*************************************************
                       The week of 02/26/96 on
                         T H I S    W A Y    O U T
         the international gay & lesbian radio magazine

* In NewsWrap:  Finland's cabinet votes to submit a bill to Parliament
legalizing same-gender marriages, while measures banning recognition of
same-gender marriage are spreading like wildfire through several U.S. state
legislatures -- already signed into law this week in South Dakota, and being
newly considered in Iowa, Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming ... the Salt Lake City,
Utah Board of Education, to stop the formation of a "gay/straight student
alliance" club at a local high school, votes to ban ALL extracurricular clubs
... a Swedish parliamentary committee rejects proposals for constitutional
protections for gays & lesbians from defamation, Church of Sweden
discrimination, and from discriminatory legislation ... a Montana district
judge declares the state's sodomy law to be unconstitutional ... and several
other stories  [anchored by Cindy Friedman and Brian Nunes]

==> You can read the complete transcript of NewsWrap below!

* Arch conservative Republican U.S. Presidential candidate PAT BUCHANAN's
surprising popularity in early state primary elections has caused more than
one kind of upset.  Not only is the G.O.P. party establishment concerned with
a possible split in its ranks, but news of Buchanan's early successes has the
international community buzzing as well.  With his incendiary anti-queer
speech at the 1992 Republican National Convention still ringing in the
lesbigay community's ears, the former Nixon and Reagan speech-writer and
broadcast commentator hasn't changed his positions on the so-called "gay
agenda" since then, as his remarks at a rally to "Protect Heterosexual
Marriage" in Iowa earlier this month will attest ...

* ANDREW SULLIVAN seems destined to play a significant role in re-defining
the language of political discourse in the 90's.  In the conclusion of Jon
Beaupre's conversation with the author of "Virtually Normal: An Argument
About Homosexuality", Sullivan talks about his accession as an openly-gay man
to the editorship of the prestigious weekly magazine "The New Republic", the
pro's and con's of being described as a "gay journalist", and what he
believes is the U.S. media's underestimation of the intelligence of the
American public ...
=======================*================================
                                 NewsWrap
           For the week ending February 24th, 1996
     (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT  Program #413,
                      distributed 02-26-96)
[Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Bill
Stosine, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Bjorn Skolander and Ron Buckmire]

THE FINNISH CABINET HAS AGREED THAT A BILL TO LEGALIZE SAME-GENDER MARRIAGES
SHOULD BE PREPARED BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND SUBMITTED TO THE PARLIAMENT
IN THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR.  THE SOCIAL, DEMOCRAT, LEFT ALLIANCE, GREEN,
AND SWEDISH NATIONAL PARTIES ALL SUPPORTED BRINGING FINLAND'S LAW INTO LINE
WITH ITS NORDIC NEIGHBORS', WITH OPPOSITION COMING ONLY FROM THE CONSERVATIVE
NATIONAL COALITION PARTY.  THE BILL HAS A REASONABLE CHANCE OF PASSAGE.  A
MID-FEBRUARY SURVEY BY SWEDISH TELEVISION NEWS FOUND 95 MEMBERS OF FINLAND'S
PARLIAMENT SUPPORTING THE PROPOSAL, 66 OPPOSING, 36 UNDECIDED, AND 3 NOT
RESPONDING.

