************************************************* The week of 01/29/96 on T H I S W A Y O U T the international gay & lesbian radio magazine * In NewsWrap: Dutch government to provide foreign aid to gay and lesbian groups in developing nations ... Denmark considers employment anti-discrimination protections ... New York and Alabama state Attorneys General each take lesbigay rights actions ... more developments involving Hawaii's same-gender marriage lawsuit ... and several other stories ... [anchored by Brian Nunes and Cindy Friedman] * It was big news in the United Kingdom earlier this month when Britain's venerable weekly business magazine "The Economist" put a wedding cake with two grooms on its cover and editorialized strongly in favor of same-gender marriage. The significance of that event was not lost on Great Britain's weekly lesbian and gay radio program "Out This Week". Rebecca Sandles and David Cook explore the issue of Church-sanctioned same-gender wedding ceremonies via interviews with one member of a same-gender couple, various Church of England clergy, and "Economist" editor Bill Emmitt ... * ANDREW SULLIVAN's 1991 promotion to Editor-In-Chief of "The New Republic" caused quite a stir, with devotees of the traditionally-conservative U.S. opinion weekly wondering whether someone so young -- and so gay -- could maintain the magazine's political and intellectual reputation. What has really put Sullivan on the map, however, was the recent publication of "VIRTUALLY NORMAL: AN ARGUMENT ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY". In the first of a multi-part feature interview, TWO's Jon Beaupre talks with Sullivan about the thesis of his book ... ... and more! ========================*=============================== --------- ===> NewsWrap <=== --------- For the week ending January 27th, 1996 (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT Program #409, distributed 01-29-96) [Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Bill Stosine, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Rex Wockner, Jon Beaupre and Ron Buckmire] IN THE NETHERLANDS, MINISTER OF COOPERATION FOR DEVELOPMENT JAN PRONK AFFIRMED THIS WEEK THAT THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT PLANS TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO GAY AND LESBIAN ORGANIZATIONS IN DEVELOPING NATIONS IN AFRICA, ASIA, LATIN AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN. PRONK IS FIRST MEETING WITH DUTCH GAY AND LESBIAN ORGANIZATIONS AND THEN PLANS TO INSTRUCT DUTCH EMBASSIES TO MAKE CONTACT WITH GAY AND LESBIAN GROUPS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. AN AIDS SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN COSTA RICA HAS ALREADY RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT. TO PRONK, IT'S A CLEAR QUESTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT TO SOME OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IT'S PROBLEMATIC. ASIAN AND LATIN AMERICAN EMBASSIES TO THE NETHERLANDS HAVE SO FAR REFUSED TO COMMENT, WHILE AMBASSADORS FROM BOTH CAMEROON AND SENEGAL BELIEVED FOOD AND HEALTH NEEDS SHOULD BE THE PRIORITIES FOR FOREIGN AID. THE AMBASSADOR FROM HEAVILY-MOSLEM SENEGAL ALSO CALLED THE PLAN "A PROVOCATION AGAINST OUR RELIGION". [Source: a bylined story by Jennifer M. Freedman for THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] DENMARK'S LABOR MINISTER HAS ANNOUNCED HIS PLANS TO INTRODUCE A BILL PROHIBITING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION. IT'S PART OF A MOVE TO MATCH DENMARK'S EMPLOYMENT POLICIES WITH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS, BUT THE SEXUAL ORIENTATION CLAUSE IS A DANISH ADDITION. [per cybercorrespondent BO MORTENSON of RADIO ROSA-COPENHAGEN] IN NEW YORK, EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN BANNED FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, AS THE RESULT OF A UNION ACTION. SOON AFTER TAKING OFFICE A YEAR AGO, NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL DENNIS VACCO REPLACED 15 YEARS OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS WITH HIS OWN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY THAT OMITTED SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS A PROTECTED CATEGORY. ALTHOUGH IT HAD RECEIVED NO COMPAINTS OF ACTUAL INCIDENTS OF SUCH DISCRIMINATION, THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FEDERATION TOOK THE CASE TO NEW YORK STATE'S PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS BOARD. THAT LED TO A SETTLEMENT UNDER WHICH VACCO ISSUED A LETTER STATING THAT HIS OFFICE WOULD NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION. [THE NEW YORK TIMES] ALABAMA'S STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL THREATENED THIS WEEK TO SUE THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM UNLESS IT CANCELS PLANS TO HOST THE ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL COLLEGE CONFERENCE. THAT CONFERENCE HELD FOUR PREVIOUS MEETINGS AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, A PRIVATE SCHOOL ... BUT DURING JANUARY ALABAMA STATE SENATOR BILL ARMISTEAD TRUMPETED HIS BELIEF THAT USE OF THE STATE CAMPUS WAS FORCING TAXPAYERS TO SUBSIDIZE THE RECRUITMENT OF STUDENTS INTO IMMORAL BEHAVIOR. HE CITED A 1992 ALABAMA LAW, CURRENTLY BEING CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT, THAT PROHIBITS USE OF PUBLIC FACILITIES TO "PROMOTE LIFESTYLE OR ACTIVITIES" VIOLATING ALABAMA'S SODOMY STATUTE. A NUMBER OF OTHER LEGISLATORS JOINED ARMISTEAD'S PROTEST, INCLUDING GOVERNOR FOB JAMES. [THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS and THE GAY & LESBIAN TIMES/San Diego] NEW ZEALAND'S MINISTER OF JUSTICE DOUG GRAHAM IS PROMOTING SOME PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR UNMARRIED COUPLES, BOTH HETEROSEXUAL AND SAME-GENDER. HE'LL BE ASKING THE CABINET TO PROPOSE LEGISLATION TO OFFER SO-CALLED "DE FACTO" COUPLES SOME PROPERTY PROTECTIONS, ALTHOUGH NOT AS MANY AS LEGALLY MARRIED COUPLES HAVE. GRAHAM'S ANNOUNCEMENT WAS SPURRED BY A REVIEW OF NEW ZEALAND'S MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY ACT, WHICH PROVIDES FOR AN EQUAL DIVISION OF PROPERTY BETWEEN MARRIED COUPLES AFTER DIVORCE. [MARK PROFFIT's QUEER NEWS AOTEAROA] THE U.S. STATE OF VIRGINIA'S HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THIS WEEK VOTED TO DENY ALL UNMARRIED COUPLES PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IN BUYING THEIR OWN HOMES. THE ACTION REVERSED A POLICY ESTABLISHED ONLY 18 MONTHS AGO BY CHANGING REGULATIONS FROM USING THE WORD "HOUSEHOLD" TO THE WORD "FAMILY". WHILE "HOUSEHOLD" WAS DEFINED AS "2 OR MORE INDIVIDUALS LIVING TOGETHER ON THE PREMISES AS A SINGLE, NONPROFIT HOUSEKEEPING UNIT", "FAMILY" IS DEFINED AS "2 OR MORE INDIVIDUALS RELATED BY BLOOD, MARRIAGE OR ADOPTION". VIRGINIA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY COMMISSIONER STEPHEN BRITT SAYS THE CHANGE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH FAIR-HOUSING AND FAIR-CREDIT LAWS, BUT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IS INVESTIGATING THE QUESTION. THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF VIRGINIA BELIEVES THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ACTION "HAS TAKEN AWAY A RIGHT PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED TO A MINORITY GROUP" AND IS THEREFORE VULNERABLE TO A DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT. THE CONSERVATIVE CONCERNED WOMEN OF AMERICA AND FAMILY FOUNDATION WERE PLEASED BY THE MOVE. [KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE BUSINESS NEWS] HAWAII'S STATE SUPREME COURT SET OFF A CONTINUING CONTROVERY