************************************************* The week of10/02/95 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: Romanian sodomy reform okays sex, but punishes politics ... Zimbabwe MP's call for teaching anti-gay lessons in school and "hibernation" and "treatment" of gays ... U.S. Congressional "no promo homo" hearings are delayed indefinitely ... and several other stories [anchored by Cindy Friedman and Brian Nunes] ... * A New Hampshire high school English teacher has lost her job because she included works by queer authors E.M. Forster and May Sarton in here classes [Susan Gage's report includes comments by fired teacher Penny Culliton] ... * "A Question Of Equality", a four-part series airing during October on many U.S. public television stations, explores the complexities of the lesbigay rights struggles in America, and the pre-broadcast buzz has been strong. Karole Selmon talks briefly with producer David Meieran about this upcoming landmark series ... * Michelangelo Signorile, columnist and author of the best-selling "Queer In America" has turned the controversial topic of "outing" inward in his latest book, "Outing Yourself". With National Coming Out Day fast approaching (October 11th), TWO's Josy Catoggio begins a multi-week feature interview with Signorile about the various "steps" in the coming out process Signorile discusses in his book ... ... and more! ========================*=========================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending September 30, 1995 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #392, distributed 10-02-95) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Bill Stosine, Bjorn Skolander and Ron Buckmire] IN ROMANIA, THE RECENT REFORM OF THE NATIONAL SODOMY LAW IS DRAWING FIRE BOTH FROM HOMOPHOBES AND FROM GAY AND LESBIAN ACTIVISTS. A GROUP CALLED CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX STUDENTS HAS ALREADY REPORTEDLY GATHERED 200,000 OF THE 500,000 SIGNATURES NEEDED TO PLACE A REPEAL MEASURE BEFORE ROMANIAN VOTERS. MEANWHILE, THE GAY AND LESBIAN BUCHAREST ACCEPTANCE GROUP NOTES THAT THE AMENDED SODOMY LAW NOW PUNISHES "PROSELYTIZING, ASSOCIATIONS, OR ANY FORM OF PROPAGANDA" FOR HOMOSEXUALITY WITH A PRISON TERM, THEREBY CRIMINALIZING ANY PUBLIC EXPRESSION OF A GAY AND LESBIAN IDENTITY OR ANY GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. [Source: REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] IN ZIMBABWE, ONE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT SUGGESTED THAT ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL MATERIALS SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS, AS MEMBERS OF PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE'S ZANU-PF PARTY LINED UP THIS WEEK BEHIND HIS HOMOPHOBIC POSITION. ANOTHER ZANU-PF PARTY MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, AENEAS CHIGWEDERE, SAID, "LIKE TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS, THEY SHOULD BE HIBERNATED IN AN ISOLATION HOSPITAL UNTIL THERE ARE TREATED". [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] IN THE NETHERLANDS, WHERE MAJOR FAMILY LAW REFORM IS UNDERWAY, A GOVERNMENT POSITION PAPER ISSUED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER OPPOSED FULL MARRIAGE AND ADOPTION RIGHTS FOR GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES. WHILE THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS GIVING REGISTERED GAY AND LESBIAN DOMESTIC PARTNERS MOST OF THE RIGHTS OF MARRIED COUPLES, IT PREFERS TO RESTRICT ACTUAL MARRIAGES TO HETEROSEXUALS. ACCORDING TO RECENT POLLS, A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE DUTCH PUBLIC SUPPORTS EQUAL OR NEAR-EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS. WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS WHERE A GAY OR LESBIAN HAS A CHILD FROM A PREVIOUS HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP, A MAJORITY OF THE PARLIAMENT IS ALSO BELIEVED TO SUPPORT EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS, AND MAY BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT POSITION. WITH RESPECT TO ADOPTION, THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ADVOCATE OPENING ADOPTION TO SINGLE PARENTS OR TO GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES, FEARING NEGATIVE REACTIONS FROM