/* ---------- "AMNESTY INT'L LESBIGAY NEWSLETTER" ---------- */ AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS FOR LESBIAN AND GAY CONCERNS Newsletter #7, Spring 1992 AIMLGC, P.O. Box 8293 Santa Cruz, CA 95061-8293 PeaceNet: aimlgc Co-Coordinators: Meg Satterthwaite,408-423-7511 Paul Tighe, 908-247-5506 The AIMLGC newsletter is quarterly. This issue was written by Meg Satterthwaite. ISLE OF MAN DECRIMINALIZES HOMOSEXUALITY Until several weeks ago, the Isle of Man was one of two territories in Western Europe where homosexual acts by consenting adults in private remained a criminal offense. The Isle of Man parliament, the House of Keys, voted to legalize homosexuality after a debate on the issue on March 31. The approved amendments to the Sexual Offences Bill will decriminalize homosexual acts in private between consenting men over 21. Previously, the law allowed for the arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment of consenting male adults engaging in homosexual acts in private, with sentences ranging from two years to life imprisonment. In February, shortly after a series of arrests of gay men, Amnesty International sent delegates on a fact-finding visit to the island. The delegates investigated existing legislation on homosexuality, and discussed the matter with authorities. In March, AI wrote to the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man urging the House of Keys and the government to ensure that the island's legislation governing sexual offenses will no longer permit the imprisonment of people for consensual homosexual acts between men in private. AI welcomed the legislative change, particularly because the previous legislation did not conform to the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 8 of the Convention states that "everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence." In its judgements the European Court of Human Rights has maintained that legislation categorically prohibiting homosexual acts breach Article 8. Gibraltar is the remaining territory in Western Europe where homosexual acts in private between consenting adults are proscribed by law. (AI Weekly Updates NWS 11/07/92, 11/13/92, and 12/11/92.) CANADA GRANTS REFUGEE STATUS TO GAY MAN In January, Jorge Alberto Inaudi, a 28-year-old Argentine gay man, was granted refugee status in Canada. Inaudi's case was the first one of its kind; never before had a person fleeing persecution on the basis of sexual orientation been granted refugee status in Canada. In addition to this important precedent, the case yielded important testimony, including allegations of torture. Inaudi testified that he was "completely terrorized," by Argentina's federal police, who allegedly raped and tortured him following arrests in 1989 and in early 1990. He said he left Argentina because he "could not tolerate the police terror... the fact that they knew me as a gay man and I am on file makes me very vulnerable." The case was argued on the grounds that gay men and lesbians constitute a persecuted minority in Argentina. In addition to the fact that Argentine law allows the police to arrest homosexuals, there has been an increasing climate of fear in the Argentine gay community since November. At that time, a Supreme Court decision denied legal status to the Comunidad Homosexual Argentina (CHA), the country's leading gay and lesbian organization. In its decision, the Supreme Court stated that, "The defense of homosexuality endangers the nature and dignity of humanity." Thankfully, after international outcry and domestic protest in recent months, the Argentine Ministry of Justice granted CHA legal status on March 19. The Canadian decision on behalf of Mr. Inaudi puts persecuted gay men and lesbians in the same category as political refugees or others who upon repatriation might face life-threatening situations. The decision could have broad ramifications for persecuted gays seeking refugee status in North America. Presently, there are reported to be seven such cases pending in Canada and the United States. AIUSA welcomed the Canadian precedent. Nicholas Rizza, AIUSA's refugee coordinator, said Canada was "affirming that asylum claims should be based on human needs and not on political or foreign policy considerations or any biases that the receiving country may have." Canada is not alone in taking this positive step; several European governments have granted refugee status to gays, and Australia recently joined the trend. On March 19, the Australian government granted refugee status to a gay couple fleeing persecution in China. (Washington Blade, 3/27/92, New York Times, 1/14/92. IGLHRC Press Release, 3/26/92.) REGIONAL SUCCESSES & AGM PLANS In addition to several workshops and panels at this year's Regional Conferences, the resolution to make AIMLGC an "official" AI network passed in two regions. The resolution was introduced in the South by Dan Reyes and in the West by Meg Satterthwaite and Virginia Hatch. It passed overwhelmingly in both regions, and in both cases, the sponsors were pleased with the discussion that took place during the Working Parties. With such smooth