************************************************* The week of10/09/95 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: Italian gays and lesbians face Catholic sticks and fascist stones in a march for same-gender partnership rights in Verona ... the death of Tyrone "Tyra" Hunter in a Washington, D.C. traffic accident sparks protests over paramedic responsiveness ... the U.S. Black Gay & Lesbian Leadership Forum gets serious ... and several other stories [anchored by Cindy Friedman and Brian Nunes] ... * Openly-lesbian American singer/songwriter JANIS IAN "does" London during a promotional tour for her latest album, "Revenge"; she talks with Nigel Wrench of BBC Radio 5 Live's "Out This Week" about her place in the "iconography" of living lesbians and her musical career ... * 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". In the second installment of a month-long feature interview, TWO's Josy Catoggio talks with Signorile about coming out to family members, and why the desire of lesbians and gay men to be themselves in public is not "flaunting it" ... ... and more! ========================*=========================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending October 7, 1995 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #393, distributed 10-09-95) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Bill Stosine and Ron Buckmire] ITALIAN GAYS AND LESBIANS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS MARCHED 5,000 STRONG THROUGH THE STREETS OF VERONA SEPTEMBER 30TH IN A DEMONSTRATION FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR SAME- GENDER COUPLES. MOST SPECTATORS WERE DISPLEASED BY THE MARCH, AND SOME TOOK ACTION AGAINST IT. YOUNG FASCISTS CONTINUALLY PELTED THE MARCHERS WITH PEBBLES AND COINS, WHILE A CATHOLIC GROUP DISTRIBUTED LEAFLETS CONDEMNING HOMOSEXUALITY AS A "REVOLTING VICE WITH CONTAGIOUS AND DEVASTATING DISEASES". MARCHERS REMAINED PEACEFUL DESPITE THOSE PROVOCATIONS. ALTHOUGH A BILL TO ESTABLISH THE RIGHTS OF GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES HAS BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT BY NIKI VENDOLA OF THE RIFONDAZIONE COMUNISTA PARTY, IT FACES CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION. IN JULY, THE VERONA CITY COUNCIL REJECTED THOSE RIGHTS WHEN IT VOTED DOWN THE SO-CALLED STRASBOURG DOCUMENT, A 1994 RESOLUTION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION. DURING THAT DEBATE, ONE ALDERMAN WENT SO FAR AS TO CALL FOR THE "CASTRATION OF HOMOSEXUALS". THE VERONA CITY COUNCIL WENT ON TO PASS ITS OWN RESOLUTION CALLING HOMOSEXUALITY "DEPRAVED BEHAVIOR" AND "AN OBSESSIVE NEUROSIS SIMILAR TO ALCOHOLISM". [Sources: REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS and per cybercorrespondent SALVATORE MELE] IN BELGIUM, THE CITIES OF GHENT AND ANTWERP HAVE CREATED OFFICIAL REGISTRIES FOR GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES. ALTHOUGH REGISTRATION HAS NO LEGAL CONSEQUENCES, EVEN A SYMBOLIC MEASURE IS CONSIDERED A LARGE STEP FORWARD FOR THE HISTORICALLY CONSERVATIVE FLANDERS REGION. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] U.S. ORGANIZING TO CAMPAIGN FOR EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS HAS MOVED TO A NEW LEVEL WITH THE FORMATION OF "FREEDOM TO MARRY", A COALITION OF MANY NATIONAL, STATEWIDE AND LOCAL ACTIVIST ORGANIZATIONS. SPURRED BY HOPES THAT A PENDING COURT CASE COULD LEAD TO LEGAL RECOGNITION OF SAME-GENDER COUPLES IN HAWAII, THE GROUPS WILL UNITE IN THEIR FORMERLY FRAGMENTED EFFORTS TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND MOBILIZE SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE U.S.. THE COALITION INCLUDES ALL THE LEADING U.S. NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN ORGANIZATIONS. [per organizational press release and various previous reports] A WASHINGTON, D.C. GAY MALE COUPLE HAVE REVEALED THAT CRUSADING TO LEGALLY MARRY DESTROYED THEIR RELATIONSHIP. CRAIG DEAN AND PATRICK GILL APPLIED FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE IN 1990, AND HAVE BEEN PROTESTING