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                       The week of 03/11/96 on
                          T H I S    W A Y    O U T
       the international gay & lesbian radio magazine

* In NewsWrap:  The Swedish Parliament overwhelmingly rejects a proposal to
ban homophobic hate speech, while the Canadian government says it will
especially expedite asylum requests from gays and lesbians in Algeria,
Colombia and Russia ... more anti-queer marriage machinations in Hawaii,
Michigan, South Dakota and Alabama, but progress reports from Finland and The
Netherlands ... and several other stories [anchored by Brian Nunes and Cindy
Friedman]
==> You can read the complete transcript of NewsWrap below

* For the past few years, annual St. Patrick's Day Parades have been mired in
controversy in some U.S. cities, as efforts by queer Irish groups to
participate  have led to court orders, cancellations and violence.  As this
year's event approaches, TWO's Jon Beaupre talks with members of QUEER
CONSCIENCE, Boston-based Irish Catholic lesbigay performers, about the
group's musical tribute to their hometown controversy, and other cuts on QC's
latest CD, Gayja Vu ...

* Does the British gay & lesbian community hope bisexuality is "just a phase
we're going through"?  From BBC Radio 5 Live's "Out This Week", Nigel Wrench
and Rebecca Sandles examine the new visibility of bisexuals in Great Britain
(includes an in-studio discussion featuring London bi support group leaders
Marcus Morgan and Caramel Quin) ...
==========================*=============================
                                      NewsWrap
               For the week ending March 9th, 1996
        (As broadcast on THIS WAY OUT  Program #415, 
                          distributed 03-11-96)
[Compiled & written by CINDY FRIEDMAN, with thanks to Brian Nunes, Bill
Stosine, Jason Lin, Greg Gordon, Bjorn Skolander and Ron Buckmire]

A BILL TO PROHIBIT HATE SPEECH AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS WAS REJECTED BY THE
SWEDISH PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK BY A MARGIN OF ALMOST 3-TO-1.  ALTHOUGH THE
MEASURE WAS SUPPORTED BY THE LEFTIST, LIBERAL, CENTRE, AND GREEN PARTIES, IT
WAS SUCCESSFULLY BLOCKED BY THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC, SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND
CONSERVATIVE PARTIES.  OPPONENTS BELIEVED THAT A DEFAMATION BAN WOULD
THREATEN FREE SPEECH.

CANADA'S IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE BOARD HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL EXPEDITE
REQUESTS FOR ASYLUM FROM GAYS AND LESBIANS IN ALGERIA, COLOMBIA AND RUSSIA.
 THE BOARD CITED SPECIAL THREATS OF HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE IN ALGERIA FROM THE
POLICE AND SECRET SERVICE, THE ARMY, AND ISLAMIC TERRORISTS; IN COLOMBIA FROM
TERRORIST DEATH SQUADS AND ORGANIZED CRIME; AND IN RUSSIA FROM POLICE,
ORGANIZED CRIME AND RIGHT-WING TERRORISTS.

YET CANADA ITSELF IS NOT ENTIRELY SAFE FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS.  THIS WEEK
POLICE IDENTIFIED FOUR NEO-NAZI'S AS SUSPECTS IN A 5-YEAR-OLD GAY-BASHING
MURDER IN WINNIPEG.  VICTIM GORDON COOTY WAS WALKING IN A POPULAR CRUISING
AREA WHEN HE WAS SEIZED, BEATEN, STONED, AND DROWNED.

COLOMBIA'S SUPREME COURT DECLARED THIS WEEK THAT THE ONLY LEGAL MARRIAGES ARE
HETEROSEXUAL ONES.  THE COURT REJECTED A CLAIM SEEKING MARITAL RIGHTS FOR
SAME-GENDER COUPLES, INCLUDING INHERITANCE, ALIMONY AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
 THE COURT FURTHER EXCLUDED GAYS AND LESBIANS FROM THE DEFINITION OF
"FAMILY", WHICH INCLUDED COHABITING HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES, WHETHER LEGALLY
MARRIED OR NOT.

THE HAWAII STATE SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT COULD ESTABLISH EQUAL MARRIAGE
RIGHTS THERE FOR LESBIANS AND GAYS HAS SPARKED NOT ONLY A RASH OF REACTIVE
LEGISLATION ACROSS THE REST OF THE U.S., BUT ALSO LEGISLATIVE CHAOS IN HAWAII
ITSELF.  THIS WEEK, THE HAWAII STATE SENATE NARROWLY APPROVED A MEASURE TO
ESTABLISH LEGAL DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GAY AND LESBIAN
MARRIAGES ... BUT THE HAWAII STATE HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED A PROPOSED
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT THOSE MARRIAGES.  THE HAWAII STATE HOUSE
AND SENATE MUST NOW CONSIDER EACH OTHER'S PROPOSALS.  A TWO-THIRDS VOTE IN
THE STATE SENATE FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON SAME-GENDER MARRIAGES
WOULD SEND THE ISSUE TO THE VOTERS -- WHO, ACCORDING TO A RECENT POLL, WOULD
STRONGLY SUPPORT THE BAN.