THE FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT PROVIDE 95 PERCENT OF HOLLAND'S ADOPTEES. WHILE COC, THE NETHERLANDS' LEADING NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN ACTIVIST GROUP, WAS DISAPPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S STATEMENT, THE VATICAN WAS ALSO QUICK TO RESPOND WITH SHARP CRITICISM OF ITS POTENTIAL TO UNDERMINE WHAT IT CALLED THE "NATURAL TRADITIONAL FAMILY MODEL". [per correspondent BERT SCHUUR] MOST EMPLOYERS IN THE NETHERLANDS DO NOT EXTEND SPOUSAL BENEFITS TO THE PARTNERS OF THEIR GAY AND LESBIAN EMPLOYEES, ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT BY A DUTCH LABOR UNION. A SURVEY OF GAY BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS FOUND THAT HALF OF THEM FELT INTIMIDATED BY THEIR FELLOW WORKERS, WHILE 15 PERCENT FELT THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION LIMITED THEIR CAREER ADVANCEMENT. NOT SURPRISINGLY, A QUARTER OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY WRE CLOSETED AT WORK. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] CANADA'S LARGEST UNION, THE CANADIAN UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, IS CONTINUING THE STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION OF SAME-GENDER COUPLES THERE. THE UNION HAS BEEN SEEKING TO EXTEND ITS PENSION BENEFITS TO THE PARTNERS OF ITS GAY AND LESBIAN MEMBERS, BUT HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY CANADIAN TAX AUTHORITIES. IN SEPTEMBER, ONTARIO JUSTICE LOUISE CHARRON RULED AGAINST THE UNION. HER DECISION RELIED ON THIS YEAR'S CANADIAN SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT DENIED GOVERNMENT OLD AGE SECURITY BENEFITS TO A GAY COUPLE, EVEN THOUGH THE UNION'S PENSION BENEFITS ARE PAID OUT OF ITS PRIVATE FUNDS. THE UNION HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL APPEAL THAT DECISION. [ASSOCIATED PRESS] IN DENMARK, THE GAY MALE PRESIDENT AND THE LESBIAN VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN ORGANIZATION LBL GOT MARRIED -- TO EACH OTHER. WHILE DENMARK HAS ESTABLISHED REGISTERED PARTNERSHIPS FOR SAME-GENDER COUPLES, THOSE PARTNERSHIPS ARE LESS THAN EQUAL TO HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES WITH REGARD TO ADOPTION AND ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION. THE WEDDING WAS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTS OF THIS QUEER COUPLE AND THE RIGHTS OF REGISTERED PARTNERS. [per correspondent BJORN SKOLANDER] STRANGELY, IT WAS THE VERY DAY OF THAT WEDDING THAT ONE MEMBER OF THE FIRST GAY COUPLE TO REGISTER THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN DENMARK, AFTER A LIFETIME CRUSADING FOR THE RIGHT TO DO SO, DIED. EIGIL AXGIL WAS 71. HE'S SURVIVED BY HIS PARTNER AXEL AXGIL -- THEY CREATED THEIR LAST NAME BY COMBINING THEIR FIRST NAMES. TOGETHER, THEY FOUNDED DENMARK'S NATIONAL HOMOSEXUAL ASSOCIATION IN 1948. [ASSOCIATED PRESS] GERMANY'S RULING COALITION HAS FINALIZED A BILL TO CRIMINALIZE MARITAL RAPE THAT WOULD ALSO APPLY TO GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES. THE BILL SAYS THAT THE RIGHT TO SEXUAL SELF-DETERMINATION MUST BE VALID REGARDLESS OF MARITAL STATUS, AND IS WRITTEN IN GENDER-NEUTRAL LANGUAGE. THE FACTIONS OF THE COALITION ARE EXPECTED TO CONFIRM THE PROPOSAL SOON [per correspondent BJORN SKOLANDER] THERE'S ANOTHER DELAY FOR THE U.S. CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS CALLED "PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN SOCIAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION". THE HEARINGS THAT PROFESSIONAL HOMOPHOBE LOU SHELDON HOPED TO USE AS HIS PLATFORM TO END SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR AND ABOUT GAYS AND LESBIANS WAS FIRST SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 12TH, AND RESCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 13TH. THIS WEEK, CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ANNOUNCED YET ANOTHER DELAY, WITHOUT SETTING A NEW DATE. THE GAY AND LESBIAN LOBBY GROUP HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND CONTINUES TO CALL FOR LETTERS TO CANCEL THE HEARINGS ALTOGETHER, IN THE BELIEF THAT IT "CANNOT BE MADE FAIR". [per HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND press release] IN JAPAN, THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE RELEASED RESULTS OF A PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY THAT FOUND 82 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS DISAPPROVED OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS. THE POLL ALSO FOUND THAT 84 PERCENT BELIEVED PEOPLE WITH HIV SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO KEEP THEIR JOBS, WHILE HALF SAID THEIR RELATIONSHIP WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED IF A PARTNER OR FRIEND WERE DIAGNOSED WITH AIDS. THE SURVEY WAS RELEASED AT THE END OF AUGUST, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TOKYO'S SECOND ANNUAL GAY AND LESBIAN PRIDE MARCH. 