Date: Sun, 10 Mar 1996 07:34:59 -0800 From: Jim Fagelson Subject: PN-2 >> THE PARENT'S NETWORK >> >>Volume 2.1 >> Feb/Mar 1996 >> >>The PARENT'S NETWORK, a bimonthly service of the GAY AND LESBIAN >>PARENTS >>COALITION INTERNATIONAL (GLPCI), highlights information of interest >>to lesbian mothers, gay fathers, their partners, children, future >>parents and persons who are supportive of gay and lesbian parenting. >> >> >>The Gay and Lesbian Parents Coalition International, founded in the >>United States in 1979, is an international coalition of Gay Fathers, >>Lesbian Mothers, and Gay and Lesbian Parenting organizations in nine >>countries, with more than 100 chapters that advocate for the rights >>of gay men and lesbians to have, raise, nurture and love their >>biological or adoptive children. GLPCI is a nonprofit support and >>information organization operating throughout the world through our >>member chapters. Dues range >>from $25 for an individual member, $10 per chapter member with a >>minimum of $50, to $100 for a cooperating organization. >> >>Our quarterly newsletter NETWORK is available by sending a request >>via E-mail to "glpcinat@ix.netcom.com" or by writing GLPCI, P.O. Box >>50360, Washington, D.C. 20091. If you have received this in error, >>my apologies. If you know of people who would be interested in >>receiving the PARENT'S NETWORK, please have them send a subscription >>request to "glpcinat@ix.netcom.com" >> >>This issue of PARENT'S NETWORK is divided into the following >>categories: >> >> News from around the world >> Special Report on Marriage >> News from the United States >> Resources for Lesbian, gay and Bisexual parents >> Interesting Web sites >> >>We appreciate your interest in GLPCI. >> >>Jim Fagelson >>Vice President >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>---------------------------- >>IS THERE A GAY AND LESBIAN PARENTS ORGANIZATION IN YOUR AREA? >> >>Lesbian mothers, gay fathers and bisexual parents are everywhere, and >>we need the support of other parents like ourselves. Our children >>need to know that they are not alone. If you don't have a parents' >>organization in your area, contact GLPCI. If you would like to host >>an organizational meeting in your area, let us know and we will help >>you get started. E-mail us at GLPCInat@ix.netcom.com with your >>postal address and we will send you information on how to start a >>chapter. Let us hear from you. >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>--------------------------- >> >>NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD >> >>AUSTRALIA (Wockner News Service) - On February 2, 1996, a New South >>Wales Supreme Court Judge ruled that a lesbian pay her former lover a >>$113,000 lump sum for support of two children the couple conceived >>via artificial insemination. The women lived together from 1986 to >>1994 and the children were born in 1989 and 1992. "It is >>unconscionable for the defendant now to seek to make no contribution >>whatsoever to the upbringing of these children," ruled the Judge, >>noting that the woman had led her partner to believe they would raise >>the children together. >> >>ITALY (Wockner News Service) - In January, the city of Venice allowed >>a needy gay couple to move into a public-housing flat. "We only >>wanted to solve an emergency case," a city housing spokesman said. >>"They're just a couple for us." The head of the national gay group >>ArciGay-ArciLesbica, Franco Grillini, called the development "a >>historical milestone with symbolic value." >> >>ITALY (Wockner News Service) - The Provincial Council in Pisa, Italy, >>passed a resolution Jan. 22 urging the national parliament to pass a >>gay-partnership law. The council also asked city councils in the >>province to establish partnership registries and urged the people of >>Pisa to support the proposals. >> >>LATVIA (Wockner News Service) - On January 7, 1996, newspapers >>reported that Riga lesbians Astride Indricane and Birgita Bohvinger >>got married in a ceremony that was apparently a Latvian first. >> >>NETHERLANDS (Wockner News Service) - According to the International >>Lesbian and Gay Association, Holland has extended to gay couples full >>equality in the area of state pensions for widowed persons. >> >>NETHERLANDS (De Gay Krant) - The city of Amsterdam will renovate a >>section of the >>Rietvinck senior-citizens home so that a group of elderly Dutch gays >>and lesbians can continue to live with their life-partners. >> >>NETHERLANDS (Wockner News Service) - Dutch lesbians could win the >>right to adopt a lover's biological children (second-parent >>adoptions) if a current legal battle by Test Case Duo-Motherhood is >>successful. The women promise to fight all the way to the European >>Court of Justice if necessary. At present, relatives can remove >>children from a lesbian household if their biological mother dies. >> >>NEW ZEALAND (Wockner News Service) - New Zealand's Horizon Pacific TV >>and Express