IN THE U.S., LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT LEGAL RECOGNITION OF SAME-GENDER
MARRIAGES CONTINUES TO SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE AND MOVE TOWARDS PASSAGE IN
SEVERAL STATES WITH BLINDING SPEED.  IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR, THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS CHOSEN GAY AND LESBIAN MARRIAGE AS THE SHOWCASE FOR
WAVING ITS "FAMILY VALUES" BANNER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT SUCH MARRIAGES HAVE
NO LEGAL STANDING ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.  THE POSSIBILITY OF EQUAL
MARRIAGE RIGHTS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS STEMS FROM A CASE TO BE HEARD IN A
HAWAII TRIAL COURT MID-YEAR, AND THE CONVENTION AMONG U.S. STATES TO
RECOGNIZE EACH OTHERS' MARRIAGES.
AT LAST COUNT, 19 OF THE 50 STATES THIS YEAR ARE AT SOME POINT IN CONSIDERING
BILLS TO DENY LEGAL RECOGNITION TO SAME-GENDER MARRIAGES THAT MIGHT BE
PERFORMED IN OTHER STATES -- AND THE FATES OF THOSE BILLS CONTINUE TO BE
ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE STATE LEGISLATURE.  THIS WEEK,
SOUTH DAKOTA BECAME THE FIRST STATE THIS YEAR TO PASS A GAY AND LESBIAN
MARRIAGE BAN INTO LAW, AS GOVERNOR BILL JANKLOW SIGNED A MEASURE RESTRICTING
THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE TO HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES ONLY.  THE ONLY OTHER
STATE SO FAR TO REFUSE RECOGNITION OF A LEGAL SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE IS UTAH,
WHICH PASSED ITS LAW LAST YEAR.  BUT BILLS ARE ADVANCING RAPIDLY IN SEVERAL
OTHER STATES.  BOTH THE IOWA AND IDAHO STATE HOUSES THIS WEEK PASSED
SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE BANS BY OVERWHELMING MARGINS, WHILE A COLORADO HOUSE
COMMITTEE APPROVED A MEASURE BY A PARTY-LINE VOTE OF 7-TO-4.  A NEW STATE
JOINED THE FRAY THIS WEEK AS A SIMILAR BILL WAS INTRODUCED IN WYOMING.
DEMOCRATS HAVE APPARENTLY SUCCEEDED IN STALLING A SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE BAN IN
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, WHERE THIS WEEK AN ALREADY-OVERBURDENED STATE SENATE
COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED IT WOULD NOT BE HOLDING HEARINGS ON THE BILL.  MAINE AND
NEW MEXICO HAVE ALSO REJECTED MARRIAGE BANS THIS YEAR.

ALONG WITH THE RECOGNITION OF GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES, THE OTHER LEADING AREA
OF CONTROVERSY IN THE U.S. IS THE TOPIC OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
 THAT QUESTION CAME TO A HEAD IN UTAH THIS WEEK WHEN THE SALT LAKE CITY BOARD
OF EDUCATION DECIDED BY A VOTE OF 4-TO-3 TO END ALL STUDENT CLUBS IN ITS
SCHOOLS RATHER THAN ALLOW THE FORMATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL GAY AND LESBIAN
ORGANIZATION.  THE BOARD BELIEVED FEDERAL LAW AND A U.S. SUPREME COURT
PRECEDENT LEFT THEM WITH NO OTHER WAY TO STOP THE GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH
GROUP.  IT'S STILL UNCLEAR AS TO WHETHER THIS DECISION WILL AFFECT SCHOOL
SPORTS TEAMS.
HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS REACTED TO THE SALT LAKE CITY SCHOOL BOARD'S DECISION
WITH PUBLIC PROTEST.  600 STUDENTS WALKED OUT OF THEIR CLASSES AT EAST HIGH
SCHOOL, WHERE THE GAY AND LESBIAN CLUB HAD TRIED TO ORGANIZE.  200 STUDENTS
FROM ANOTHER SALT LAKE CITY HIGH SCHOOL MARCHED TO THE UTAH STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING, WHERE SECURITY GUARDS BLOCKED THE DOORS.  IN THE PRESS OF THAT
ANGRY CROWD, ONE 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS RUN OVER BY A CAR AND CRITICALLY
INJURED.
IN THE UTAH STATE LEGISLATURE ITSELF, 2 RELATED BILLS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED: ONE
REQUIRING PARENTAL CONSENT FOR SCHOOL CLUB PARTICIPATION, AND ANOTHER
PROHIBITING SCHOOL EMPLOYEES FROM SUPPORTING SODOMY OR OTHER ILLEGAL CONDUCT.