ACROSS THE US WHEN IT DECIDED IN 1993 THAT RESTRICTING LEGAL MARRIAGE TO HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES CONSTITUTED ILLEGAL GENDER DISCRIMINATION ... BUT THE HAWAII LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO STALL ANY MEANINGFUL ACTION ON THE ISSUE. THIS WEEK, THE HAWAII HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO KILL 3 GAY-FRIENDLY RESOLUTIONS: ONE TO EXTEND THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE TO INCLUDE GAYS AND LESBIANS, ONE TO SPECIFICALLY LEGALIZE GAY AND LESBIAN MARRIAGES, AND ONE TO ESTABLISH LEGAL DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS. COMMITTEE CHAIR TERRANCE TOM DEFERRED VOTES ON 3 PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO PROHIBIT LEGAL SAME-GENDER MARRIAGES. HE DEFERRED VOTES ON THE SAME AMENDMENTS 2 YEARS AGO, AND THE VOTES WERE NEVER TAKEN. [per U.S.A. TODAY and a cyberpress release by Tom Ramsey of THE HAWAII EQUAL RIGHTS MARRIAGE PROJECT] THE HAWAII STATE SUPREME COURT DECISION MANDATED A REHEARING IN TRIAL COURT OF THE ORIGINAL LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY SEVERAL GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES SEEKING TO BE LEGALLY MARRIED. WHEN THAT TRIAL IS HELD IN JULY, THE STATE'S ATTORNEYS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN MARRIAGE BOTH SERVES A "COMPELLING" STATE INTEREST AND IS THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE MEANS OF PRESERVING THAT INTEREST. THEY ARE ALMOST UNIVERSALLY EXPECTED TO FAIL IN THAT TASK, AND A CHURCH THIS WEEK WAS DENIED THE CHANCE TO HELP THEM OUT. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, BETTER KNOWN AS THE MORMONS, HAD SUED TO INTERVENE IN THE TRIAL, ARGUING THAT THEIR MINISTERS MIGHT LOSE THEIR LICENSES TO PERFORM ANY MARRIAGES IF THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM GAY AND LESBIAN WEDDINGS. THE HAWAII STATE SUPREME COURT REJECTED THEIR REQUEST, CITING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND SAYING, "THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE MINISTERS OF ANY RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION TO SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGES THAT DON'T CONFORM TO THEIR CUSTOMS." HAWAII'S DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVEN MICHAELS WAS ACTUALLY PLEASED BY THE DECISION, SAYING THE MORMONS' PARTICIPATION WOULD HAVE MADE THE STATE'S CASE MORE DIFFICULT. [per a bylined story by Linda Hosek in THE HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN] THE POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL GAY AND LESBIAN MARRIAGES IN HAWAII AFFECTS ALL THE OTHER U.S. STATES, WHICH BY CONVENTION RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S MARRIAGES AS LEGAL EVEN THOUGH MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS DIFFER FROM STATE TO STATE. ACCORDING TO GLAAD, THE GAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION, LEGISLATIVE MEASURES TO REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE LEGAL SAME-GENDER MARRIAGES ARE IN PROGRESS IN HALF-A-DOZEN U.S. STATES, AND UTAH ACTUALLY PASSED A LAW TO THAT EFFECT LAST YEAR. THIS WEEK, CALIFORNIA'S ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVED A BILL TO DENY RECOGNITION OF GAY AND LESBIAN MARRIAGES PERFORMED ELSEWHERE. THE MEASURE'S OPPONENTS WERE ALL DEMOCRATS AND ITS SUPPORTERS WERE ALL REPUBLICANS. ART CRONEY OF THE GROUP COMMITTEE ON MORAL CONCERNS SAID, "IF OTHER STATES WANT TO TRASH THE FOUNDATION OF CIVILIZATION ... WE DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN CALIFORNIA." OPENLY LESBIAN CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMEMBER SHEILA KUEHL NOTED THAT FORBIDDING MARRIAGE "HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY POWERFUL TOOL FOR DEHUMANIZING THE DISFAVORED