newspaper will launch a weekly half-hour program of news, >>interviews and entertainment in February that will provide a "more >>correct portrayal" of the gay community than one gets from "news >>footage of protests and parades." It will air on HPTV stations in >>Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch and >>Dunedin. >> >>REPUBLIC OF RUSSIA (Wockner News Service) - On December 19, 1995, the >>first gay >>community center in the former USSR opened in Moscow. A project of >>the gay organization Triangle, The Gay Community Center offers >>cultural programs and art exhibits, runs a gay archive and a hotline, >>and provides social and medical support, said spokesman Roman >>Kalinin. The center also engages in political lobbying and is >>helping start a chapter of Parents Friends and Families of Lesbians >>and Gays. >> >>SINGAPORE (Wockner News Service) - Singapore announced that post- >>operative transsexuals will be permitted to marry people of the >>opposite sex. A government statement said an individual who >>undergoes "a sex-reassignment procedure" will be identified as the >>"same sex to which he/she has been reassigned." In the past 25 years, >> more than 500 people from around Asia have gone to Singapore for >>gender-change surgery. >> >>SOUTH AFRICA (Wockner News Service) - South Africa's first >>interracial gay "marriage" took place on December 30, 1995. Venash >>Mooriken, who is of Indian descent, and Neil Millard, who is white, >>tied the knot before a minister at a Johannesburg nightclub. The >>marriage will not be recognized by the state. Only Denmark, >>Greenland, Hungary (common law only), Norway and Sweden allow gay >>marriage. >> >>SWEDEN (Wockner News Service) - Sweden's top female rock star, Eva >>Dahlgren, who had outed herself the previous day by applying for the >>marriage license, married Efva Attling, January 25, 1996 at a >>fisherman's cabin on Tynningsoe Island off Stockholm. Local >>newspapers devoted several pages to the wedding. "Rumors about >>Dahlgren's homosexuality ... circulated in the Swedish gay and >>lesbian community but up to now she ... avoided all discussions of >>this side of her personal life," said Stockholm activist Bjoern >>Skolander. One in 17 Swedes owns Dahlgren's 1991 album "The Heart of >>a Faded Blonde." She is popular elsewhere in Scandinavia as well, and >>her coming-out jump-started stalled discussions on legalization of >>gay marriage in neighboring Finland. >> >>Sweden is one of three nations where gays can marry under registered- >>partnership laws that grant all the rights of marriage except access >>to church weddings, adoption, artificial insemination and in-vitro >>fertilization. Denmark and Norway have identical laws. >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>------------------------------- >>SPECIAL REPORT ON MARRIAGE >> >>With the beginning of the Presidential Campaign Season and the >>increase in verbal attacks against gays and lesbians by the various >>people seeking political office, same-sex marriages has been raised >>to the level of public debate by those who seek to become President. >>The political rhetoric from the right appears to be capturing the >>focus of the Republican candidates. Marriage is not only an issue to >>be discussed, but the subject was the complete focus of a debate >>during the Iowa primary. The backlash >>and national discussion continues in full force, with good news >>outweighing the bad (so far). Currently, pending anti-marriage >>legislation is working it way through nineteen (19) states: Alabama, >>Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, >>Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, >> Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming. >> >>There have been three (3) states where legislative actions have been >>either defeated, withdrawn, or killed: Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico. >> Two (2) states have adopted anti-marriage legislation (South Dakota >>and Utah). If the legislation is not repealed, it is expected that >>litigation will result. >> >>While the picture does not look "encouraging" on the surface, there >>is more good news than the above recitation would suggest. In the >>only two elections where marriage has directly surfaced as a >>candidate issue, the pro-freedom to marry candidates won (Oregon, >>Hawaii, howver, last week Hawaii initiate a constitutional amendment >>to make marriage between a man and a woman). We are also gaining >>support from our non-gay allies, who are speaking up in some rather >>surprising places. >> >>The printed media across the country has had substantial input in the >>form of op-eds, editorials, and letters to the editor (as well as >>news coverage), much of it very favorable, even in conservative >>states. In a New York Times column by Frank Rich, the following was >>noted: >> >>"anyone who saw the gay-bashing rally that ended the [Iowa] caucus >>campaign .... cannot forget. At the First