ITS REFUSAL EVER SINCE. THEY LOST THEIR CASE BEFORE A PANEL OF THE D.C. COURT OF APPEALS, AND GAVE UP THE FIGHT IN AUGUST AFTER THE FULL COURT OF APPEALS REFUSED A REHEARING. IN LATE SEPTEMBER, THEY REVEALED THAT THE STRESS OF THE STRUGGLE HAD LED THEM TO SEPARATE IN EARLY 1994. [THE WASHINGTON (D.C.) BLADE] A WISCONSIN LESBIAN CO-PARENT SEEKING VISITATION WITH HER FORMER PARTNER'S BIOLOGICAL SON HAS WON ANOTHER ROUND IN HER LONG-RUNNING COURT STRUGGLE. U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHN PAUL STEVENS THIS WEEK LEFT INTACT A COURT ORDER TEMPORARILY ESTABLISHING VISITATION FOR CO-PARENT SANDRA HOLTZMAN. STEVENS REJECTED ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF BIOLOGICAL MOTHER ELSBETH KNOTT THAT HOLTZMAN SHOULD NOT HAVE VISITATION WHILE THE CASE WAS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE COURTS. THE COUPLE LIVED TOGETHER FOR 10 YEARS, BUT SEPARATED 5 YEARS AFTER KNOTT BORE A SON BY ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION. [THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] A FIRST U.S. NATIONAL GENDER LOBBYING DAY WAS HELD OCTOBER 2ND AS 75 TRANY ACTIVISTS FROM 20 STATES MET WITH THEIR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES. LEADING ISSUES INCLUDED EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION, HATE VIOLENCE AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE. [TRANSSEXUAL MENACE press release] 150 PEOPLE HELD A VIGIL OUTSIDE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN LATE SEPTEMBER, PROTESTING A RESCUE WORKER WHO STOPPED TREATING AN ACCIDENT VICTIM AFTER DISCOVERING THAT WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A WOMAN WAS IN FACT A MAN IN DRAG. AS WITNESSES AT THE EARLY AUGUST AUTO ACCIDENT TOLD "THE WASHINGTON BLADE", AFTER THE RESCUE WORKER CUT AWAY THE VICTIM'S CLOTHES TO TREAT ABDOMINAL INJURIES, HE SAID, "THIS AIN'T NO BITCH", STARTED LAUGHING, AND WALKED AWAY, APPARENTLY STUNNED AND AGITATED. AS A RESULT, THE VICTIM, TYRONE "TYRA" HUNTER, WAS LEFT UNTENDED FOR 3-TO-5 MINUTES, ALTHOUGH BYSTANDERS SHOUTED, "IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, HE'S A PERSON, HE'S A HUMAN BEING." FINALLY A SUPERVISOR CAME OVER AND RESUMED HUNTER'S TREATMENT, ALTHOUGH AT LEAST ONE WITNESS CLAIMS THE RESCUE SQUAD WORKED MORE SLOWLY THAN WHEN THEY HAD BELIEVED HUNTER TO BE A WOMAN. HUNTER DIED OF HIS INJURIES 3 HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HOSPITAL PERSONNEL HAD NO ANSWER FOR HUNTER'S MOTHER WHEN SHE ASKED IF FASTER RESPONSE BY THE RESCUE WORKERS COULD HAVE SAVED HIM. UNDER PRESSURE FROM LOCAL ACTIVISTS, THE D.C. FIRE DEPARTMENT CARRIED OUT AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT. ON AUGUST 18TH, FIRE CHIEF OTIS LATIN REPORTED THE FINDINGS THAT, WHILE AT LEAST ONE RESCUE WORKER HAD MADE ONE OR MORE DISPARAGING COMMENTS ABOUT HUNTER, THE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHO HAD DONE SO; AND THAT, IN HIS WORDS, "AT NO TIME WAS PATIENT CARE COMPROMISED." HE APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT HAD BEEN SAID, STATED THE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT TOLERATE SUCH BEHAVIOR, PROMISED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD HOLD SENSITIVITY TRAININGS, AND DECLARED THE INVESTIGATION CLOSED. ACTIVISTS, ALONG WITH HUNTER'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WERE NOT SATISFIED, AND PROMISED TO CONTINUE THEIR PROTESTS. ONE DEMONSTRATION BY MEMBERS OF TRANSGENDER NATION, QUEER NATION, AND GLAAD, THE GAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION, CHARGED THE WASHINGTON POST WITH "CHEAP SENSATIONALISM" IN ITS COVERAGE OF THE STORY. [THE WASHINGTON (D.C.) BLADE] TWO SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS HAVE BEEN STRIPPED OF THEIR CREDENTIALS FOR ALLOWING GUEST LECTURERS TO DISCUSS GAY AND LESBIAN SEX IN THE CLASSROOM. IN APRIL 1992 THE TWO TEACHERS COMBINED THEIR CLASSES TO HEAR A PRESENTATION BY MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY UNITED AGAINST VIOLENCE, A GAY AND LESBIAN GROUP WORKING TO PREVENT