Date: Sat, 27 Jan 1996 15:07:44 +1100 (EST) From: leto@werple.net.au (Brendon Wickham) Subject: (Australia) Brother Sister News - 25/1/96 BROTHER SISTER - QUEER NEWS FROM DOWNUNDER Issue # 98 - 25/1/96 NB : It's just been announced that the Tasmanian government has INCREASED the sentence for individuals who engage in private and consensual homosexual acts from 20 to 25 years . Hopefully I'll have a fuller report in the next issue. BW Including: 1. Rights Bill in review 2. Lobby groups to mobilise pink vote 3. Rights centre has uncertain future 4. Moles to patrol Red Raw dance party 5. Gay lib leaves airwaves This and previous postings are archived for the QRD. Point your URL to http://werple.net.au/~leto/news/index - or go through the Pacific Region of the QRD at http://www.qrd.org/qrd/world/pacific/ =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ RIGHTS BILL ON REVIEW *The Kennett Government's controversial legislation introduced last year to protect against sexual orientation discrimination is being monitored by Victoria's Equal Opportunity Commission.* A spokesperson for the Commission, Debbie Kiper, told Brother Sister that a reference group and a research project would be established to guage the success of the new legislation. She acknowledged there were fears in the gay and lesbian community over how the term "lawful sexual activity" would be interpreted by the commission and how the 'schools exemption' would be enforced. "I wouldn't say that we were shocked by the controversy," says Kiper, "a lot of it was very important in the lead up to the introduction of the legislation. Now we have to do the best we can with what we've got." The main reason for the reference group, according to the Commission's outlines, is to create an avenue for an exchange of information between the Commission and the gay and lesbian community. One of the aims in setting the group up is to establish projects within the community that deal with specific areas of discrimination such as superannuation. Kiper is also hopeful that work with the group could lead to anti-violence and gay education initiatives similar to those in NSW schools. The Commission has invited representatives from various community groups to join the Gay and Lesbian Reference Group, which will meet every three months with the chief executive in attendance. "We need to know what kinds of complaints we are not getting," Kiper said. "There is no use bringing in the legislation if it isn't going to be used." The Commission hopes the group will be able to help it disseminate information into the community and allay the fears still surrounding the new legislation. "For example," Kiper said, "for the school exemption to be enacted it has to be shown there is necessity (for the removal of a teacher) and a rational basis for the complaint. It is the Commission that decides what's rational and we are strict about the definition of these terms." While Kiper sees the reference group as important for supplying anecdotal evidence for the Commission it is hoping the research project, to be started in the next few months with tenders currently being considered, will supply more substantial facts. "We need to be in a strong position if we are to approach the Attorney and say what's working and what's not working," she said. The first meeting of the reference group is planned for March 13. Andrew Mast LOBBY GROUPS TO MOBILISE PINK VOTE *Gay and lesbian groups will soon unveil a series of pre- election strategies intended to mobilise the pink vote in key electorates across Australia.* The move comes amid fears that gay and lesbian issues will be overlooked in an election likely to be dominated by the economy and industrial relations, and acknowledges the possibility of the Liberals winning office this time around. AIDS organisations are also gearing up for the Federal election, knowing that whoever wins will play a crucial role in AIDS funding for the next five years. Seats in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne will be targeted, as will the Blue Mountains and the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. All of these electorates have significant gay and lesbian populations; some can be won or lost on a relatively small margin. The Australian Council for Lesbian and Gay Rights (ACLGR) met in Melbourne last weekend to discuss its pre- election strategy. Federal anti-discrimination legislation and recognition of same sex relationships are among the key issues for gay and lesbian rights groups, while AIDS organisations are focusing on securing bi-partisan support for a Third National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The Third Strategy provides a blueprint for the national response to AIDS until the year 2000. The ACLGR is preparing questionnaires to send out to candidates. These are intended to gather information about each politician's stand on relevant issues, and the results will