************************************************* The week of10/16/95 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: In the most important judicial decision affecting lesbigay rights in the past decade, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on Colorado's Amendment 2 (with brief comments from Linda Fowler, one of the original plaintiffs, and Colorado For Family Values co-founder Will Perkins) ... political challenges affecting gays & lesbians make news in Spain, Australia, and the U.S. ... and several other stories [anchored by Cindy Friedman and Brian Nunes] ... * The Gay & Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA) honor out of the closet entertainers [Chris Wilson and Jon Beaupre report on the fledgling event in New York City and talk with co- organizer Michael Mitchell and one of the honorees, Cris Williamson] ... * 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 third installment of a month-long feature interview, TWO's Josy Catoggio talks with Signorile about how well-meaning friends and family may inadvertently contribute to keeping a person in the closet, and things to consider before coming out to parents and siblings ... ... and more! ========================*=========================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending October 14, 1995 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #394, distributed 10-16-95) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Bill Stosine, Graham Underhill and Ron Buckmire] THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HEARD AN HOUR OF ORAL ARGUMENTS OCTOBER 10TH IN WHAT'S LIKELY TO BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LEGAL CASE OF THE DECADE FOR U.S. GAYS AND LESBIANS: THE LAWSUIT KNOWN AS "ROMER VERSUS EVANS" REGARDING COLORADO'S AMENDMENT 2, THE SUCCESSFUL 1992 BALLOT MEASURE PROHIBITING CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR GAYS, LESBIANS AND BISEXUALS. ENFORCEMENT OF AMENDMENT 2 HAS BEEN BLOCKED TO DATE AS BOTH A DENVER DISTRICT COURT AND THE COLORADO STATE SUPREME COURT REJECTED THE MEASURE AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. HOWEVER, THE INITIATIVE'S SUCCESS AT THE BALLOT BOX ENCOURAGED RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES TO MOUNT SIMILAR CAMPAIGNS IN A NUMBER OF OTHER STATES, INCLUDING A LESS SPECIFICALLY WORDED MEASURE GOING BEFORE MAINE VOTERS NEXT MONTH. IN SUPPORT OF AMENDMENT 2, COLORADO SOLICITOR GENERAL TIMOTHY TYMKOVICH PRIMARILY ARGUED THAT AMENDMENT 2 EXPRESSED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF COLORADO, AND THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHTS TO OVERRIDE LOCAL ORDINANCES AND TO ALLOCATE POLITICAL POWER. CHALLENGING AMENDMENT 2 WAS ATTORNEY JEAN DUBOFSKY, ACTING FOR SEVERAL GAYS AND LESBIANS AND FOR THE 3 COLORADO CITIES WHOSE CURRENT CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS WOULD BE OVERTURNED BY AMENDMENT 2. SHE ARGUED THAT AMENDMENT 2 THREATENED GAY AND LESBIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW. SHE SPECIFICALLY TRIED TO AVOID CHALLENGING THE RIGHT OF STATES TO PASS SODOMY LAWS, WHICH THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD IN 1986. THE CURRENT SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY ITS CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY. ANALYSTS GENERALLY AGREED THAT THE 4 MORE LIBERAL JUSTICES WOULD BE LIKELY TO OPPOSE AMENDMENT 2 AND THAT AT LEAST 3 OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES WOULD SUPPORT IT, LEAVING JUSTICES ANTHONY KENNEDY AND SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR AS THE POTENTIAL SWING VOTES IN THE NINE-MEMBER COURT. DURING THE ARGUMENTS, BOTH KENNEDY AND O'CONNOR WERE CLEARLY TROUBLED BY AMENDMENT 2, DRAMATICALLY RAISING THE HOPES OF SUPPORTERS OF EQUAL TREATMENT FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS. O'CONNOR'S QUESTIONING TRIED TO MORE CLEARLY DEFINE THE SCOPE OF AMENDMENT 2 IN OVERRIDING MORE GENERAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STATUTES. ONE