GAY-BASHING. ONE STUDENT WAS THE DAUGHTER OF HOMOPHOBE BRUCE BUDNICK. SHE SAYS THAT IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM THE CLASS, THE SPEAKERS DISCUSSED ORAL AND ANAL SEX AND THE USE OF SEX TOYS. BUDNICK SAW THIS AS "PROSELYTIZING", AND IN 1993 HE FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE TEACHERS WITH THE HELP OF THE RUTHERFORD INSTITUTE, A CONSERVATIVE LEGAL AID GROUP BASED IN VIRGINIA. THE DECISION BY THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING WAS UNUSUAL, AND IS LIKELY TO BE APPEALED BY BOTH THE TEACHERS' UNION AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. [THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE and THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION/SAN FRANCISCO's MediAlert] THE U.S. BLACK GAY AND LESBIAN LEADERSHIP FORUM IS MOVING TO A NEW LEVEL OF NATIONAL PRESENCE. IN LATE SEPTEMBER, THE GROUP HIRED ITS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SELECTING FORMER CLINTON ADMINISTRATION STAFFER KEITH BOYKIN FOR THE POST. HE'LL SPLIT HIS TIME BETWEEN THE GROUP'S LONG-TIME HOME IN LOS ANGELES AND WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE THE LEADERSHIP FORUM WILL BE ESTABLISHING A NEW OFFICE. A STRUCTURE OF LOCAL CHAPTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL BE DEVELOPED. [THE WASHINGTON (D.C.) BLADE] IN AMSTERDAM, GAY AND LESBIAN PROGRAMMING RETURNED TO CABLE TELEVISION OCTOBER 7TH WITH THE FIRST WEEKLY HOUR OF WILMA-TV. WILMA-TV'S PREDECESSOR GTV - WITH THE "G" PRONOUNCED "GAY" IN DUTCH -- HAD COLLAPSED EARLIER THIS YEAR AFTER 4 YEARS OF CABLE-CASTING. BUT SOME OF GTV'S VOLUNTEERS FOUND A NEW HOME AT THE GAY AND LESBIAN RADIO STATION MVS, WHICH HAS NOW MOVED INTO TV PRODUCTION. WILMA-TV'S HOUR IS PLANNED TO INCLUDE NEWS, DOCUMENTARIES, A SOAP OPERA, AND A QUIZ SHOW. [per cybercorrespondent BERT SCHUUR] IN A RELATED STORY, GAY AND LESBIAN CABLE TELEVISION AUSTRALIA, KNOWN AS GALACTA, IS DEVELOPING A 24-HOUR GAY AND LESBIAN CABLE STATION, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SERVICE IN JANUARY. [THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION/SAN FRANCISCO's MediAlert] THE NETHERLANDS' FLAMBOYANTLY GAY FASHION DESIGNER FRANK GOVERS RECEIVED A ROYAL MEDAL AS HE ENDED HIS 40-YEAR CAREER. AT THE PRESENTATION OF GOVERS' FINAL WINTER COLLECTION IN LATE SEPTEMBER, AMSTERDAM'S MAYOR AWARDED GOVERS THE MEDAL WITH A SPONTANEOUS KISS. GOVERS WAS SURPRISED TO RECEIVE THE AWARD BECAUSE OF HIS PAST CRITICISM OF THE QUEEN'S WARDROBE. [per cybercorrespondent BERT SCHUUR] THE GAY AND LESBIAN OLYMPIC-STYLE EUROGAMES V IS SET FOR JUNE 1997 IN PARIS, TO BE ORGANIZED BY THE COMITE GAY PARIS ILE DE FRANCE. THE PARIS BID WAS ACCEPTED AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE EUROGAMES BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN A CEREMONY NOVEMBER 5TH AT THE DUTCH GAY FAIR IN LEIDEN. [REX WOCKER INTERNATIONAL NEWS and per cybercorrespondent MANO FABISTAS] AND FINALLY, A DIFFERENT SORT OF GAME IS A CENTERPIECE OF THE CURRENT EDITION OF SCOTLAND'S ANNUAL GLASGAY FESTIVAL, BILLED AS "EUROPE'S LARGEST AND MOST DARING LESBIAN AND GAY ARTS FESTIVAL". THIS YEAR, IN ADDITION TO THE USUAL ARRAY OF FILMS, PERFORMANCES, EXHIBITS, AND WORKSHOPS, THERE'S A WAR-GAMES STYLE ADVENTURE IN SAFER SEX EDUCATION CALLED THE "EEK! GAMES". WEARING PLASTIC TRASH BAGS AS BODY CONDOMS TO PROTECT THEM FROM LIQUID ATTACKS BY THE EVIL "UNDERTOADS", PARTICIPANTS NEGOTIATE A WOODLAND COURSE "THROUGH THE GANG HUT, OVER THE CRYSTAL HUMP AND UP THE LOVE TREE", WHILE BEING "PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, OR SEXUALLY CHALLENGED BY THE LIKES OF THE TOMGIRLS, CALAMITY LANG, CRYSTAL FAIRIES, AND THE PRETTY POLICE." [THE GLASGOW 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. 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 FROM LESBIAN- FEMINIST HUMORIST KATE CLINTON ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SURVIVAL OF "THIS WAY OUT" ? YOU CAN REQUEST AN E-MAIL COPY FROM TWORADIO@AOL.COM. ********************THANKS!**********************