THE HAWAII LEGISLATIVE DEBATE WAS FURTHER ENLIVENED BY THE PRESENCE OF
LEADING U.S. ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVIST RANDALL TERRY, WHO VISITED HAWAII
SPECIFICALLY TO OPPOSE EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS.  EIGHT
MINISTERS FROM A VARIETY OF DENOMINATIONS GATHERED TO SUPPORT SAME-GENDER
MARRIAGE.

THIS WEEK, MICHIGAN BECAME THE 24TH U.S. STATE TO CONSIDER DENYING LEGAL
RECOGNITION TO GAY AND LESBIAN MARRIAGES WITH A BILL INTRODUCED BY REPUBLICAN
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DEBORAH WHYMAN.  IN SEVEN OF THOSE STATES, THE MEASURES
HAVE BEEN BLOCKED OR WITHDRAWN.  THEY'VE BEEN PASSED INTO LAW IN TWO -- UTAH
AND SOUTH DAKOTA.

SOUTH DAKOTA'S LEGAL BAN ON SAME-GENDER MARRIAGES IS HAVING SOME PECULIAR
RAMIFICATIONS.  FIRST IT LED TO THE CANCELLATION OF A FIRST-TIME,
MUCH-BALLYHOOED SOUTH DAKOTA BALLOON RACE THAT WAS TO BE CALLED "THE
GOVERNOR'S CUP".  TWO OF THAT EVENT'S KEY ORGANIZERS ARE A LONG-TIME GAY MALE
COUPLE, AND THEY WITHDREW IN PROTEST OF SOUTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR BILL JANKLOW'S
SIGNING THE MARRIAGE BAN INTO LAW.  JANKLOW HIMSELF THEN CANCELLED THE RACE
RATHER THAN LOSE THE TOURISM INCOME FROM THE ENTIRE BALLOON RALLY THE RACE
WOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF.

THE SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE CONTROVERY MAY ALSO AFFECT STATE FUNDING FOR SOUTH
DAKOTA'S SHELTERS FOR BATTERED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN.  TWO REPUBLICAN
STATE LEGISLATORS THIS WEEK THREATENED TO DENY PROPOSED FUNDING FOR THOSE
SHELTERS BELONGING TO THE LOBBY GROUP SOUTH DAKOTA COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ... AND WHILE THE LAWMAKERS EMPHASIZED THE
COALITION'S SUPPORT FOR ABORTION RIGHTS, COALITION LOBBYIST ROANN REDLIN
SAID, "ABORTION IS NOT THE ISSUE.  THEY'RE JUST ANGRY THAT I TESTIFIED IN
SUPPORT OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S GAY COMMUNITY AND AGAINST THE MARRIAGE BAN BILL."
 ONE SHELTER HAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE COALITION AS A RESULT.

IN ALABAMA, THE INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO BAN SAME-GENDER MARRIAGES INCREASED
PUBLIC AWARENESS THAT NO SUCH BAN WAS YET IN PLACE.  THAT LED DEE HARRISON
AND KATHY DENISE ZENKER TO SEEK AND OBTAIN A MARRIAGE LICENSE THERE.  THE
CLERK DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THEM AS A LESBIAN COUPLE -- HARRISON, A MALE-TO-FEMALE
TRANSSEXUAL, "LOOKED LIKE A MAN" TO THE CLERK.

WHILE HALF THE UNITED STATES SCRAMBLE TO DENY LEGAL RECOGNITION TO GAY AND
LESBIAN COUPLES, TWO MORE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE MOVING CLOSER TO
ESTABLISHING EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS FOR THEM.  IN FINLAND, 181 CULTURAL AND
POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE SIGNED A PETITION TO THE PARLIAMENT AND PRIME MINISTER
SUPPORTING ESTABLISHMENT OF LEGAL REGISTRY OF DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR
SAME-GENDER COUPLES.  THE NETHERLANDS PARLIAMENT WILL BE DISCUSSING EQUAL
MARRIAGE RIGHTS IN LATE MARCH, AND THE CHANCES OF PASSAGE ARE SAID TO BE
EXCELLENT.

