************************************************* The week of10/23/95 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: Clinton becomes the first U.S. president to endorse a proposed federal bill banning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation (ENDA), but it is highly unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Congress ... Republican challenger Bob Dole recants his returned queer contribution ... gay men are prominent players in political party leadership battles in both Canada and New Zealand ... a tribunal documenting global crimes against gays and lesbians takes place in the shadow of the United Nations' 50th Anniversary observances ... and several other stories [anchored by Cindy Friedman and Jon Beaupre] ... * 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 fourth installment of a month-long feature interview, TWO's Josy Catoggio talks with Signorile about cultural complexities, family values, and his coming out prescription: "repeat as necessary" ... * The recent release on home video of "The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of the Desert" reminds drag fans that some Janie-Come-Latelies may want to thank "Wong Foo" for everything, but that the original endures, especially where it all began: the drag clubs of Sydney, Australia. David Prosser discovers the latest take on "Priscilla" -- drag shows of the movie of the drag show -- in his on-scene report ... ... and more! ========================*=============================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending October 21, 1995 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #395, distributed 10-23-95) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Bill Stosine, Graham Underhill, Jon Beaupre, Christopher David Trentham and Ron Buckmire] U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAS GIVEN HIS ENDORSEMENT TO A FEDERAL BILL PROHIBITING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION. IN BOTH AN OCTOBER 19TH LETTER TO SENATOR TED KENNEDY AND AN OFFICIALLY- AUTHORIZED ANNOUNCEMENT OCTOBER 20TH BY HIS SENIOR ADVISOR GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, CLINTON ENDORSED ENDA, THE EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT, WHICH HAS BEEN INTRODUCED IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS. NOTING THAT ONLY NINE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OFFER SUCH PROTECTIONS, CLINTON WROTE, "THOSE WHO FACE THIS KIND OF JOB DISCRIMINATION HAVE NO LEGAL RECOURSE, IN EITHER THE STATE OR FEDERAL COUTS. THIS IS WRONG". ON THE ONE HAND, CLINTON IS THE FIRST U.S. PRESIDENT TO PUBLICLY STATE HIS SUPPORT FOR CIVIL PROTECTIONS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS. ON THE OTHER HAND, ALTHOUGH ENDA HAS MORE SUPPORT AND MORE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THAN ANY OF ITS PREDECESSORS, IT IS ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED BY THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND HAS NO HOPE OF PASSAGE. [Sources: THE NEW YORK TIMES, and press releases from THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN and THE NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE] ACCORDING TO POLLS, DEMOCRAT CLINTON'S POPULARITY HAS BEEN RISING LATELY, WHILE THAT OF REPUBLICAN SENATOR BOB DOLE, PROBABLY HIS CHIEF REPUBLICAN OPPONENT FOR THE 1996 ELECTIONS, HAS BEEN FALLING. MAYBE THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH DOLE'S SURPRISING TURN-ABOUT THIS WEEK ON HIS MUCH-PUBLICIZED RETURN OF A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GAY AND LESBIAN LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS. ONLY LAST MONTH DOLE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHO-ALL CONTRIBUTES TO MY CAMPAIGN, BUT IT IT'S SOMEBODY WITH A SPECIAL AGENDA WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THEIR MONEY". ON OCTOBER 17TH HE SAID, "MY VIEW IS, (JUST) BECAUSE YOU ACCEPT MONEY FROM THEM, YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THEIR AGENDA". SADLY FOR DOLE, JUST AS HAVING RETURNED THE $1,000 CHECK PLEASED NO ONE, NEITHER DOES IS RECANTATION. THE RIGHT-WING FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL COMPLAINED THAT HAS ABOUT-FACE SENDS MIXED MESSAGES TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT SO-CALLED FAMILY VALUES ... AND WHILE LOG CABIN'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RICH TAFEL WAS UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE POLITICS INVOLVED, THE GROUP WILL NOT RENEW ITS CONTRIBUTION. