NewsWrap for the week ending February 6th, 1999 (As broadcast on This Way Out program #567, distributed 2-8-99) [Compiled & written by Cindy Friedman, with thanks to Graham Underhill, Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Martin Rice, Rex Wockner, Chris Ambidge, Greg Gordon & Lucia Chappelle] Anchored by Leo Garcia and Cindy Friedman Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Jose Roman Arrieta became the first bishop ever to appear in court in Costa Rica this week, as the national gay and lesbian and AIDS group Triangulo Rosa charged him with human rights violations. A travel agent's plans for a gay and lesbian festival in Quepos had to be canceled due to public opposition, after remarks in early August by Arrieta, President Miguel Rodriguez, and others. Arrieta had said, "I fervently desire that legal means be found to stop this festival, and that our people, both men and women, express in a dignified and civilized fashion their complete rejection of it." He called the festival "a terrible example for our youth that goes against our values and offends the ethical and religious feelings of a large majority of Costa Ricans." Triangulo Rosa claimed this constituted illegal discrimination and interference with gays' and lesbians' right to assemble. Arrieta said of the lawsuit, "I will face trial without changing my position, because the alleged right of a minority cannot be held over the true right of the large majority to keep values. He added, "The Church is the first promoter of respect for all persons, including homosexuals, and I have always defended human rights, but respect for the person does not mean approval of conduct that is objectively morally wrong." After a one-day hearing, the judge found Arrieta innocent of any wrongdoing, saying he had a right to preach the Church's teachings on homosexuality. A lesbian curate of the state Church of Norway who was banished from the pulpit after she registered her same-gender partnership, has been reinstated. Bishop Rosemarie Koehn, the only woman bishop in the Lutheran state church, announced that she was returning open lesbian Siri Sunde to her pastoral duties -- defying the church's policy against ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians. A tearful Sunde called Koehn's decision to reinstate her "a victory for Christ," but added, "It doesn't mean that the doors will be thrown wide open. It's not easy to be a lesbian or homosexual in the Norwegian church." Bishop Koehn also said that she personally regretted having made a show of unity with more conservative bishops in a 1997 vote to ban partnered gays and lesbians from church employment. She noted that if Sunde had sued the church for unfair dismissal, she would probably have won. Koehn called on the church to extend equal treatment to gays and lesbians, including supporting their committed relationships. A rabbi in Canada who plans to perform both interfaith and same-gender marriage ceremonies has been publicly denounced by his peers. In a position paper published in the "Jewish Post," the Winnipeg Council of Rabbis said they were "deeply disappointed and disturbed," and warned that Rabbi Michael Levenson's plans would "lead to a communal suicide." But Levenson says he'll be helping people to remain in the Jewish community who would otherwise feel they must leave. His first same-gender wedding is planned for March. Same-gender relationships were also a topic in the Canadian Parliament this week. Members of four political parties announced their united support for amending federal laws to treat gay and lesbian couples the same as common-law heterosexuals, in a first-ever demonstration that equality is a non-partisan issue. Openly gay Bloc Quebecois Member of Parliament Real Menard introduced a bill to amend the numerous laws in which gay and lesbian couples are currently excluded from the definition of "spouse." He was joined in the so- called "pink caucus" by MP Bill Graham of the ruling Liberal Party, by MP Diane St. Jacques of the Conservative Party, and by openly gay MP Svend Robinson of the New Democratic Party. Only the NDP has taken an official position supporting equal treatment of same-gender couples; the Conservatives say they're still studying the issue, and the Liberals are deeply divided. The group had also approached the right-wing Reform Party to join the pink caucus, but were rejected; Robinson said, "Their vision of families in Canada excludes gay and lesbian families and relationships." But the prospect of legal domestic partnerships in France was protested this week by what may have been 200,000 people. The demonstrators who marched through Paris came from all over the country to oppose the ruling Socialist Party's bill to establish PACS, Pacts of Civil Solidarity. Those contracts would give most of the social and financial benefits of legal marriage to unmarried couples, regardless of gender. But although the march was ostensibly in support of traditional marriage, it featured some specifically anti-gay