be passed on to gay and lesbian voters. "We'll rank the candidates according to their commitment to and understanding of gay and lesbian issues," said ACLGR co-convenor Brian Grieg: "The survey is a way of finding out where candidates stand, but it will also notify politicians that our issues aren't going to go away; that they are issues that need to be addressed." None of the community groups have yet endorsed individual candidates or a political party. For government-funded organisations such as AFAO, specific endorsement of candidates could be seen as a misuse of government funds, and could backfire if an endorsed candidate wasn't elected. The ACLGR is also wary of endorsing candidates for fear of being seen as "party political". The possibility was discussed by rejected by ACLGR delegates last weekend. But as gay and lesbian lobby groups finalise details of their pre-election strategy, at least one political analyst, Antony Green, doubts whether the pink vote will have any impact in an election. Green thinks only a small number of gays and lesbians will change their vote on the strength of a gay and lesbian issue, and believes other high profile issues such as the economy will take precedence. "I don't think it will be an election where gay and lesbian voters can influence the outcome, and there's no gay or lesbian issue which will get up on the basis of its electoral support. The importance of gay and lesbian issues in previous years is their use in proving the liberal credentials of politicians, as shown by the Tasmanian law reform issue. "However, legislation can be introduced or changed by lobbying governments and proving the moral justness of a case. Change can't be won on the basis of gay and lesbian voting power, because there isn't any," Green said. Green predicts the election will be lost by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) because of its vulnerability in Queensland and other marginal seats. His advice to gay, lesbian and AIDS groups?: "Start talking to a few Liberals." AFAO, which represents the State and Territory AIDS councils has begun to do exactly that. "We've had a couple of meetings with a range of Liberals including shadow Health Minister Michael Wooldridge and shadow Attorney-General Amanda Vanstone, and the message we are hearing is the standard line about bi-partisan support, but it is critically important that we get an indication from the Coalition that it is committed to the Third National Strategy with dedicated funding attached." said AFAO acting president Mike Kennedy. AFAO has also written to Liberal leader John Howard seeking an urgent meeting with him to discuss HIV/AIDS funding. Dominic O'Grady, SSO RIGHTS CENTRE HAS UNCERTAIN FUTURE *The Victorian Council for Civil Liberties (VCCL) whose excecutive director Joseph O'Reilly is also president of the Victorian AIDS Council is being tipped to run a national human rights organisation which will investigate discrimination against gay men and lesbians.* VCCL has joined with the international commission of jurists in its bid to run the human rights and discrimination law centre, first announced last May by Federal Justice Minister Duncan Kerr. Referees for the VCCL bid are the recently appointed high court judge Justice Michael Kirby and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Gareth Evans. The University of NSW has put in a rival bid to set the centre up in Sydney. A spokesperson for the Federal Justice Minister said a decision on who runs the centre will be made shortly. Insiders predict this may be as soon as next month with the Federal Government using the announcement as a pre- election sweetener. One of the centres first tasks will be to investigate property and finance related discrimination against gays and lesbians. Fifty thousand dollars is earmarked for this project, but gay and lesbian lobby groups say the money is inadequate and the inquiries findings will have little status. Federal Government delays have jeopardised the future of a national human rights organisation which was to investigate discrimination against gay men and lesbians. But the delays may prove to be a blessing in disguise because the discrimination inquiry, to be conducted by the yet to be established Human Rights and Discrimination Law Centre, is seen by community groups as an inadequate response to lesbian and gay issues. The Federal Minister for Justice, Duncan Kerr, last May announced the Centre as part of the Government's "Justice Statement". The Centre was scheduled to open its doors before the end of last year, and operate as a community organisation with up to $70,000 to pay for an inquiry into property and finance- related discrimination against gays and lesbians. Submissions relating to the Centre's establishment are now with the Attorney-General, and a decision will be announced shortly. The Victorian Council for Civil Liberties and the University of NSW are understood