passage at the regionals, the resolution stands an excellent chance for approval at the Annual General Meeting. Also successful were the various workshops and panels held at the Southern, Western, and Midwestern Regional Conferences. In the South and Midwest, panels on outreach to local gay/lesbian/bisexual communities were well attended. In the West, a workshop/meeting was held and both new and old members of AIMLGC participated. In all regions, AIMLGC gained new members. Our membership has grown at a steady rate, nearly doubling since the Yokohama decision. After last year's successful Annual General Meeting, we are looking forward to even more visibility and action this year. The AGM is being held in Los Angeles June 25-28 (June 27 is Los Angeles' Gay Pride Day!). AIMLGC will hold an open meeting for organization and planning. Please attend this meeting if you can -- as we grow and expand, we need to develop our organizational structure. In conjunction with the Task Force, we will sponsor an exhibit at the Ideas Fair. The resolution calling for formal recognition of AIMLGC will be voted upon at the AGM. Finally, a panel on gay/lesbian/bisexual human rights will be one of eight panels at this year's AGM. Details about all events of interest to AIMLGC members will be mailed to you closer to the conference date. Thanks to the many people, too numerous to mention here, who are making these conference events a success! TASK FORCE UPDATE The AIUSA Task Force on HIV and Homosexuality has had its mandate renewed, and will continue to operate until the 1993 International Council Meeting. The Task Force is working on many projects, including ongoing work aimed at bringing together non-AI experts on the human rights of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals to advise AI on key issues. Other work includes channeling information to the International Secretariat, work with AI bodies such as co-groups, and outreach to gay and lesbian organizations. In January, Cosette Thompson (Deputy Director, Western Region, and member of the Task Force), was part of a panel discussion sponsored by GLAAD/LA entitled, "After Amnesty, What Next?" In May, members of the Task Force will be meeting with directors of the International Lesbian and Gay Association's Amnesty International project, now based in New York. Finally, The Task Force continues to advise the Board on relevant issues and help AIMLGC with projects. GAY HUMAN RIGHTS NEWSCLIPS The following accounts are not from Amnesty reports; they were culled from various different sources, including the gay press and gay and lesbian organizations. They are included here for informational purposes, and represent the kinds of cases we hope to see Amnesty reports and action on in the near future. Sources follow each account. Colombia: Hundreds of gay men have reportedly been killed in recent years by death squads. The now-defunct gay rights organization, Grupo de Ambiente say they have documented over 700 anti-gay death squad murders since 1986. The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) said that many of these victims have been found with signs of torture and mutilation. (Washington Blade, 1/17/92, IGLHRC Emergency Response Action Alert, 2/92) Ecuador: According to gay and lesbian activists in Ecuador, twenty gay men were killed by death squads in the final months of 1991. Ecuador is one of the only Latin American countries where gay male sex is illegal. While the law is not generally used, it contributes to an atmosphere of homophobia that allows for such human rights violations. (The Advocate, 4/7/92) Greece: The executive editor of the Greek gay and lesbian magazine, AMPHI, Irene Petropoulou, was sentenced in November to five months in jail and fined for publishing "indecent material." Greece does not have laws against homosexuality, and Petropoulou was charged for publishing a simple educational statement asking heterosexual men to leave lesbians alone. The published statement followed solicitations from heterosexual men aimed at lesbians. Petropoulou appealed the decision and was released pending the hearing. (ILGA Press Release, 11/27/91) LATVIA ABOLISHES ANTI-GAY LAW On March 1, Latvia became the second former Soviet Republic to abolish its anti-gay law. The Parliament of Latvia repealed the law banning homosexual acts between consenting adults. The legislative change passed without opposition and followed activism by the Latvian Association for Sexual Equality. Although the law has not been enforced recently, its repeal is an assured means of protection for gays in Latvia. (Washington Blade, 4/10/92) RUSSIAN MAN ACQUITTED IN SODOMY TRIAL Vladimir Mironov, a Russian gay man who was charged under article 121 of the Russian criminal code, has been acquitted of all charges. AIMLGC members generated hundreds of letters and petitions on behalf of Mr. Mironov during February, March, and April. Mr. Mironov's acquittal marks the close of our first full-scale letter-writing action. Vladimir Mironov appealed his sentence of three years' imprinonment by the Volgograd District Court on May 7, 1991. He was released