S E A S O N E D G R E E T I N G S ! ************************************************* The week of 12/25/95 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: A Papal publication prohibits masturbation, homosexuality and safe sex ... petition-gatherers for 2 anti-lesbigay initiatives in the state of Washington admit failure ... the Disney smash "Toy Story" reportedly gets a "thumbs down" from The American Family Association's Donald Wildmon ... and several other stories [anchored by Cindy Friedman and Brian Nunes] ... * A lesbigay "Ghost of Xmas Past" of sorts also made news this week: Georgia Attorney General Michael Bowers, who successfully argued the 1986 "Bowers versus Hardwick" case before the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the state's sodomy law, was found by the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on December 20th to have unconstitutionally discriminated against Robin Shahar by withdrawing a job offer after learning about her upcoming same-gender commitment ceremony. Reporter Don Rush talks with Bowers, Shahar and others about the implications of the ruling ... * In the conclusion of Josy Catoggio's 6-part feature interview, Urvashi Vaid, former Executive Director of The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and author of the recently-published "Virtual Equality: The Mainstreaming of Gay and Lesbian Liberation" expands on her call to U.S. progressives of all ethnicities and sexual orientations to form a true "opposition movement", suggests a generational rather than cultural explanation to account for varying degrees of heterosexual support for lesbigay rights, and explains how people can join 6 leading U.S. national queer organizations for just $35 ... ... and more! ========================*=============================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending December 23rd, 1995 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #404, distributed 12-25-95) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Bill Stosine, Greg Gordon and Ron Buckmire] AFTER YEARS OF STUDY, THE VATICAN'S PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE FAMILY THIS WEEK ISSUED A HANDBOOK TO GUIDE ROMAN CATHOLIC PARENTS IN EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN ON SEXUAL MATTERS. ALTHOUGH THE INITIAL PUBLICATION OF "HUMAN SEXUALITY: TRUTH AND SIGNIFICANCE" IS IN ITALIAN, EDITIONS IN OTHER LANGUAGES WILL BECOME AVAILABLE SOON. THE HANDBOOK DESCRIBES HOMOSEXUALITY AS "AGAINST THE LAWS OF NATURE" AND URGES PARENTS NOT TO DISCUSS IT UNTIL THEIR CHILDREN HAVE REACHED ADOLESCENCE. WHILE CALLING FOR "RESPECT, DIGNITY AND DELICACY" IN DEALING WITH GAY AND LESBIAN TEENAGERS, PARENTS ARE ASKED TO GET COUNSELING FOR THEM. PARENTS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO PROVIDE ATTRACTIVE ROLE MODELS OF MASCULINITY AND FEMININITY, AS WELL AS TEACHING THE IMMORALITY OF ABORTION, CONTRACEPTION, MASTURBATION, AND PRE-MARITAL SEX. THE HANDBOOK SAYS THAT CHILDREN HAVE A RIGHT "TO TAKE THEMSELVES OUT OF ANY FORM OF SEX EDUCATION" THAT CONTRADICTS THEIR PARENTS' VALUES, AND PARENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY URGED TO STOP THEIR CHILDREN FROM ATTENDING CLASSES ENCOURAGING THE USE OF CONDOMS TO PREVENT AIDS. IN LINE WITH POSITIONS STATED BY POPE JOHN PAUL II, THE HANDBOOK SAYS, "PARENTS MUST REFUTE THE PROMOTION OF SO-CALLED 'SAFE SEX' OR 'SAFER SEX', A DANGEROUS AND IMMORAL POLICY, BASED ON THE ILLUSORY THEORY THAT A CONDOM CAN PROVIDE SUFFICIENT PROTECTION AGAINST AIDS. PARENTS MUST INSIST ON ABSTINCE OUTSIDE MARRIAGE AND FIDELITY INSIDE MARRIAGE AS THE ONLY TRUE AND SURE EDUCATION TO AVOID INFECTION." [Sources: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS and REUTER NEWS SERVICE] THE HERESY TRIAL OF A U.S. EPISCOPAL BISHOP WHO ORDAINED AN OPENLY GAY MAN BEGAN IN EARLY DECEMBER, BUT THE TRIAL HAS BEEN FORCED TO RELOCATE. WALTER RIGHTER, RETIRED BISHOP OF IOWA, IS ONLY THE SECOND U.S. EPISCOPAL BISHOP TO FACE A TRIAL FOR HERESY IN THE CHURCH'S 200-YEAR HISTORY. THE TRIAL OPENED IN CONNECTICUT IN EARLY DECEMBER WITH PRELIMINARY ARGUMENTS. RIGHTER PUT UP A FEISTY DEFENSE, INSISTING THAT THE CHURCH'S POSITION OF RESPECTING ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION MUST INCLUDE FULL RIGHTS TO ORDINATION. HIS ACCUSERS MAINTAIN THAT NON-CELIBATE GAYS AND LESBIANS VIOLATE THE LIMITATION OF PROPER SEXUAL RELATIONS TO "LIFELONG, MONOGAMOUS, HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES". A REQUEST BY