Federated Church in Des >>Moines, the Christian Coalition and seven other national religious- >>right organizations came together to demonize homosexuals and the >>prospect of `same-sex marriage' as the source of all ills in America, >>urging a national C-Span audience to `send this evil life style back >>to Satan where it came from!' And every GOP presidential candidate >>with the single .... >>exception of Richard Lugar endorsed the event - by either showing up >>on stage or distributing a public letter of support. >> >>"This was not, unfortunately, an isolated incident. Gay bashing was a >>major strain of the GOP campaign in Iowa from the start. Now the Iowa >>paradigm will spread from state to state under the twin banners of >>Pat Buchanan and Ralph Reed..... >> >>"Where will this ugliness lead? For all Dole's [outreach] to the >>religious right's troops, Buchanan remains by far their candidate of >>choice. Nor is there any evidence to suggest that demonizing >>homosexuals helps win national elections. >> >>"But there is more than politics at stake. In a conversation with >>Bill Crews, a lifelong, church-going Republican who is the mayor of >>Melbourne, Iowa - and openly gay - he related how he and other gay >>Iowans have been the victims of vandals and beatings in the aftermath >>of past local rabble-rousing. >> >>"The candidates have lost local support because of their anti-gay >>stance, but what do they care? They have taken their act on the road >>now, oblivious to the hatred they helped stir up in Iowa and >>callously indifferent to how it rains down on the lives they've left >>behind." >> >>And Richard Cohen, writing in the Washington Post had the following >>view of the events in Iowa: >> >>"Herbert Stein, the economic adviser to Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, >> recently noted that the modern Republican Party has been built on >>two planks: Opposition to taxes and anti-communism. The latter has >>been replaced by something else: Gay bashing. >> >>"Saturday night in Iowa most of the Republican presidential >>candidates took a pledge that they would deny legal acceptability to >>same-sex marriages. This solemn oath-taking was held before some 3, >>000 people at a Des Moines church and was personally attended by >>three of the candidates--Phil Gramm, Pat Buchanan and Alan Keyes. >>Three others sent letters of support. They were Bob Dole, Lamar >>Alexander and Steve Forbes. Richard Lugar was not heard from. >> >>"To a man they know that same-sex marriages are hardly a major >>problem in Iowa or, for that matter, most neighborhoods. But to a man >>they also know that the Iowa Christian Coalition and some other >>reactionary organizations are besotted by homophobia and so rather >>than fight this form of bigotry, they pander to it. >> >>"They are too smart not to know what they are doing. Their choices >>have real consequences. To say the least, they do nothing to combat >>the discrimination and violence directed against gays and lesbians-- >>hate crimes that are no less hateful than those directed against >>blacks, Jews or whomever. >> >>"By their actions, the Republican candidates also help perpetuate the >>myth that homosexuality is a perversion and that it is practiced, it >>would seem, just for the hell of it. Anyone who has ever known >>someone who has struggled with homosexuality--who has lived a life in >>the closet--knows that this is not a matter of casual choice. >> >>"Where is the Republican who will look certain conservative >>Christians in the eye and call them the bigots they are? Where are >>the Christian clergyman, like those of the civil rights era, who will >>condemn ignorance and bigotry, and exalt tolerance and understanding? >>Who in the GOP field will assert that homophobia is not a family >>value? The answer, it appears, is no one." >> >>And from the Des Moines Register, the largest newspaper in Iowa: >> >>"The centerpiece of Bill Horn's February 10 rally to launch his >>`National Campaign to Protect the Sanctity of Marriage' was his >>marriage protection resolution. But the rally and resolution had >>nothing to do with protecting marriage. They had to do with limiting >>marriage. >> >>"The resolution describes marriage as a `special sanction' that is >>`reserved' for heterosexual couples. The anti-gay movement has said >>a lot about `special rights.' They discount gay people's claims for >>equal access to justice (the right to legal recourse when >>discriminated against) as a `special right' and, therefore, not valid. >> By their own language, marriage is now a `special right' that not >>only is valid, but is `reserved' for just some people. >> >>"The rally was full of irony. Perhaps the most obvious was to watch >>Phil Gramm and Alan Keyes support the notion of restricting marriage >>while their partners in biracial marriages looked on approvingly. >>Less than 30 years ago, in much of the United States, neither of >>these men would have been free to