EXAMPLE SHE RAISED WAS THE POSSIBILITY THAT UNDER AMENDMENT 2, A LIBRARY MIGHT REFUSE TO LOAN BOOKS TO GAYS AND LESBIANS, AND THAT, IN HER WORDS, "THERE'D BE NO RELIEF, APPARENTLY." KENNEDY SUGGESTED THAT A PRECEDENT KEY TO THE DEFENSE OF AMENDMENT 2 WAS IRRELEVENT, AND REMARKED, "I'VE NEVER SEEN A CASE LIKE THIS." THAT SENTIMENT WAS ECHOED BY LIBERAL JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBERG, WHO SAID, "I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER IN ALL OF U.S. HISTORY THERE HAS EVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS." SHE TRANSLATED AMENDMENT 2 AS, "THOU SHALT NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE ORDINARY LEGISLATIVE PROCESS FOR ANYTHING THAT WILL IMPROVE THE STATUS OF HOMOSEXUALS." GINSBERG AND STEPHEN BREYER, THE TWO CLINTON APPOINTEES, WERE THE MOST VOCAL OF THE JUSTICES IN THE QUESTIONING AND WERE CLEARLY OPPOSED TO AMENDMENT 2, RAISING QUESTIONS OF GAY-BASHING AS WELL AS DISCRIMINATION. JUSTICE DAVID SOUTER EXPRESSED HIS BELIEF THAT COLORADO HAD FAILED TO PRESENT ADEQUATE JUSTIFICATION FOR OVERRIDING THE RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW. WHEN COLORADO SOLICITOR GENERAL TIMOTHY TYMKOVICH FALTERED IN HIS DEFENSE OF AMENDMENT 2, CONSERVATIVE JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA ACTUALLY ASSISTED HIM. SCALIA ARGUED THAT THE MEASURE WOULD ELIMINATE NOT RIGHTS BUT SPECIAL PROTECTIONS, SAYING, "YOU CAN REFUSE TO HIRE SOMEONE BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY COMB THEIR HAIR." HOWEVER, SCALIA, WHOSE THINKING WAS STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY THE SUPREME COURT'S 1986 AFFIRMATION OF STATES' RIGHTS TO CRIMINALIZE PRIVATE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, ALSO ASKED WHETHER AMENDMENT 2 WOULD TARGET THOSE WHO IDENTIFIED AS GAY BUT ABSTAINED FROM HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR. THE COURT'S MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBER, JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS, SAID NOTHING AT ALL. A DECISION IS EXPECTED IN JULY. [Sources: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTER NEWS SERVICE, NEW YORK NEWSDAY, KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSPAPERS, THE WASHINGTON POST, A.C.L.U. PRESS RELEASE] IN OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK, GAYS AND LESBIANS IN SPAIN ARE CAMPAIGNING TO UNSEAT JESUS CARDENAL FROM HIS POSITION AS ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE BASQUE REGION. IN HIS OFFICIAL ANNUAL REPORT, CARDENAL WROTE THAT HOMOSEXUALITY IS CORRUPTING THE NATURAL ORDER, ALONG WITH DIVERSITY, DIVORCE, AND ABORTION. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] IN AUSTRALIA, TWO OPENLY-GAY MEN WON ELECTION TO THE SOUTH SYDNEY COUNCIL. GREG WATERS WAS ELECTED IN HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN TO REPRESENT THE NORTH WARD, AND JOHN FOWLER WAS RE-ELECTED FOR A THIRD TERM TO THE CENTRAL WARD. OPEN LESBIAN LIZ ANDREWS AND OPEN GAY STEPHEN GUZACOTT ALSO RAN, BUT LOST. [CAPITAL Q/Sydney, Australia] RECENT PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN THE U.S. YIELDED SOME VICTORIES FOR GAY AND LESBIAN CANDIDATES. OPEN GAY ED MURRAY LOST HIS BID TO FILL THE WASHINGTON STATE SENATE SEAT VACATED BY THE DEATH OF OPEN GAY CAL ANDERSON. HE WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED BY GAY-FRIENDLY STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAT THIBAUDEAU IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY THAT ALMOST CERTAINLY MEANS A NOVEMBER VICTORY FOR THIBADEAU IN THE HEAVILY-DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT. HOWEVER, MURRAY'S RELATIVELY STRONG SHOWING IN HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN MAKES HIM THE LEADING CONTENDER TO MOVE INTO THE STATE HOUSE SEAT THIBAUDEAU WOULD BE LEAVING FOR THE SENATE. IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON OPEN LESBIAN TINA PODLOWSKI LED THE FIELD ONCE WRITE-IN VOTES WERE COUNTED IN A CITY