messages. The event was largely financed by the Roman Catholic Church. Politicians from both wings of the newly-divided ultra-conservative National Front participated, but organizers pushed them to the back, to give prominence to younger people who could illustrate the slogan "All Generations Against PACS." The Socialist government remains committed to the domestic partnership bill, which passed the National Assembly and will be taken up by the Senate in March. One Briton's domestic partnership became very public this week in a TV broadcast in the Czech Republic -- and that's not a good thing, because he's believed to be Britain's top spy in Prague. Christopher Hurran is the #3 official at the British embassy there. His "outing" in every sense -- which included publication of his name and address and pictures of his home -- is believed to be an act of vengeance by Czech intelligence personnel loyal to their former chief Karel Vulterin. Vulterin was fired after Britain complained of Czech leaks regarding the defection of a top Iraqi spy, Jabir Salim. The incident is a great embarrassment to the Czech government, coming just days before its formal invitation to join NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Despite the danger to Hurran, MI-6 is determined to keep him in Prague, reportedly in part to show that his sexual orientation does not hurt his standing with the agency. Another Briton "outed" in a scandal this week is Conservative Member of the European Parliament Tom Spencer. Spencer, chair of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, was fined by British customs when gay pornography, two marijuana joints, and a gram-and-a-half of cocaine were found in his suitcase. Largely because of the cocaine, the Conservative Party required Spencer's resignation from its European caucus, where he had served as whip. He'll finish out his term but not seek reelection in June. As it turns out, Spencer has had affairs with men throughout his nearly 20-year marriage, with his wife's full knowledge and consent. His latest heartthrob turned out to be U.S. porn star Cole Tucker. The widely-discussed case of the misunderstood mayoral aide in Washington, D.C. seems to have a happy ending. David Howard, who had been the first openly gay appointee of new Mayor Anthony Williams, had resigned after a co- worker thought his use of the word "niggardly" was a racial slur. This week, Williams offered Howard his old job back, the ombudsman-type position of head of the Office of the Public Advocate. Because of the intense media coverage, Howard thought it would be better if he served in a lower-profile position, and Williams is seeking one out for him. Howard said the flap was "really not about me or the use of the word 'niggardly.' It has fostered a discussion, not about racial tensions, but about racial perceptions. It can only help us to understand each other." Navy Ensign Vernon "Copy" Berg, one of the very first to challenge the U.S. ban on military service by gays and lesbians, has died of AIDS-related illness at the age of 47. After investigators discovered his gay relationship, he was given an other-than-honorable discharge in 1976, but sued for reinstatement. Although he was not returned to duty, he did win an upgrade to an honorable discharge, which became the general policy for discharges for homosexuality after that, a boon to tens of thousands of gays and lesbians. He is survived by his partner Dub Williams. Openly gay former Premier of South Australia Don Dunstan has died of cancer at the age of 72. He was an Australian Labor Party Member of the state Parliament for some 25 years and its premier for ten before cancer forced his resignation in 1979. A brilliant and visionary progressive, he opposed the Vietnam War, enacted consumer protection laws and electoral reforms, and made South Australia the nation's first state to protect both native peoples and gays and lesbians from discrimination. He is survived by his partner Steven Cheng. Gays and lesbians Down Under are well into their summer celebrations. The fourth annual Pride March Victoria in Melbourne drew a record crowd of 40,000, including Port Phillip Mayor Dick Gross in a rainbow cape and fluorescent orange shoes. The month-long Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras festival began with 22,000 people turning out for opening ceremonies and partying at the Opera House. And in New Zealand, Auckland's HERO festival got underway as well. And finally ... the United States' first openly lesbian Congressmember, Representative Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, was among the invited speakers this week at the Washington, D.C. Press Club's light-hearted Annual Congressional Dinner. Baldwin said she'd been chosen because she represents a group that has historically suffered discrimination, stereotyping and unfair treatment -- blondes. After a series of "blonde jokes," she said that sexual orientation is not a choice, but as for being a blonde -- "I choose every other week."