legally marry the person of their >>choice. When the Supreme Court struck down miscegenation laws in 1967, >> the court ruled that the main purpose of those laws was to preserve >>white supremacy. >> >>"Although 70 percent of Americans believe gay people should not be >>discriminated against, only 33 percent agree with the idea of same- >>gender marriages. The main reason for this lack of support is that >>Americans haven't seriously debated the question. Antigay activists >>are trying to capitalize on this public naivete by attempting to pass >>laws in all 50 states that would pre-empt any such debate. Such a >>law would raise serious constitutional issues that would have to be >>dealt with eventually. In Iowa, the bill has been moving through the >>house with record speed. No public hearings, no testimony. >> >>"Extending the responsibilities and benefits of civil marriage to >>same-gendered couples is an idea that deserves serious and thoughtful >>consideration, not something that should be thoughtlessly aborted. >> >>Finally, past-president Jimmy Carter has ventured into the debate >>with his own article: "It's Fundamentally Christian To Reject >>Politics Of Hate." >> >>"It is admirable for Americans to promote our personal beliefs >>through either religious or political processes. But when we attempt >>to use our government to force others to worship as we do or treat >>those who differ as secondary citizens, then we violate the basic >>tenets of a democracy. >> >>"As a conservative Baptist, I am deeply concerned about divisive >>arguments that have driven wedges between people. We Christians can >>buttress our arguments on almost any subject with Bible scriptures >>and then claim that our conclusions should be applied universally. >>These attitudes can lead to condemnation or even persecution of those >>who are different. >> >>"Since almost all Protestants now condone divorce as an acceptable >>way of life and rarely mention fornication or adultery, it is much >>easier and more convenient for heterosexual Christians to focus on >>Homosexuality, refusing to acknowledge that this is a sin never >>mentioned by Jesus. From the New Testament, it is clear that leaders >>of the early church treated homosexual acts the same as fornication, >>adultery and many transgressions. >> >>"The apostle Paul makes it plain that homosexual tendencies, along >>with many other temptations, should be resisted: "Be not deceived; >>neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, >>nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, >>nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the >>kingdom of God." (I Corinthians 6:9). >> >>"The driving issues in the early Republican primary contests have >>been made a strange and disturbing shift from economic and budget >>items to divisive social issues, notably abortion and homosexuality. >>In the early caucus contests, pressures from the more extreme >>religious activists have pushed almost every candidate to demagoguery, >> emphasizing vicious attacks on gay men and women ostensibly based on >>the teachings of Jesus Christ. An even more disquieting claim is that >>AIDS is God's punishment on someone who has sinned and that the >>sufferers should be treated accordingly. Jesus had similar encounters >>with lepers, who were also looked upon as condemned by God and >>capable of contaminating their neighbors. Christ set an example for >>us by reaching out to them, loving and healing them. >> >>"Other Christians and the general public must not condone, even by >>silence, these obnoxious attitudes, increasingly promoted among a few >>demagogic religious and political leaders. In addition to the direct >>punishment of many American citizens, undisputed acceptance of a >>premise that originates within the religious community tends to >>authenticate it among those who have their own personal prejudices. >> >>"We must make it clear that a platform of `I hate gay men and women' >>is not a way to become president of the United States. >> >>Stay tuned, the political season is just beginning. >> >>If you want to go on record supporting the Freedom to Marry, sign the >>following resolution and send it to Lambda Legal Defense and >>Education Fund at the address below: >> >>Because marriage is a basic human right and an individual personal >>choice, RESOLVED, the State should not interfere with same-gender >>couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, >> responsibilities and commitment of civil marriage. >> >>Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund >>666 Broadway, 12th Floor >>New York, NY 10012 >>212-995-8585 (voice) >>212-995-2306 (fax) >>ewlldef@aol.com >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>-------------------------------- >>NEWS FROM THE UNITED STATES >> >>CALIFORNIA (Reuter) - An appeals court has reversed a controversial >>ruling that gave custody of a young girl to an unrelated gay man >>while depriving the mother of visitation