COUNCIL PRIMARY TO WIN A SPOT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. [SEATTLE GAY NEWS] IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA A PRIMARY ELECTION CANCELLED THE CITY COUNCIL BID OF FAR-OUT HOMOPHOBE DAVY JONES. JONES DISTRIBUTED BUTTONS READING "DIE FAG DIE", ALTHOUGH HE SAID THAT HIS CLAIM TO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE MURDERS OF 2 GAY MEN HAD BEEN A LIE. MORE THAN 1,000 DULUTH RESIDENTS CAST THEIR VOTES FOR JONES. IN SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, WHERE THERE'S BEEN ORGANIZED OPPOSITION TO A SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM FOR GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH, A SCHOOL BOARD PRIMARY ELECTION PLACED 3 VOCALLY OPPOSED CANDIDATES AND OPEN GAY AL ORTWIG ON THE NEXT GENERAL BALLOT. [FOCUSPOINT/Minneapolis, MN] THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION THIS WEEK GAVE A FITTING NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY PRESENT TO GAY AND LESBIAN STUDENTS THERE: A NON-VOTING SEAT IN ITS SENATE FOR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, THE CAMPUS ORGANIZATION FOR GAYS, LESBIANS AND BISEXUALS. [RAPID CITY JOURNAL] IN GERMANY, BREMEN UNIVERSITY NOW HAS A GAY-STUDIES DEPARTMENT. SCHWULLESBISCHE STUDIEN BREMEN ALSO PUBLISHES A NEWSLETTER. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] AND THERE'S A NEW GAY AND LESBIAN PUBLICATION OUT OF SWEDEN, WHERE THE VENERABLE "REPORTER" NEWSPAPER HAD CLOSED EARLIER THIS YEAR. THIS WEEK MARKED THE FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF QX, A FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE OFFERING NEWS OF GAY AND LESBIAN POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. [per cybercorrespondent BJORN SKOLANDER] A PLAY ABOUT GAYS IN THE U.S. MILITARY WHOSE INITIAL LONDON PRODUCTION HAD CLOSED NOW HAS A NEW HOME. DAVID GREER, WHO WROTE THE PIECE ABOUT A WITCHHUNT AMONG U.S. NAVY PILOTS BASED ON HIS OWN EXPERIENCE, BELIEVED THE LONDON PRODUCER'S SHUTDOWN WAS PREMATURE, AND ACTED TO FIND ANOTHER VENUE, THE AMBASSADOR'S THEATRE. A FILM VERSION OF "BURNING BLUE" IS PLANNED AS WELL AS STAGE PRODUCTIONS IN SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] WE'VE OFTEN MADE REFERENCE TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND, THE LARGEST U.S. NATIONAL GROUP LOBBYING ON BEHALF OF GAYS AND LESBIANS. NOW THE GROUP HAS CHANGED ITS NAME, DROPPING THE WORD "FUND" TO BECOME SIMPLY THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCED A NEW PUBLICATION, "HRC QUARTERLY", AND A NEW SITE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.HRCUSA.ORG. [HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND press release] WHEN THE LATE DUTCH FOLKSINGER JOHNNY JORDAAN DIVORCED HIS WIFE TO MOVE IN WITH HIS MALE LOVER BACK IN THE EARLY '70'S, THE POPULARITY HE'D ENJOYED IN THE 50'S AND 60'S QUICKLY WANED. BUT NOW HE'S BEEN MEMORIALIZED WITH THE RENAMING OF A CROSSING IN AMSTERDAM AS THE JOHNNY JORDAANPLEIN, OR JOHNNY JORDAAN SQUARE. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, THE SQUARE IS IN A PART OF AMSTERDAM HE LOVED AND LONG RESIDED IN, AN AREA ALSO NAMED JORDAAN. ON THE DOWN SIDE, IT'S REALLY NOT MUCH OF A SQUARE: ALDERMAN GUUSJE TER HORST OVERRODE THE WISHES OF AMSTERDAM'S ADVISORY BOARD FOR STREET NAMES AND OF JORDAAN'S FANS BY PUTTING THE SINGER'S NAME ON A PLACE WHERE NO ONE LIVES, CONTEMPTUOUSLY DESCRIBED AS "3 PARKING SPACES AND A PUBLIC LAVATORY". BY THE WAY, JORDAAN'S GAY RELATIONSHIP LASTED 17 YEARS UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1989. [per cybercorrespondent BERT SCHUUR] AND FINALLY ... WHEN HONG KONG POLICE UNDERTOOK AN OPERATION AGAINST PROSTITUTION IN EARLY OCTOBER, THE GOT MORE THAN THEY BARGAINED FOR. ACCORDING TO THE CHINESE-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER "APPLE DAILY", THEY DISCOVERED THAT MORE THAN 100 OF THEIR BROTHER OFFICERS HAVE THEMSELVES BEEN MOONLIGHTING AS MALE PROSTITUTES. 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