from custody for health reasons while awaiting his appeal hearing. Mironov's appeal was heard on March 17, 1992 by the Volgogradsky District People's Court in Moscow. Although he and his partner admitted having sexual relations, they denied having anal intercourse (only this form is punishable under the Russian article 121), and the case was closed in the absence of a corpus delicti. The court also accepted the allegations by witnesses questioned during the preliminary investigation that testimony had been obtained from them by police using threats. In addition to Amnesty's work on this case, the International Lesbian and Gay Association also worked on behalf of Vladimir Mironov. Thanks to all of you who participated in the campaign on Mr. Mironov's behalf. This is a stop action request; letters and petitions are no longer necessary. Thanks to Gwendolyn Whittaker for her assistance. HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE ADDRESSES SEXUAL ORIENTATION Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, is hosting the second annual "Great Basin Human Rights Conference" May 20 and 21. The conference is being sponsored by the Weber State Amnesty International chapter in cooperation with the departments of Political Science and Philosophy and Women's Studies. The keynote speaker will be Nien Cheng, author of Life and Death in Shanghai. The conference will focus on several issues, one of which is "Sexual Orientation as a Human Right." For more information, or to register for the conference, write: Conference Registration, Weber State University, Continuing Education, Ogden, Utah, 84404-4004, or call 801-626-6600. INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH AIMLGC has undertaken several projects aimed at strengthening the links between AI and gay/lesbian/bisexual organizations. We have recently made contact with La Red, a network of gay and lesbian organizations spanning the Americas and the Caribbean that is organizing the First Gay and Lesbian Latin American and Caribbean Conference, scheduled for Spring 1993. A US delegate to La Red's first planning meeting in Nicaragua this March delivered a letter from Amnesty to meeting participants. The letter explained AI's new policy and solicited reports of abuses. Paz y Liberacion, a publication offering news on the international gay and lesbian movement, included a notice about AIMLGC in a recent issue. The Foreign Gay Publications project is underway, and Alicia Vogl, Jacques Raymond Kilchoer, and Ana Cristina Hernandez have volunteered to work on subscriptions. We have already received a complimentary subscription to one paper, and hope to yield additional positive results soon. LOCAL OUTREACH AND EDUCATION Prompted by the Education campaign and the Russian investigative case, many members of AIMLGC have done outreach to local gay/lesbian/bisexual communities. Quite a few members have reported success in this outreach, ranging from distribution of petitions to more in-depth coalition building, like the workshop Paul Tighe held for his local gay and lesbian rights group, the Gay Activists Alliance of Morris County. In a case of inverse outreach, the Atlanta Gay Yellow Pages offered free ad space in their resource directory. Thanks to some quick typesetting by Kristen Ochoa (Coordinator, San Francisco State AI), AIMLGC will have a full-page ad in the latest edition. Groups continue to report successful Educational meetings, and a few groups are planning sensitivity trainings. For example, group #386 in Seattle, Washington, invited a local lesbian minister to a meeting about homophobia and heterosexism. Pleased with the success of the meeting, the Puget Sound Development Team is planning a day-long sensitivity training for AI groups in the Seattle area. They are working with local organizations to plan the training, and have promised to pass on helpful tips and ideas for those of you who are planning similar events. As always, if you have ideas or queries for other network members, please send them to AIMLGC. Thanks to the Puget Sound Development Team, Kristen Ochoa, Judy, Horn, Ali Miller, and all of you who have reported success for your hard work and energy! MEMBER OF TASK FORCE APPOINTED MID-ATLANTIC DIRECTOR Cary Alan Johnson has been appointed the new Director of the Mid-Atlantic Office. Cary is a member of the HIV/Homosexuality Task Force, has been active with AIMLGC since its inception, and has been an Amnesty leader for many years. Among other important roles, Cary has served as the Coordinator of the East Africa Co-Group and was Country Resource Development Coordinator on staff from 1986-1990. Congratulations, Cary! OPENLY GAY CANDIDATE FOR AIUSA BOARD Eric Avery, long-time Amnesty International activist, is running for the Board of Directors this year. Eric is a visual artist and non-practicing medical doctor and psychiatrist. He has done extensive work on the human rights of refugees and serves on the AIUSA Refugee Steering Committee. In addition, Eric currently serves as the Southern Regional Refugee Coordinator and as Area Coordinator for South Texas. Eric has also done a great deal of