN, ONE OF SEVERAL CLERGY "OUTED" RECENTLY BY AUSTRIAN GAY ACTIVISTS, ALTHOUGH SCHOENBORN DENIED THEIR CLAIM THAT HE IS A GAY MAN. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] IN GLASGOW, AN OPENLY LESBIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER HAS BEEN KICKED OUT OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. LESLEY CRAISE WAS FORCED TO LEAVE HER CHURCH OSTENSIBLY BECAUSE SHE TOLD HER STUDENTS THAT GOD DIDN'T HAVE TO BE SEEN AS MALE, BUT HER FRIENDS BELIEVE THE ACTION RESULTED FROM HOMOPHOBIA. TWO OTHER TEACHERS RESIGNED IN PROTEST OF HER OUSTER. [CHICAGO OUTLINES] IN ROMANIA, AMENDMENTS TO THE SODOMY LAW THAT PASSED THE SENATE LAST YEAR WERE APPROVED THIS WEEK BY THE LOWER HOUSE, THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. THEY WILL HAVE TO BE PROMULGATED* BY PRESIDENT ION ILIESCU BEFORE THEY TAKE EFFECT. WITH THE AMENDMENTS, HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS WOULD BE CRIMINAL ONLY IF IT CREATED A "PUBLIC SCANDAL", IN WHICH CASE IT COULD BE PUNISHED WITH UP TO 5 YEARS INCARCERATION. ALTHOUGH THE REFORM IS GENERALLY VIEWED AS MORE LIBERAL THAN THE COMMUNIST-ERA SODOMY STATUTE, MANY GAY AND LESBIAN ACTIVISTS FEAR THAT ITS VAGUE LANGUAGE COULD MAKE IT EVEN MORE OF A THREAT. THE LONDON-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS GRUOP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORTED RECENTLY THAT 11 ROMANIANS WERE SERVING SENTENCES FOR SODOMY CONVICTIONS. DECRIMINALIZATION OF PRIVATE HOMOSEXUAL ACTS BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS WAS MADE A REQUIREMENT FOR ROMANIA'S ENTRY INTO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] IF YOU'RE WAITING TO RECEIVE SOMETHING YOU ORDERED FROM SHOCKING GRAY, DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH -- THE LARGEST GAY AND LESBIAN MAIL-ORDER FIRM IN THE U.S. HAS FILED FOR LIQUIDATION BANKRUPTCY, CLAIMING TOTAL DEBTS OF MORE THAN $860,000 COMPARED TO ASSETS OF $516,000. THE BANKRUPTCY IS BEING BLAMED ON SOME BAD BUSINESS DECISIONS AND POOR MANAGEMENT. ACCORDING TO ED RHEUBART, A BUYER FOR SHOCKING GRAY UNTIL IT BEGAN LAYOFFS IN AUGUST, "SHOCKING GRAY, THE CATALOG, WAS DOING FINE. SHOCKING GRAY, THE COMPANY, WAS NOT." SHOCKING GRAY HAD BEEN REACHING ALMOST 2 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS WITH ITS 3 ANNUAL CATALOGS OF JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT COULD SPORT A PINK TRIANGLE, RED RIBBON, LAMBDA, OR RAINBOW. [SAN ANTONIO (Texas) EXPRESS-NEWS and IN UNISON/Columbia, South Carolina] AND FINALLY ... REMEMBER THE FUSS ABOUT SATANIC MESSAGES YOU COULD SUPPOSEDLY HEAR WHEN PLAYING CERTAIN ROCK SONGS BACKWARDS? WELL, NOW U.S. CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS ARE SEEING THINGS IN SOME OF DISNEY'S ANIMATED CHILDREN'S FILMS THAT YOU PROBABLY MISSED -- AND THAT DISNEY CLAIMS AREN'T THERE AT ALL. AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE SPOKESPERSON TRACEY CASALE REPORTED HER GROUP'S OFFENSE AT MOMENTS IN 3 RECENT HITS. ACCORDING TO ONE MEMBER, IN "ALADDIN" THERE'S A MOMENT WHEN A VOICE WHISPERS "GOOD TEENAGERS TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES". IN A WEDDING SCENE IN "THE LITTLE MERMAID", CASALE SAYS THERE'S A PROFILE SHOT IN WHICH "YOU CAN'T MISS" SEEING THE MINISTER'S SEXUAL AROUSAL. AND MOST RECENTLY, THE LEAGUE HEARD FROM A WOMAN IN CARTHAGE, NEW YORK WHOSE 4-YEAR-OLD DISCOVERED A HIDDEN MESSAGE IN "THE LION KING". WHEN SIMBA PLOPS TO THE GROUND, HE RAISES A CLOUD OF DUST THAT THE WOMAN CLAIMS SUCCESSIVELY FORMS THE LETTERS S - E - X. 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