RIGHTER'S ACCUSERS TO REMOVE FOR BIAS FOUR MEMBERS OF THE NINE-BISHOP PANEL HEARING THE CASE WAS REJECTED. BISHOP CLARENCE COLERIDE OF CONNECTICUT TOLD THE COURT THAT HE'D RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT ITS USE OF CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT AND ASKED THAT THE TRIAL BE MOVED. IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS STEMMED NOT FROM PARISHIONERS' REACTIONS TO THE TRIAL SO MUCH AS FROM THEIR FALSE BELIEF THAT THEY'D BE PICKING UP THE TAB. NONETHELESS, THE TRIAL WILL RESUME IN DELAWARE AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. [THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, and THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE] THE KEY LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE U.S. MILITARY BAN ON SERVICE BY OPEN GAYS AND LESBIANS WAS DELAYED INDEFINITELY THIS WEEK WHEN ONE OF THE THREE JUDGES HEARING THE CASE WITHDREW. SECOND CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE GUIDO CALABRESI RECUSED HIMSELF FOR HAVING BEEN ONE OF MANY SIGNERS OF A LETTER TO THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE DURING ITS 1993 HEARINGS ON THE MILITARY BAN. THAT LETTER SUGGESTED THAT THE BAN WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. CALABRESI HAD NOT YET BEEN APPOINTED TO THE BENCH AT THE TIME. THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE BAN IS THE KEY ELEMENT IN THE APPEAL OF JUDGE EUGENE NICKERSON'S MARCH RULING IN "ABLE VERSUS U.S.A.". NICKERSON KEPT SIX GAYS AND LESBIANS ON ACTIVE DUTY WHEN HE RULED THAT THE BAN VIOLATED THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH AND PROTECTION FROM SELF-INCRIMINATION. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE and THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] CALIFORNIA JUDGES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM JOINING MOST ORGANIZATIONS WHICH DISCRIMINATE AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS -- WITH SOME IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS. THE CALIFORNIA STATE SUPREME COURT HAS APPROVED A NEW CODE OF ETHICS WHICH ADDS SEXUAL ORIENTATION TO FOUR OTHER CATEGORIES OF DISCRIMINATION FOR ASSOCIATIONS PROHIBITED TO JUDGES. THE CALIFORNIA JUDGES ASSOCIATION IN 1992 HAD REJECTED AN ABSOLUTE BAN ON MEMBERSHIP IN GROUPS EXCLUDING GAYS AND LESBIANS, SO THE STATE SUPREME COURT COMPROMISED WITH THREE SIGNIFICANT EXEMPTIONS: RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, OFFICIAL U.S. MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS, AND NON-PROFIT YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. THE LAST CATEGORY PROTECTS JUDGES' ASSOCIATION WITH THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, WHOSE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES ARE CURRENTLY BEING CHALLENGED IN TWO CALIFORNIA LAWSUITS. [THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, THE PROPONENTS OF TWO ANTI-GAY-AND-LESBIAN INITIATIVES ADMIT THAT THEY PROBABLY WON'T MAKE IT TO THE 1996 BALLOT. WITH THE DEADLINE APPROACHING, BACKERS OF INITIATIVES 166 AND 167 ARE FAR FROM GATHERING THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES NEEDED TO QUALIFY FOR THE BALLOT. 166 WOULD HAVE PROHIBITED ADDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS A PROTECTED CATEGORY UNDER WASHINGTON'S CIVIL RIGHTS LAW. A SIMILAR MEASURE HAD ALSO FAILED TO MAKE THE 1994 BALLOT. 167 WOULD HAVE PROHIBITED ADOPTIONS BY GAYS AND LESBIANS. BOTH CAMPAIGNS SUFFERED FROM AN INABILITY TO RAISE FUNDS OR INSPIRE VOLUNTEERS AND RECEIVED ONLY LUKEWARM SUPPORT FROM CHURCHES. THEIR OPPONENTS, THE GAY-AND-LESBIAN-SUPPORTIVE GROUP HANDS OFF WASHINGTON, HAVE GROWN TO BECOME A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH, MAINTAINING A FULL-TIME STAFF, WELL OVER 1,000 VOLUNTEERS, AND A DONOR BASE OF MORE THAN 20,000 THAT CONTRIBUTED ABOUT $400,000 IN 1995. EVEN SO, THEY'RE BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF -- A CAMPAIGN IN LESS-POPULOUS MAINE THAT IN NOVEMBER DEFEATED A BALLOT MEASURE TO DENY CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS, COST 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS. THE ORGANIZERS OF THE TWO FAILED WASHINGTON INITIATIVES ARE NOW TURNING THEIR SIGHTS TO LOBBYING AGAINST SAME-GENDER MARRIAGES. [THE SPOKANE (Washington) SPOKESMAN REVIEW and THE PORTLAND (Maine) PRESS HERALD] IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ACTIVISTS' HOPES FOR LEGAL RECOGNITION OF GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES WERE DASHED WHEN THE ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE LATEST DRAFT OF A MAJOR OVERHAUL OF CZECH FAMILY LAW. IN ANNOUNCING THE DELETION, THE CZECH GOVERNMENT CALLED SAME-GENDER PARTNERSHIPS "AN INFERIOR FORM OF MARRIAGE" AND SAID THAT "ONLY THREE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES RECOGNIZE THIS RIGHT DEMANDED BY THE HOMOSEXUAL MINORITY." THAT MINORITY IS REPRESENTED IN THE REPUBLIC BY THE ACTIVIST GROUP SOHO, WHO, WHILE UPSET BY THE NEWS, BELIEVE THEY MAY STILL BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE THE FAMILY LAW REFORM PROCESS, AND ARE CALLING FOR LETTERS OF PROTEST TO THE CHAIR OF THE CZECH PARLIAMENT. [REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS] IN CALIFORNIA, THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK AGREED TO EXTEND SPOUSAL HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS TO THE UNMARRIED PARTNERS, BOTH HETEROSEXUAL AND GAY AND LESBIAN, OF THE COUNTY'S 70,000 EMPLOYEES. THE ONLY SUPERVISOR TO VOTE AGAINST THE MEASURE WAS BOARD CHAIR MIKE ANTONOVICH, WHO BELIEVED IT WAS WRONG TO SPEND A PROJECTED 6-TO-800,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR THIS WAY WHEN THE COUNTY IS SORELY STRAPPED FOR FUNDS. THE DECISION WAS MADE WITHOUT PUBLIC DISCUSSION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. [THE LOS ANGELES TIMES] IN BRITAIN, IN A LAWSUIT THAT BECAME A MEDIA CIRCUS, CONSERVATIVE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT DAVID ASHBY THIS WEEK LOST HIS CASE CHARGING LONDON'S "SUNDAY TIMES" WITH LIBEL FOR SAYING HE IS HOMOSEXUAL. MOST OF THE ALLEGATIONS ABOUT ASHBY'S SEXUAL ACTIVITIES CAME FROM HIS ESTRANGED WIFE, WHO BELIEVED HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH A LOCAL MALE DOCTOR WHILE AVOIDING INTIMACY WITH HER. LOW POINTS OF THE TRIAL INCLUDED TESTIMONY THAT ASHBY IS MEDICALLY IMPOTENT AND HIS DEMONSTRATION THAT A MASK AND AIRHOSE HE HABITUALLY WORE TO BED MADE HOMOSEXUAL INTERCOURSE IMPOSSIBLE. ONE TACTIC USED BY THE "SUNDAY TIMES" IN ITS DEFENSE WAS TO CLAIM THAT CALLING SOMEONE HOMOSEXUAL WAS NO LONGER AN INSULT. [REUTER NEWS SERVICE] AND FINALLY ... AS TOM LEHRER ONCE SANG, "WHEN CORRECTLY VIEWED, EVERYTHING IS LEWD" -- AND THAT'S SURELY THE CASE WITH A MOVIE REVIEW ATTRIBUTED BY "THE WASHINGTON BLADE" AND "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY" TO THE AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION'S DONALD WILDMON. EVEN THE "CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE" CALLED THIS MOVIE "DELIGHTFUL", BUT TO WILDMON IT'S "MIND-ROTTING GARBAGE" AND "OBSCENE PORNOGRAPHY DISGUISED AS FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT". HE SEES AMONG THE SUPPORTING CHARACTERS A "SEX-OBSESSED TALKING POTATO" AND AN "ETCH-A-SKETCH WHOSE 'KNOBS' MUST BE 'ADJUSTED' TO PRODUCE RESULTS". AND OF THE STARRING ROLES, HE SAYS, "THE MAIN CHARACTERS, 'WOODY' -- NOTE SEXUAL REFERENCE -- AND 'BUZZ' -- NOTE DRUG REFERENCE -- ARE OWNED BY A CHILD IN A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD IN WHICH THE FATHER IS NOTICEABLY ABSENT." YES, IT'S "TOY STORY", BROUGHT TO YOU BY DISNEY, NOW UNDER ATTACK BY THEOCRATS FOR HAVING EXTENDED BENEFITS TO THE DOMESTIC PARTNERS OF ITS GAY AND LESBIAN EMPLOYEES. DISNEY SAYS COWBOY "WOODY" WAS NAMED FOR MOVIE WESTERNS ACTOR WOODY STRODE, AND ASTRONAUT "BUZZ", OF COURSE, FOR REAL-LIFE ASTRONAUT BUZZ ALDRIN. A PRESCIENT BUT UNNAMED DISNEY EXECUTIVE HAD ALREADY TOLD "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY", "I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO FIND SOMETHING WRONG WITH 'TOY STORY'. I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO FIND SOME DEEP MESSAGE THAT BUZZ AND WOODY ARE GAY. I'M SURE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME." [ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY cited in THE WASHINGTON (D.C.) BLADE] ************************************************* Some "THIS WAY OUT" operating expenses are funded by grants from THE C.P. ESTES GUADALUPE FOUNDATION, THE MARTHA J. TROLIN PHILANTHROPIC FUND 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 ************************************************* LOOKING FOR AN END-OF-THE-YEAR TAX DEDUCTION? PLEASE READ 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!********************** HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND ALL THE BEST IN 1996 FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT "THIS WAY OUT" *************************************************