************************************************* The week of 9/25/95 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: In France, six Paris district mayors officially announce "Common Life Certificates" registration for same-gender couples ... but the Canadian House Of Commons soundly defeats a bill to grant legal recognition to same- gender couples ... Palm Springs, California hosts an historic conference of almost 350 gay and lesbian criminal justice professionals from the U.S. and five other countries ... and several other stories [anchored by Cindy Friedman and Brian Nunes] ... * Scott Schlagel has a preview of the U.S. Supreme Court hearings on Colorado's anti-gay Amendment 2, scheduled to begin on October 10th -- the high court ruling will be the most critical judicial decision to affect American lesbian and gay rights in the past decade ... * Previously on THIS WAY OUT, legendary lesbian-feminist performer and activist ALIX DOBKIN discussed her objections to the inclusion of transsexual women at womyn's music festivals in an interview with Bert Wylen; after excerpts from that interview, transsexual lesbian activist Rachel Lee offers a response to Dobkin's remarks ... * Gay troubadors ROMANOVSKY & PHILLIPS have just released their sixth album, "Let's Flaunt It!" With excerpts from this R&P live in-concert recording, TWO's Jon Beaupre has the musical details ... ... and more! ========================*=========================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending September 23, 1995 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #391, distributed 9-25-95) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Bill Stosine, and Ron Buckmire] IN FRANCE, SIX PARIS DISTRICT MAYORS JOINTLY ANNOUNCED ON SEPTEMBER 20th THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FOR SAME-GENDER COUPLES. THE SO-CALLED "COMMON LIFE CERTIFICATES" CAN BE OBTAINED BY GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES WHO HAVE COHABITED FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. THE DISTRICT MAYORS, ALL FROM THE POLITICAL LEFT, SAID THEIR MOVE WAS INTENDED "TO CONTRIBUTE TO EQUALITY BETWEEN ALL CITIZENS, WHATEVER THEIR PERSONAL SITUATION". ALTHOUGH THE CERTIFICATES CARRY NO LEGAL WEIGHT, GAY AND LESBIAN ACTIVISTS APPLAUDED THE MOVE AS AN IMPORTANT "FIRST STEP". [Sources: AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE and THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] IN CANADA, A BILL TO GRANT LEGAL RECOGNITION TO SAME-GENDER COUPLES WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED ON SEPTEMBER 18TH IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, OPPOSED BY 70 PERCENT OF THE LEGISLATORS. THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED BY OPENLY GAY MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REAL MENARD. HE HAD THE SUPPORT OF 85 PERCENT OF HIS BLOC QUEBECOIS PARTY, BUT THEY WERE JOINED BY ONLY 7 MEMBERS OF THE RULING LIBERAL PARTY, INCLUDING DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SHEILA COPPS. MENARD PROMISED TO CONTINUE HIS EFFORTS, SAYING, "WE CAN WIN OTHER FIGHTS TO CHANGE THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT. THE NEXT FIGHT WE WILL WIN." [ASSOCIATED PRESS] "GAY AND LESBIAN JOURNALISTS ARE ARRESTED, CENSORED AND PERSECUTED...BY GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD", ACCORDING TO THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, A 14-YEAR-OLD NON-PROFIT GROUP PROMOTING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS INTERNATIONALLY. THE COMMITTEE HAS RELEASED A DRAFT OF A REPORT IT WILL PRESENT OFFICIALLY IN OCTOBER AT A CONVENTION OF THE U.S. NATIONAL LESBIAN AND GAY JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION. THE REPORT, WRITTEN BY RUSSIAN-BORN LESBIAN JOURNALIST MASHA GESSEN, DOCUMENTS MORE THAN TWO DOZEN CASES OF GOVERNMENT REPRESSION OF GAYS AND LESBIANS, FROM SEIZURE OF NEWS MAGAZINES IN CANADA TO