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE, ASSOCIATED PRESS, NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, and SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER] OPENLY-GAY MEN HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR BIDS FOR LEADERSHIP OF THEIR POLITICAL PARTIES IN BOTH CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND. CANADA'S MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT SVEND ROBINSON ACTUALLY LED THE FIELD IN THE FIRST BALLOTING BY HIS NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY AT THEIR MID-OCTOBER CONVENTION IN OTTOWA. HOWEVER, WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR HE WOULD NOT WIN ON A SECOND BALLOT, HE TURNED HIS SUPPORT OVER TO A MORE CENTRIST CANDIDATE, ALEXA McDONOUGH, WHO PROMISED TO TAKE ON WHAT SHE CALLED THE "MEAN-SPIRITED RIGHT-WING AGENDA". IN NEW ZEALAND, PETER KAISER, PARTNER OF OPENLY-GAY MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT CHRIS CARTER, HAS ALSO WITHDRAWN HIS NOMINATION FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE LABOUR PARTY. HIS DECISION FOLLOWED A SHARP DROP IN LABOUR POPULARITY IN AN OPINION POLL, AND CRITICISM THAT HE REPRESENTED WOMEN, GAYS AND LESBIANS, AND THE INDIGENOUS MAORIS RATHER THAN A BROADER CROSS-SECTION. THE RETIRING LABOUR PARTY PRESIDENT IS MARYAN STREET, AN OPEN LESBIAN. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE and QUEER NEWS AOTEAROA] BUT NEW ZEALAND NOW HAS ITS FIRST TRANSGENDER MAYOR WITH THE ELECTION OF GEORGINA BEYER BY THE CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL. BEYER'S PREVIOUS ELECTION AS A CARTERTON COUNCILLOR WAS ALSO A TRANY FIRST FOR NEW ZEALAND. [QUEER NEWS AOTEAROA] IN AUSTRALIA, DISAPPOINTED GAYS AND LESBIANS ARE LEARNING THAT YOU CAN'T PUT MUCH FAITH IN CAMPAIGN PROMISES. IN AUSTRALIA'S 1992 ELECTIONS, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PROMISED FEDERAL LEGISLATION PROTECTING GAYS AND LESBIANS FROM DISCRIMINATION. THEY REPEATED THOSE PROMISES IN THE PARTY'S 1993 FEDERAL ELECTION PLAN, AND THEY SEEMED ABOUT TO FOLLOW THROUGH WHEN THE PARTY'S LAW AND JUSTICE SPOKESPERSON, SENATOR SID SPINDLER, PROMISED RECENTLY TO INTRODUCE THE LEGISLATION BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT'S UPCOMING CHRISTMAS BREAK. BUT NOW SPINDLER IS CLAIMING THAT DRAFTING THE MEASURE HAS PROVEN "MUCH MORE COMPLEX" THAN ANTICIPATED, AND IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED BEFORE THE NEXT ROUND OF ELECTIONS. THOSE WILL COME UP NO LATER THAN MARCH. [MELBOURNE STAR OBSERVER] IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CELEBRATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, THE SAN FRANCISCO-BASED INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 17TH STAGED A TRIBUNAL NEAR U.N. HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK TO DRAMATIZE THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS HAPPENING TO GAYS, LESBIANS, BISEXUALS AND TRANSGENDERS AROUND THE WORLD. MEN AND WOMEN FROM FOUR CONTINENTS TESTIFIED TO THEIR EXPERIENCES OF RAPE, TORTURE, PSYCHIATRIC ABUSE, EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION, ARBITRARY ARRERSTS, AND EXTORTION BY AUTHORITIES. THE MEETING CALLED ON THE U.N. TO APPOINT A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR TO DOCUMENT ABUSES AGAINST SEXUAL MINORITIES, AND CALLED ON GOVERNMENTS BOTH TO PROTECT THEM FROM VIOLENCE AND TO REPEAL DISCRIMINATORY LAWS. [ASSOCIATED PRESS and NEW YORK TIMES] IN ITALY THIS WEEK, THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT STRUCK DOWN THE NATIONAL LAW PROHIBITING INCARCERATION OF PEOPLE WITH HIV OR AIDS. JUDGES CAN NOW DECIDE TO KEEP SUSPECTS OR CONVICTED FELONS IN EITHER JAILS OR ISOLATION WARDS. THE LAW WAS PASSED WITH COMPASSIONATE INTENT, BUT HAD SOME UNFORSEEN CONSEQUENCES. A NOTORIOUS GANG OF MEN WITH AIDS HAD ROBBED AT LEAST TEN BANKS THIS YEAR AFTER BEING REPEATEDLY ARRESTED AND FREED, AND AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL GANG HAD BEGUN TO FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS. [LOS ANGELES TIMES] THERE'S A NEW GAY AND LESBIAN ORGANIZATION IN CURACAO, THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND ALSO KNOWN AS NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. APEX OFFERS A SWITCHBOARD, MATERIALS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND A LIBRARY OF INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE MATERIALS. APEX SPOKESPERSON SEBASTIAAN NIJHOFF SAID, "CLOSETED HOMOSEXUALITY IS TOLERATED. ALTHOUGH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, A CHANGE IS TAKING PLACE. GREAT PROTEST FROM THE CURACAO COMMUNITY WAS GIVEN TO TELECURACAO FOR THE CUTTING OUT OF A GAY COUPLE IN A DUTCH TELEVISON PROGRAM". [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] AND FINALLY ... THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION IS SUPPORTING O'BRIEN AVIATION IN A FREE SPEECH CASE IN NEW JERSEY. O'BRIEN HAD TWICE AIR-TOWED AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR RAMSES CONDOMS OVER GIANTS STADIUM DURING FOOTBALL GAMES WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT ON THE THIRD FLY-BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER GLENN SZYMANSKI TURNED BACK THE PILOT, SAYING HE'D RATHER HAVE ONE COMPLAINT FROM HIM THAN DOZENS FROM OTHERS. MOST OF THE FOOTBALL CROWD HAD RESPONDED TO THE FLY-BY'S WITH LAUGHTER: THE BANNER READING "ROLL ONE ON" WAS IN THE SHAPE OF AN UNROLLED CONDOM 25 FEET HIGH AND 75 FEET LONG. [ASSOCIATED PRESS ************************************************* 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 continually-updated 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!**********************