work against the death penalty. Eric has been a member of AIMLGC since its inception, and has always been an important part of the network's work. As a delegate for AIUSA, Eric attended the historic International Council Meeting in 1991. He says that, "As a gay member of AIUSA, at the ICM, I witnessed our mandate expand. It was an astonishing moment," and to all AIUSA members, he adds, "Thank you." All members in good standing of AIUSA should receive ballots for the Board of Directors by May 4. If you have not received one, call the New York office at 212-807-8400. PEACENET WORKS High speed, low cost, high tech. Recently, Amnesty International has been taking advantage of electronic communications technology. AI now has several "conferences," or electronic bulletin boards, on PeaceNet, a computer network managed by the Institute for Global Communications. Amnesty activists are now logging in to PeaceNet to get the latest Urgent Action, to read about what's happening in the Student Movement, and to "talk" with other activists. These public conferences are open to all members of PeaceNet and provide up-to-the-minute information and actions. In addition to these public conferences, there are private conferences for Co-Groups and Task Forces. Electronic conferencing is an inexpensive way to communicate: it allows activists to stay connected to members all over the country through their computers. More, it's an incredible location for discussion; queries can be sent out to everyone or to a few specific people; discussions can be public or private. AI Members for Lesbian and Gay Concerns now has an account on PeaceNet. The Winter newsletter was posted on the Amnesty conference, and we have made announcements on other bulletin boards. In addition to the many AI conferences, there are several devoted specifically to gay/lesbian/bisexual concerns, and we are monitoring those networks for pertinent news and information. Groups like the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and Queer Planet are using conferences to post their Urgent Actions and press releases, making up-to-the-minute information on gay/lesbian/bisexual human rights accessible to large numbers of users. To make the most of the network, we need our members to join! PeaceNet could help AIMLGC members discuss ideas with each other, pass information on, and organize events. If there are enough of you interested, we could set up a private conference for goal setting and organizational discussions. This would be an excellent way to make AIMLGC more responsive to the needs of all AI activists. It would be efficient and relatively inexpensive (one-time sign-up costs $15, plus varying usage rates). If you are reading this newsletter online, please let AIMLGC know you're out there! Our account is "aimlgc." We'd like to know what kind of resources we have as a group so that we can assess our needs and decide on the most appropriate networking solutions. Thanks to Debra Guzman and Jillaine Smith for their help with PeaceNet. HELP AND DONATIONS WANTED Thanks to all of you who responded to the last call for volunteers! We now need help in the following areas: * FUNDRAISING: This is extremely important right now. Although we have a grant from the Special initiatives Fund, the grant does not cover one important project. We need to raise money to send a delegate to the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) Conference in Paris this July. Our relationship with ILGA is key; ILGA is the largest and most influential gay rights organization in the world. We are seeking individual donations as well as volunteers to coordinate fundraising events. Donations in any amount are welcome; send checks to Paul Tighe, Co-Coordinator, AIMLGC, P.O. Box 1983, New Brunswick, NJ 09803, made payable to Amnesty International Group #349 (please mark your check "AIMLGC" on the memo section). * IDEAS FAIR: In conjunction with the Task Force, AIMLGC will be sponsoring an Ideas Fair exhibit at the AGM in Los Angeles. If you have ideas or would like to help with the exhibit, please write or call! * CLIPPINGS: Keep 'em coming! We still seek all relevant news items -- cases of human rights abuses against people because of their homosexuality. If you're not sure of an item's relevancy, send it in anyway! IN MEMORIAM Michael Weltmann, an activist with the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) for over ten years, passed away this winter. In 1990, Weltmann founded New York's ILGA committee, an increasingly important and vital ILGA body. This committee helped lobby for ILGA's Department of Information status at the United Nations and has taken on many other important projects. Weltmann was a crucial part of ILGA's Amnesty International Project, and was AIUSA's main contact with the organization. Michael Weltmann's work was important to both the international lesbian and gay movement and to Amnesty International, and his absence will be greatly felt. Gladly, there are too many people to thank by name in these pages! Thanks to all of you not mentioned who have helped with outreach, education, and various other projects.