DETENTION OF EDITORS IN HUNGARY AND IMPRISONMENT OF JOURNALISTS IN RUSSIA AND NICARAGUA. IN A NUMBER OF CASES, PORNOGRAPHY LAWS ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN USED TO SILENCE ANY COVERAGE OF GAY AND LESBIAN TOPICS. THE COMMITTEE EXPECTS ITS REPORT TO ENCOURAGE GAY AND LESBIAN JOURNALISTS AROUND THE WORLD TO COME FORWARD WITH MORE ACCOUNTS OF GOVERNMENT RESTRAINT OF GAY AND LESBIAN MEDIA. [MEDIAWATCH COLUMN-GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION/SAN FRANCISCO per SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER] BUT WHEN ESTABLISHED GAY AND LESBIAN PUBLICATIONS FAIL, IT'S USUALLY A QUESTION OF MONEY. THAT'S THE CASE ONCE AGAIN WITH THE MID-SEPTEMBER DEMISE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO SENTINEL, AFTER 23 YEARS OF PUBLICATION. THE SENTINEL HAD THE THIRD-LARGEST CIRCULATION AMONG U.S. GAY AND LESBIAN WEEKLIES. [UPDATE/San Diego, CA per SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER and NEW YORK TIMES] IN WHAT'S BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST GATHERING OF ITS KIND, ALMOST 350 GAY AND LESBIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE U.S. AND FROM FIVE OTHER COUNTRIES GATHERED IN PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA FOR A CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY THE GOLDEN STATE PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT. IN A NUMBER OF CASES, PARTICIPANTS' EXPENSES WERE PAID BY THEIR DEPARTMENTS. PRESIDENT CLINTON'S LIAISON TO THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY, MARSHA SCOTT, GAVE THE OPENING ADDRESS, AND OFFICIAL GREETINGS WERE SENT BY THE PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA'S U.S. SENATORS, LOS ANGELES MAYOR RICHARD RIORDAN, AND A NUMBER OF POLICE CHIEFS. TOPICS INCLUDED WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION, COMING OUT ON THE JOB, AND HIV AND AIDS. ACCORDING TO ONE PARTICIPANT, ELLEN MEYERS OF THE COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS PROSECUTORS OFFICE, ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF REPORTED CRIMES INVOLVING GAYS AND LESBIANS ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FAR MORE THAN HATE CRIMES. [UPDATE/San Diego, CA and GAY & LESBIAN TIMES/San Diego, CA] A STUDY TO BE PUBLISHED LATER THIS YEAR DOCUMENTS HOMOPHOBIA IN IRELAND. IRELAND'S COMBAT POVERTY AGENCY AND THE GAY AND LESBIAN GROUP GLEN SURVEYED 159 GAYS AND LESBIANS IN DUBLIN AND CORK. MORE THAN TEN PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS HAD EXPERIENCED MORE THAN ONE INCIDENT OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. SIXTY PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY'D CONSIDERED LEAVING IRELAND. IN THE WORKPLACE, FORTY PERCENT SAID THEY HAD BEEN HARRASSED FOR THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, WHILE ALMOST ONE-FOURTH SAID THAT FEAR OF BEING "OUTED" HAD LED THEM TO AVOID JOBS FOR WHICH THEY WERE QUALIFIED. WHILE MOST OF THOSE SURVEYED HAD NOT COME OUT TO THEIR FAMILIES, THOSE WHO HAD CLAIMED THAT IT HAD IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES. [WASHINGTON (D.C.) BLADE per LONDON GAY TIMES per DUBLIN GAY COMMUNITY NEWS] THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES CALLS IT "PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN SOCIAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION", BUT WASHINGTON, D.C. INSIDERS CALL IT "NO PROMO HOMO" ... A HEARING ON SCHOOL PROGRAMS RELATING TO HOMOSEXUALITY. U.S. PROFESSIONAL HOMOPHOBE LOU SHELDON AND HIS TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION SAY REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADER NEWT GINGRICH PROMISED THEM THE HEARING BEFORE LAST NOVEMBER'S ELECTIONS, AND THEY'VE PROVIDED RESEARCH TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO HELP MAKE IT A SHOWCASE FOR THEIR HOMOPHOBIC POINT OF VIEW. THE HEARING WAS INITIALLY SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 