to be among those keen to run the Centre, but a spokesperson for the Attorney- General declined to provide further details or state whether a decision will be made before the Federal election. It is not clear at this stage whether a Coalition Government, if elected, would fund the Centre or go ahead with a gay and lesbian- related inquiry. It seems unlikely given previous Coalition statements indicating a desire to reduce funding for human rights organisations. Shadow Attorney-General Amanda Vanston was unavailable for comment. A spokesperson for the Justice Minister said this week submissions for the Centre are "under active consideration and a decision will be made shortly." Further details were not forthcoming. The Centre's potential benefit for gay and lesbian communities has been questioned by the Australian Council for Lesbian and Gay Rights (ACLGR). Their concern is the relatively small amount of funding set aside for the discrimination inquiry, and the perceived status of its findings. Still in the pipeline is a Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission inquiry into gay and lesbian-related discrimination. Human Rights Commissioner Chris Sidoti said he wants to get that inquiry happening by the middle of this year, with a report due by the end of 1996. Dominic O'Grady, SSO MOLES TO PATROL PARTY *The ALSO Foundation has established a "mole-patrol" to monitor trouble spots at the Red Raw Dance Party this weekend. Details of the patrol's plans are being kept under wraps, however the organisations Chair David Wall said the aim was to retain the gay and lesbian identity of the dance parties.* Wall told Brother Sister that "ALSO welcomes supporters and friends of the gay and lesbian community who know how to party without affecting the unique gay and lesbian flavour of our events." Under the new arrangements, Wall said that "whether straight, gay, obnoxious, drunk or whatever, people will have to show good cause why they should not be removed for compromising the tolerant and safe nature of our parties." He confirmed that one such patron had been removed on New Year's Eve. Wall advised people to act on their concerns immediately by approaching an official security guard or ALSO Board Member. "It is no use hearing of complaints three days after the event. To ensure the event is safe and dominated by a gay and lesbian cultural ambience, we need to know about these things on the night." Wall added that Board members could be reached at the gate and ticket box all night. "The clear principle to be used at Red Raw and for other parties is that if gays and lesbians are being verbally or physically harrassed, perpetrators will be asked to leave," he said. GAY LIB LEAVES AIRWAVES *It is the end of an era for Melbourne's gay and lesbian community radio with the demise of 3CR's long-running L&G Show.* 3CR first broadcast a gay liberation show when the station went to air 19 years ago, with the L&G Show carrying that torch for general gay and lesbian affairs for the past 13 years. The program's end, caused by a recent timeslot shuffle that the presenters felt left the show with an inappropriately late airing time, leaves 3CR with only a gay youth affairs program, In Ya Face, and the lesbian show, Dikes On Mikes, amongst its eclectic programming. The final edition of the show, co-presented by Sheril Berkovitch and Colin Jones, went to air on January 17. Berkovitch told Brother Sister that she had enjoyed her years with the L&G Show but "all things must come to an end". Berkovitch and Jones will now concentrate on producing a gay and lesbian internet magazine called Queernews. Andrew Mast =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ BOTTOM LINE Coca-Cola got burned last month when it came up against Kiwi cheekiness on a grand scale. Seems the Auckland artist who was commissioned to design a poster for the ubiquitous lolly-water company thought it would be a hoot to include a difficult-to-see depiction of an erect penis next to an open mouth (the gender of which remains unknown). Apparently the picture wasn't immediately obvious and it actually passed approval for distribution. Only after a couple of bemused callers who had spotted the image advised the Cola giant of the in delicto flagrante were the posters pulled out of dairies (Kiwi for milkbars). Imagine the quality control checks the company will have to face now : "And, most importantly, wipe out all pictures of a dick being sucked." Needless to say, the offending artist is no longer in Coca- cola's employ. Brendon Wickham =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Brother Sister is a fortnightly newspaper published in Melbourne, VIC and Brisbane, QLD, Australia. I have selected the main news stories as well as items of interest. Overseas media who utilise any or all of the above material please credit Brother Sister as your source (and by-line if it is listed). Thank you. Brendon Wickham