2,200 GAYS AND LESBIANS PARTICIPATED IN THAT EVENT. [Australia's CAPITAL Q and THE ADVOCATE] IN AUSTRALIA, NEW SOUTH WALES' HUNTER REGION CELEBRATED PRIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A FESTIVAL IN NEWCASTLE. THE EVENTS HELD DAILY FROM SEPTEMBER 2ND THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10TH BY THE HUNTER GAY AND LESBIAN INTERAGENCY INCLUDED A CHILDREN'S DAY, A FAMILY PICNIC, ART EXHIBITS, GARDENING COMPETITIONS, AND AN AWARDS DINNER. [Australia's CAPITAL Q] IN SPAIN, MORE THAN 1,000 GAY MEN PARTICIPATED IN A DANCE IN SITGES TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE FINANCIALLY- STRAPPED INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN ASSOCIATION, ON THE OCCASIONS OF ILGA'S 17TH ANNIVERSARY. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] IN BUENOS AIRES, THE NEW ORGANIZATION LESBIANAS A LA VISTA, OR "LESBIANS ON SIGHT", ON SEPTEMBER 16TH ORGANIZED A PROTEST OF THEIR GOVERNMENT'S PART IN ELIMINATING REFERENCES TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION FROM THE DECLARATION OF THE FOURTH UNITED NATIONS WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN. ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF THE GROUP CONVOCATORIA LESBIANA AND OTHERS, THEY MARCHED DOWN A MAIN STREET WEARING WHITE FACEPAINT AND DRESSED IN BLACK TO MOURN THE LOSS OF THEIR RIGHTS. [per correspondent A. SARDA] LESBIANAS A LA VISTA IS ONE OF THREE LESBIAN GROUPS TO FORM RECENTLY IN BUENOS AIRES. IN ADDITION TO STAGING PUBLIC ARTS PERFORMANCES TO INCREASE LESBIAN VISIBILITY, THEY OFFER WORKSHOPS AND COMING OUT GROUPS, AND THEY PLAN TO SET UP A HOTLINE FOR LESBIANS ABUSED BY THEIR PARTNERS. A RELATED ORGANIZATION, ESCRITA EN EL CUERPO, OR "WRITTEN ON THE BODY", IS BUILDING AN ARCHIVE OF MATERIALS ABOUT LESBIANS' PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIVES, AND PUBLISHES A NEWS BULLETIN. GRUPO DE INTEGRACION LESBICA, "THE LESBIAN INTEGRATION GROUP", IS DEVOTED TO DISCUSSION GROUPS AND POLITICAL ACTIVISM. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] IF YOU HEARD "NEWSWRAP" LAST WEEK, THEN YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH "BRAULIO", THE TALKING PENIS STARRING IN THE BRAZILIAN HEALTH MINISTRY'S FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR AIDS PREVENTION CAMPAIGN. THE MINISTRY IS CONTINUING THE CAMPAIGN, DESPITE PROTESTS FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT THEY'VE BACKED OFF FROM USING THE NAME "BRAULIO". INSTEAD, HE'LL JUST BE REFERRED TO IN NEUTRAL TERMS, SUCH AS "PARTNER", "BUDDY" AND "DITTO". NATIONAL AIDS CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR LAIR GUERRA DE MACEDO RODGRIGUES SAID, "THE OBJECT OF THIS CAMPAIGN IS NOT TO COME UP WITH A NAME FOR THE MALE GENITALIA, BUT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF AIDS." [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] AND FINALLY ... THIS ITEM, FROM CHUCK SHEPHERD'S SYNDICATED U.S. COLUMN "NEWS OF THE WEIRD", PUTS A NEW ANGLE ON THE OLD LINE ABOUT HOW YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT 'TIL IT'S GONE. BRUCE JENSEN IS A DEVOUT MORMON. MAYBE THAT'S WHY HE MARRIED HIS WIFE LEASA IN 1991 AFTER THEY HAD JUST ONE SEXUAL ENCOUNTER, IN WHICH SHE KEPT HER CLOTHES ON. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER ALMOST 4 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, WHEN LEASA DISAPPEARED AND BRUCE FILED A MISSING PERSONS REPORT EARLIER THIS YEAR, THAT HE LEARNED HIS WIFE IS A MAN, FELIX URIOSTE. BRUCE TOLD THE PRESS, "THERE'S NO WAY TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING." [from THE L.A. 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