rights. In a ruling issued >>in February, California State Appeals Court Judge James Brandlin said >>a lower court was wrong to give Douglas Thomas, who changed his name >>from McCain to match that of the girl and her mother, the status of >>"natural father". Such a step, Brandlin said in his ruling, could >>expose others to litigation brought by longstanding childcare >>providers such as relatives, stepparents and family friends. >>Brandlin sent the case back to a family court to resolve the question >>of custody and visitation rights. >> >>FLORIDA (AP) - Circuit Judge Joseph Tarbuck of Pensacola, Florida >>determined that an >>11-year-old girl would be better off in the custody of her father, a >>convicted murderer who served time for murdering his first wife in >>1974, than her mother, a lesbian in a committed relationship. The >>mother, Mary Ward, 46, has asked the 1st District Court of Appeal to >>reverse Tarbuck's ruling. Her husband, John Ward, 44, has not yet >>filed a response. >> >>Lawyers for the mother say the case marks Florida's first chance for >>a ruling on whether sexual orientation can be a deciding factor in >>child custody cases. Charlene Carres, the mother's attorney, said >>that "We feel sexual orientation is not relevant to someone's ability >>to raise children well." Supreme courts in eight other states have >>said a homosexual parent should not automatically be denied custody. >>Five others have ruled the opposite. The U.S. Supreme Court has never >>dealt with the question. >> >>VIRGINIA (AP) - Judge William Boice, a Richmond, Virginia, judge >>stood by his earlier ruling that a Sharon Bottoms' lesbian lifestyle >>makes her an unfit parent, leaving Tyler Doustou, her 4-year-old son, >>in the custody of his grandmother. He also criticized Sharon Bottoms >>and her partner for their involvement in an network television movie >>about the custody battle. Boice is the judge who first removed Tyler >>from his mother's home and gave custody to Kay Bottoms, the >>grandmother. The case was appealed to the state's highest court, >>which in April 1995 affirmed the change of custody. The newest round >>was based on a "change in circumstances" whereby Sharon Bottoms hoped >>to prove that her home is now the better place for Tyler. Sharon >>Bottoms had argued that her son was developing poorly under the >>custody of her mother, Kay Bottoms, and that she could give the boy >>just as secure and loving a home. >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>------------------------------- >>RESOURCES FOR THE LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL PARENTS >> >>VIDEO: A video is available to teach elementary school children about >>homophobia and how anti-gay remarks hurt the other children in their >>school. "Both of My Moms' Names Are Judy" is a 10-minute video >>produced by the Lesbian and Gay Parents Association of San Francisco >>and GLPCI as part of an in-service training program for elementary >>school educators and administrators. It presents a diverse group of >>children (ages 7-11) who have lesbian and gay parents. In candid >>interviews, they talk about who is in their family, how it feels to >>be teased about their parents, how classroom silence about >>homosexuality affects them, and what they would like to see changed. >> >>The video and a complete set of training materials can be ordered >>from the GLPCI Video, P.O. Box 43206, Montclair, NJ 070431, 201-783- >>6204 (voice or fax). The cost of the video and training manual is >>$25.00 for an individual and $50.00 for an institution. >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>------------------------ >>INTERESTING WEB SITES >> >>GAY AND LESBIAN PARENTS COALITION INTERNATIONAL: The web site offers >>numerous resources including: statistics on gay and lesbian parents, >>a bibliography of resources, extensive information on the >>organization, information on Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere >>(COLAGE) and links too over a dozen international gay and lesbian web >>sites around the world. The GLPCI Home Page can be found at the >>following address: >> >> http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/orgs/glpci/home.htm >> >>GLPCI can be contacted at: GLPCI, P.O. Box 50360, Washington, D.C., >>20091 >>(201) 783-6204 E-mail: glpcinat@ix.netcom.com >> >>England's QRD is called "The LGB Guide to Great Britain." It is at >>http://phymat.bham.ac.uk/LGB/index.html >> >>Here are three gay Web sites that offer thematically organized links >>to hundreds of other gay sites: >> >>"The Ultimate Gay Links" at >>http://www.xs4all.nl/~heinv/heindoc/gayhttp1.html >> >>"WebCastro Hotlinks" at >>http://www.Webcastro.com/hotlinks.htm >> >>"The CyberQueer Lounge" at >>http://www.cyberzine.org/html/GLAIDS/glaidshomepage.html >> >>And a new mailing list is being formed for the male partners of >>bisexual women. To subscribe E-mail your request to bfmp-list- >>request@theseus.ultranet.com >> >> >> >> >