POPULATIONS." [THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, REUTER NEWS SERVICE and "THE GLAAD REPORT" issued by THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION] BUT ALSO THIS WEEK, THE SOUTH DAKOTA HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE KILLED A SIMILAR MEASURE BY A VOTE OF 7-TO-6. SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATORS HAD ALSO REJECTED A BILL TO DENY GAY AND LESBIAN MARRIAGES LAST YEAR. [THE ARGUS LEADER/Sioux Falls and a press release from THE NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FOCE] AND IN NEBRASKA, A MEASURE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO LEGALIZE SAME-GENDER WEDDINGS. STATE SENATOR ERNIE CHAMBERS' LB1260 WOULD CHANGE THE CURRENT NEBRASKA MARRIAGE LAW TO READ, "A MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN, BETWEEN A MAN AND ANOTHER MAN, OR BETWEEN A WOMAN AND ANOTHER WOMAN SOLEMNIZED AS PROVIDED (BY LAW) IS VALID IN THIS STATE." CHAMBERS SAID, "THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY IF WE IGNORE THEM. SOMEONE NEEDS TO BRING THEM INTO THE ARENA OF PUBLIC DEBATE ... TO FORCE THE LEGISLATURE TO DEAL WITH 21ST CENTURY ISSUES." HE ALSO SAID HE EXPECTED SUBSTANTIAL OPPOSITION. [UPDATE/San Diego, CA] SWEDEN'S LEADING FEMALE ROCK STAR EVA DAHLGREN HAS PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED HER UPCOMING LEGAL REGISTRATION OF PARTNERSHIP WITH ANOTHER SWEDISH SINGER, EFVA ATTLING. ALTHOUGH DAHLGREN'S LESBIAN ORIENTATION WAS LONG RUMORED, SHE HAD AVOIDED DISCUSSING HER PERSONAL LIFE OPENLY UNTIL THIS WEEK. DAHLGREN AND ATTLING HAVE LIVED TOGETHER FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND PLAN TO HONEYMOON IN ASIA. [per cybercorrespondent BJORN SKOLANDER and CLAES GYLLING/MALMO GAY RADIO] POPULAR BRITISH TV STAR MICHAEL BARRYMORE, AFTER MUCH MEDIA PRESSURE, IN DECEMBER FINALLY IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A GAY MAN. THE STAR OF THE SHOW "MY KIND OF PEOPLE" WAS VOTED "ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR" IN A NATIONAL POLL, AND HIS COMING OUT APPEARS NOT TO HAVE AFFECTED HIS POPULARITY. [per THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE and REX WOCKNER INTERNATIONAL NEWS citing PA NEWSSERVICE] RUDY GALINDO WON THE MEN'S DIVISION OF THE U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIP JANUARY 20TH TO BECOME HIS COUNTRY'S TOP SKATER, AND HE'S AIMING FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN MARCH. IN 1990, HE'D WON THE NATIONAL PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP WITH KRISTI YAMAGUCHI, BUT HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT AFTER YAMAGUCHI DROPPED HIM TO PURSUE HER SOLO CAREER. WHILE GALINDO HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO TALK ABOUT IT IN MEDIA INTERVIEWS, HE CAME OUT PUBLICLY AS A GAY MAN IN CHRISTINE BRENNAN'S RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOK "INSIDE EDGE". [THE SAN JOSE (California) MERCURY NEWS] AND FINALLY ... TO GIVE A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE TO THE CONTROVERSY OVER SAME-GENDER MARRIAGES, CONSIDER THAT IT WAS ONLY LAST SEPTEMBER THAT SOUTH KOREA'S SUPREME COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME ALLOWED MARRIAGE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN WITH THE SAME NAME ... AND THEN ONLY IF THEY FIRST MARRIED OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. THE SOUTH KOREAN BAN ON SAME-NAME MARRIAGES IS NO SMALL THING, SINCE PEOPLE NAMED KIM, LEE OR PARK CONSTITUTE FULLY 43 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION THERE. [per CHUCK SHEPHERD's syndicated U.S. newspaper column "NEWS OF THE WEIRD"] ************************************************* 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. 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