THE CHICAGO COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS THIS WEEK RULED THAT THE LOCAL BOY
SCOUTS OF AMERICA COUNCIL ILLEGALLY DISCRIMINATED ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL
ORIENTATION WHEN IT REFUSED AN OPENLY-GAY MAN'S APPLICATION.  THE COMMISSION
ORDERED THE CHICAGO AREA COUNCIL OF THE BOY SCOUTS TO STOP ITS EMPLOYMENT
DISCRIMINATION, PAY $500 IN DAMAGES TO OPEN GAY KEITH RICHARDSON, AND PAY A
FINE OF $100.  CITING ITS "TRADITIONAL VALUES", THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF
THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA PROMISED TO APPEAL THE DECISION.

SWEDEN'S PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTION THIS WEEK REJECTED
PROPOSALS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS FROM
DEFAMATION, FROM DISCRIMINATION BY THE CHURCH OF SWEDEN, AND FROM
DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION.  THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE
DISCUSSED BY THE SWEDISH PARLIAMENT IN EARLY MARCH.

THE MAINSTREAM HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IN MID-FEBRUARY
DENOUNCED A PROPOSAL IN THE AUSTRALIAN STATE OF TASMANIA TO INCREASE THE
MAXIMUM SENTENCES FOR SODOMY CONVICTIONS TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON, SAYING, "IT
IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT ANYONE SHOULD FACE 25 YEARS IN PRISON MERELY FOR
EXERCISING THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.  WE WOULD CONSIDER ANYONE JAILED UNDER
THIS LEGISLATION AS A PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE."  ALTHOUGH NEVER RECENTLY
ENFORCED, TASMANIA'S SODOMY LAW HAS FOR SOME TIME BEEN THE TARGET OF LEGAL
CHALLENGES.  IN EARY 1994, THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE FOUND IT
TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL
RIGHTS, AND THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPONDED BY ESTABLISHING A
RIGHT TO SEXUAL PRIVACY.  TASMANIA HAS NONETHELESS SO FAR STOOD STAUNCHLY
BEHIND ITS SODOMY LAW, THE LAST IN AUSTRALIA, CLAIMING THE FEDERAL LAW
INFRINGES ON ITS RIGHTS AS A STATE.

A MONTANA DISTRICT JUDGE RULED IN MID-FEBRUARY THAT THAT STATE'S SODOMY LAW
IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND ISSUED A PERMANENT INJUNCTION PROHIBITING THE LAW'S
ENFORCEMENT.  THE MONTANA LAW CRIMINALIZED PRIVATE HOMOSEXUAL ACTS BETWEEN
CONSENTING ADULTS.  DISTRICT JUDGE JEFFREY SHERLOCK FOUND THE STATE "HAS NO
REASON TO ATTEMPT TO REGULATE" SUCH ACTS IN VIOLATION OF MONTANA'S
CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE OF PRIVACY.  SHERLOCK ALSO WROTE IN HIS DECISION,
"SINCE PLAINTIFFS' ACTIVITIES DO NO HARM ANYONE, IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY
ANYONE NEEDS TO BE CONCERNED WITH WHAT THESE PEOPLE DO IN PRIVATE ..."  THE
DECISION IS EXPECTED TO BE APPEALED TO THE MONTANA SUPREME COURT.

IN FLORIDA THIS WEEK, OPENLY-LESBIAN DADE COUNTY JUDGE VICTORIA SIGLER GAVE
THE OATH OF OFFICE TO SOUTH MIAMI'S NEW OPENLY-GAY MAYOR TOM CUNNINGHAM.
 CUNNINGHAM WAS ELECTED WITH 57 PERCENT OF THE VOTE LAST WEEK TO BE FLORIDA'S
ONLY OPENLY-GAY MAYOR, AND THE 7TH NOW IN OFFICE IN THE UNITED STATES.

COSTA RICAN GAYS AND LESBIANS IN EARLY FEBRUARY CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF
THEIR FIRST COMMUNITY CENTER, TRIANGULO ROSA, IN THE TOWN OF ALAJUELA, NEAR
SAN JOSE.  THE CENTER CURRENTLY HOUSES A YOUTH SUPPORT GROUP, MEETINGS OF
PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS, SAFER SEX WORKSHOPS, ENGLISH
CLASSES, AND A WEEKLY COFFEEHOUSE.  THE NETHERLANDS HELPED TO FUND THE NEW
CENTER, AND DUTCH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ATTENDED THE LAUNCH PARTY.