THE U.S. BAN ON MILITARY SERVICE BY OPEN GAYS AND LESBIANS WAS CONSIDERED IN
TWO COURTROOMS IN SEATTLE THIS WEEK.  U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE THOMAS ZILLY UPHELD
THE DISCHARGE OF NAVY LIEUTENANT RICHARD WATSON, A 15-YEAR VETERAN WHO WAS A
STRONG CANDIDATE FOR A COMMAND POSITION UNTIL HE CAME OUT TO HIS SUPERIORS AS
A GAY MAN.  WHILE REGRETTING THE EXPULSIONS OF MANY CAPABLE SERVICEMEMBERS
FOR HOMOSEXUALITY UNDER THE U.S. MILITARY POLICY, ZILLY WROTE, "IT IS WELL
ESTABLISHED THAT THE ARMED FORCES MAY PROHIBIT SEXUAL CONDUCT.  WATSON WAS
NOT DISCHARGED SOLELY FOR ACKNOWLEDGING HIS SEXUAL ORIENTATION, BUT RATHER
FOR MAKING STATEMENTS MANIFESTING AN INTENT OR PROPENSITY TO ENGAGE IN
PROSCRIBED HOMOSEXUAL CONDUCT ... THIS COURT MAY NOT ... QUESTION THE WISDOM
OF THE POLICY OR SUBSTITUTE ITS JUDGMENT FOR THAT OF CONGRESS."  ZILLY
REJECTED WATSON'S CLAIM THAT HIS RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH HAD BEEN VIOLATED,
RULING THAT SERVICEMEMBERS  RIGHTS MUST BE SUBORDINATED TO THE MILITARY'S
NEED FOR DISCIPLINE AND COMBAT READINESS.
MEANWHILE, THE U.S. 9TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HEARD ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE
OF NAVY PETTY OFFICER MARK PHILLIPS, WHO WAS DISCHARGED AFTER ADMITTING UNDER
QUESTIONING TO HAVING GAY RELATIONSHIPS WITH CIVILIANS OFF-BASE, BEFORE THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S SO-CALLED "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" POLICY WAS
INSTITUTED.

IN A RELATED STORY, U.S. CHAIR OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL JOHN
SHALIKASVILLI TESTIFIED AGAINST DISCHARGING SERVICEMEMBERS WITH HIV.
 HOMOPHOBIC REPUBLICAN U.S. CONGRESSMEMBER BOB DORNAN HAD PREVIOUSLY ATTACHED
A RIDER TO MILITARY FUNDING LEGISLATION THAT REQUIRED DISCHARGES FOR
SERVICEMEMBERS TESTING POSITIVE FOR HIV, BECAUSE THOSE PERSONNEL ARE
CONSIDERED "NON-DEPLOYABLE" FOR BATTLE OR OVERSEAS SERVICE.  WHILE U.S.
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON RELUCTANTLY SIGNED THE MEASURE, HE ALSO DIRECTED THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO ATTACK THE DORNAN RIDER LEGALLY, AND A NUMBER OF
FEDERAL LEGISLATORS ARE NOW MOVING LEGISLATION TO REPEAL THE RIDER.
 TESTIFYING BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, SHALIKASHVILLI CALLED
THE RIDER "UNFAIR  AND "WASTEFUL", SAYING IT WAS WRONG TO TREAT ONE GROUP OF
NON-DEPLOYABLE SERVICEMEMBERS DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHERS.  ABOUT 6,500 U.S.
SERVICEMEMBERS ARE CLASSIFIED NON-DEPLOYABLE.

U.S.-BASED HEALTH PRODUCTS GIANT JOHNSON & JOHNSON AGREED THIS WEEK TO
ESTABLISH A FORMAL CORPORATE POLICY PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON
SEXUAL ORIENTATION.  THAT MOVE CAME AT THE INSTIGATION OF A GROUP OF
SHAREHOLDERS.  JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS GEARING UP TO MARKET A HOME TEST KIT FOR
HIV.

AND FINALLY ... A RECENT NEW YORK TIMES OBITUARY APPEARED TO BE A MASTERPIECE
OF CODING FOR A CLOSETED GAY MAN WHO ONCE SERVED IN THE MILITARY.  IT WAS FOR
RENOWNED SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHER BRODRICK HALDANE, WHO DIED AT THE AGE OF 83,
AND INCLUDED THIS ITEM:  "HALDANE SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN WORLD WAR II, BUT
DID NOT ENJOY HIS MILITARY SERVICE.  ONE ACCOUNT OF HIS WAR RECORD HOLDS THAT
HE PLANTED A SMALL GARDEN AROUND HIS GUN EMPLACEMENT AT CHATHAM, AND RECLINED
PEACEFULLY BETWEEN BOMB ATTACKS READING TATLER  AND VOGUE ."

[Sources for this week's report:  Sweden's national lesbigay organization
RFSL; Rex Wockner International News Service; The Canadian Broadcasting
Company; The Associated Press; U.S.A. Today;  press releases from the Hawaii
Equal Right To Marry Project and the U.S. National Gay & Lesbian Task Force;
The Rapid City (South Dakota) Journal; The Mitchell (South Dakota) Daily
Republic; the Sioux Falls (South Dakota) Argus Leader; The Guardian (U.K.);
De Volkskrant (Germany) and Der Gay Krant (The Netherlands); Reuter News
Service; The Birmingham (Alabama) News; Dow Jones News Service; and The Bay
Area Reporter (San Francisco).]
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