12TH AND THEN DELAYED, BUT NOW A NEW DATE HAS BEEN SET: OCTOBER 13TH -- MIDWAY THROUGH GAY AND LESBIAN HISTORY MONTH AND WITHIN DAYS OF NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY, THE SO-CALLED "JENNY JONES" TRIAL OF A GAY MURDER, AND OPENING ARGUMENTS IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HEARINGS ON COLORADO'S AMENDMENT 2 -- 1992'S SUCCESSFUL BALLOT MEASURE TO PROHIBIT AND OVERTURN CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR LESBIANS, GAYS AND BISEXUALS. THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND, THE U.S.' LARGEST GAY AND LESBIAN POLITICAL ACTION GROUP, IS ORGANIZING A LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN TO CALL FOR CANCELLATION OF THE HEARING. [HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND press release] ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE LIBERAL GROUP PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY, CLAIMS OF "PROMOTING HOMOSEXUALITY" MADE UP A RECORD SIXTEEN PERCENT OF ALL CHALLENGES TO U.S. SCHOOL CURRICULA IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR. THE 44 GAY-RELATED INCIDENTS REPRESENTED A FIFTY PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S REPORTED TOTAL. OF ALL CURRICULUM CHALLENGES REPORTED FOR THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR THAT HAVE BEEN RESOLVED TO DATE, FULLY HALF WERE SUCCESSFUL -- AN ALL-TIME HIGH FOR THE 13 YEARS THAT PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY HAS ISSUED ITS REPORT. [OUT NOW/San Jose, CA] THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED FIVE MORE YEARS OF FUNDING FOR AIDS TREATMENT AND SERVICES WITH A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE ON SEPTEMBER 18TH. THE RYAN WHITE CARE ACT WILL PROVIDE 633 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE COMING YEAR. IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR UNDER A PROCEDURE THAT PREVENTED ANY AMENDMENTS, FORESTALLING ANYTHING LIKE THE SERIES OF AMENDMENTS HOMOPHOBIC SENATOR JESSE HELMS OFFERED DURING THE SENATE DEBATE ON THE MEASURE. A COMPROMISE COMMITTEE WILL NEXT RECONCILE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE VERSION AND THE ONE THE SENATE PASSED EARLIER, BEFORE THE BILL IS SENT TO PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR HIS SIGNATURE. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE and LOG CABIN REPUBLICAN CLUBS press release] A NEW HIV TEST THAT'S EASY, QUICK AND CHEAP HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED BY SCIENTISTS AT INDIA'S DELHI UNIVERSITY. USING A NEW CHEMICAL PREPARED WITH RECOMBINANT DNA, ALL IT TAKES IS ONE DROP OF BLOOD, A GLASS SLIDE, AND FIVE OR TEN SECONDS' TIME. WHERE HIV IS PRESENT, THE BLOOD WILL FORM VISIBLE CLUMPS. IN INITIAL TESTING, THE NEW ASSAY WAS CORRECT IN 99 OUT OF 100 SAMPLES. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] AND FINALLY ... BRAZIL HAS LATIN AMERICA'S HIGHEST INCIDENCE OF AIDS, SO IN MID-SEPTEMBER THE GOVERNMENT'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH BEGAN AN AMBITIOUS 5-MILLION-DOLLAR PREVENTION CAMPAIGN. IT GIVES A RADIO VOICE TO A PENIS, WHO'S FIRST HEARD IN DIALOG WITH HIS MORE CAREFUL OWNER, BUT WILL LATER HAVE A TITLE ROLE IN A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER FEATURE. YOU CAN'T HAVE A TITLE ROLE WITHOUT HAVING A NAME, THOUGH, SO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH CAREFULLY RESEARCHED EXACTLY WHAT NAMES BRAZILIAN MEN MOST OFTEN GIVE THEIR PENISES. BEATING OUT ANASTACIO, MAURO, OSCAR, AND TONHAO, THE NEW MEDIA STAR IS CALLED BRAULIO. THE CAMPAIGN IMMEDIATELY DREW A FLOOD OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF BRAZILIAN BISHOPS, THE LISTENING PUBLIC ... AND ESPECIALLY FROM MEN NAMED BRAULIO. [SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER] ************************************************* 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!**********************