GAYS AND LESBIANS IN THE AUSTRALIAN CITY OF MELBOURNE HELD THEIR FIRST PRIDE
MARCH IN EARLY FEBRUARY.  MORE THAN 11,000 PEOPLE MARCHED IN MORE THAN 80
CONTINGENTS, FORMING A LINE A KILOMETER LONG.

ALMOST 500 AFRICAN-AMERICAN LESBIANS, GAYS AND BISEXUALS PARTICIPATED IN THE
ANNUAL U.S. NATIONAL BLACK LESBIAN AND GAY CONFERENCE, HELD IN DALLAS, TEXAS
IN MID-FEBRUARY.  ONE FOCUS OF THE CONFERENCE WAS THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS, AND
BLACK GAY AND LESBIAN LEADERSHIP FORUM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KEITH BOYKIN SAID
OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT'S LEADING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND BROADCAST
PREACHER, "PAT BUCHANAN WANTS TO PUT US IN JAIL, AND PAT ROBERTSON WANTS TO
PUT US IN HELL."

ARCHBISHOP OF CAPETOWN DESMOND TUTU IS CONTINUING HIS INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY
FOR EQUALITY FOR LESBIANS AND GAYS.  IN A MID-FEBRUARY INTERVIEW WITH THE
BBC, TUTU URGED THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND TO APPROVE ORDINATION OF OPEN GAYS AND
LESBIANS, SAYING, "I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WHEN WE PERSECUTE PEOPLE
AND MAKE THEM HATE WHO GOD HAS MADE THEM TO BE."  HE COMPARED THE RESISTANCE
TO GAY AND LESBIAN ORDINATION TO EARLIER OBJECTIONS TO THE ORDINATION OF
WOMEN, WHICH HAS BECOME COMMONPLACE.  HE ALSO SAID OF SAME-GENDER MARRIAGES,
"IF WE WERE TO SAY THAT IN RELATIONSHIPS IT IS DESIRABLE THAT THERE IS
FIDELITY BETWEEN A COUPLE, WHY SHOULD WE NOT EXTEND THE SAME CONDITIONS TO
SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS?"

AND FINALLY ... U.S. LESBIAN-FEMINIST COMIC KATE CLINTON HAS HER OWN OPINION
ON THE ISSUE OF MARRIAGE.  NOTING THE FAMOUSLY-TROUBLED MARRIAGES OF PRINCE
CHARLES AND PRINCESS DI, MICHAEL JACKSON AND LISA MARIE PRESLEY, AND O.J.
SIMPSON AND THE LATE NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON, SHE SAID, "INSTEAD OF SPENDING
TIME ON THE FREEDOM TO MARRY, I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO TALK STRAIGHT PEOPLE
OUT OF GETTING MARRIED.  IT'S NOT GOING WELL FOR THEM."

[Sources for this report:   SETA, the Finnish National Organization for
Sexual Equality; The Rapid City (South Dakota) Journal; The Associated Press;
The Idaho Statesman; The Des Moines Register; The U.S. Lambda Legal Defense &
Education Fund; The Bellingham (Washington) Herald; The Deseret News/Salt
Lake City, Utah; The Chicago Tribune; the Swedish national lesbigay
organization RFSL'S "News from Swedish Lesbian/Gay Politics"; Rex Wockner
International News Service; The Billings (Montana) Gazette; The Fort
Lauderdale (Florida) Sun-Sentinel; the U.S. Black Gay & Lesbian Leadership
Forum; The Anglican Communion News Service; and the U.S. magazine "The
Progressive"]
*************************************************
Some THIS WAY OUT operating expenses are funded by grants from THE C.P. ESTES
GUADALUPE FOUNDATION, THE GILL 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, and on
Costa Rica-based 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, U.S.A., 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 A WORTHWHILE RECIPIENT FOR
YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CHARITABLE DONATIONS?
Please read the important letter from lesbian-feminist humorist KATE CLINTON
about the financial survival of THIS WAY OUT.  You can find it on our home
page, or email TWOradio@aol.com for a copy.
******************THANKS!************************