Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 21:53:23 +1000 From: leto@rabbit.com.au (Brendon Wickham) Subject: (Australia) Brother Sister News - 13/6/96 BROTHER SISTER - QUEER NEWS FROM DOWNUNDER Issue # 108 13/6/96 Including: 1. Church group pushes for recognition 2. Victory for SA couples 3. Violent threats in QLD 4. Gay poll dumped 5. Sexuality bill inquiry launched 6. Fairfield TVs not on at Alfred Hospital 7. Council joins pride march bid This and previous postings are archived for the QRD. Point your URL to http://werple.net.au/~leto/news - or go through the Pacific Region of the QRD at http://www.qrd.org/qrd/world/pacific/ =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ CHURCH GROUP PUSHES FOR RECOGNITION *Gay and lesbian members of the Uniting Church met in the Wesley parish to make their presence felt more strongly within the religious community.* The conference titled Daring To Live...Daring To Move On...! finished with the issuing of a statement that called on the Church to recognise gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people to be accepted as "made in the image of God". The weekend conference followed up a similar event in 1994 when over one hundred gays and lesbians gathered in Adelaide to discuss their position within the church. Reverend Coralie Ling, minister at the Uniting Church in Fitzroy told Brother Sister that her parish has openly accepted the gay community for nearly sixteen years. She claims that the weekend's conference, which attracted about 120 people, was about gays and lesbians taking a stand within the church. Ling: "The 1994 conference was to let the church know that lesbians, gays and bisexuals were in their midst. "This time it was about seeking total acceptance and moving on to action." Ling and other supporters of a recent Uniting Church paper that recommends the ordaining of openly gay ministers and recognising same-sex unions are still finding resistance from conservative members of the Church. Ling has received abusive phone calls from opponents of the paper and has heard that other Christian groups have been outraged by the moves. "There are some parts of our church," explains Ling, "that still view homosexuality as a sin." She is concerned that issue may prove divisive amongst Uniting Church members but adds, "If these subjects of sexuality remain hidden that may prove to be even more divisive for the Church." The conference did not result in a formal comment on the recent Church paper but Ling claims "it was welcomed as a further step in recognition (of sexuality issues)". The conference also recommended that individuals make submissions to the Church members that will be investigating the paper in view of formulating Church policy for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. At the conference gay Church members said that they felt disowned and were forced to lead lives of lies. They called upon the Church to "live in the fullness of the Gospel" and to be "open to a new truth in Scripture". The conference also heard that members felt that "our church has been impoverished because it has not always welcomed our gifts". The statement issued at the end of the conference concluded with the defiant words, "We will not go away". Andrew Mast VICTORY FOR SA COUPLES *South Australian gay couples have come closer to equality and legal recognition of their defacto status through the passing of a Bill amendment in their State's Legislative Council.* The amendment, which was passed 11 votes to 10, (Liberal opposing) now has to be passed by the Lower House before South Australian gay couples can claim to be the first in Australia to settle property disputes before the Family Court. This would give the same recognition of gay and lesbian relationships normally only granted to heterosexual couples. In November 1995, the Attorney General Mr Trevor Griffin introduced the Defacto Relationships Bill which sought to provide a means for defacto couples to settle property disputes in the Family Court rather than civil courts. In favour of the amendment, Labor Leader in the Upper House, Carolyn Pickles questioned why gay couples should be excluded from the Bill when homosexuality was no longer illegal. She asked why gay property would be split in a different manner "than if they had been lawfully wedded, even though it may be a long-standing relationship which began with as much love and commitment as any lawfully wedded couple...?" Attorney General and Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Trevor Griffin, representing the Liberal Government's opposition to the amendment, pointed to the difference between two brothers and two sisters living together and defacto relationships and stated that there is no provision in the Bill for sibling relationship disputes. He said that in such cases "they are dealt with under ordinary law...that is the way with which I would suggest homosexual couples should also be dealt. I think it would be foreign to the way of thinking of many people that the law should recognise homosexual marriages." Solicitor Bob Lempens said that if the new provisions were passed it "...would result in lesbian and gay couples being treated the same as heterosexual couples." He said, "Instead of lengthy and costly legal battles in the local and district courts, property disputes would be resolved quickly and cheaply within a defined set of principles." He further urged all lesbians, gays and friends to lobby State Liberal representatives to ensure the passing of the legislation in the House of Assembly. Rick Ransome Adelaide GT VIOLENT THREATS IN QLD *Queensland's Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Anti Violence Council has issues a warning of a possible rise in homophobic harassment and violence. The council has received a pamphlet from the Gay Bashers Union whose aim is the "extermination of all fags".* The pamphlet claims to represent "the common folk" in recommending "killing prominent fags in society and destroying a large number at once". Their philosophy reads "a straight life is a normal life, if you don't comply you die." Justin Johnson, the council's coordinator, expressed concern that the union could bee intent on filling out its mission during the State's gay pride month. "We're asking lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgenders to make a stand against this type of vilification. Visibility in our Pride Month is now especially important to show that we won't put up with this. By the same token, we're asking LGBT community members to take extra care." Johnson has stressed to the community the importance of the council being informed of any harrassment, violence or knowledge about the union. "We can't afford to take this as a prank, not if they're advocating destruction of our civil rights, anti- discrimination legislation, and killing us," he said. Chargn Keenan GAY POLL DUMPED *Tasmanian gay activists have welcomed a decision by the Tasmanian Upper House to reject a proposed referendum on gay law reform.* Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that most homosexual people and their families will be relieved by the Upper House decision. "Gays, lesbians, their families and friends will be breathing a sigh of relief today because they will no longer have to fear the possibility they will become the targets of the kind of hate campaigns a referendum would generate," Croome said. According to Croome, the decision is a victory for the human rights movement in Australia. "A referendum on gay law reform would have set a dangerous precedent for deciding fundamental human rights issues by popular vote. The idea of a referendum may sound democratic, but unless we can guarantee basic human rights, our democracy is actually very shaky." Croome went on to say that the referendum decision has still not clarified which way the Upper House will vote on gay law reform. Croome: "It is still uncertain whether the Upper House will support gay law reform, but at least it has decided to take responsibility for the issue." The Upper House referendum vote was close with 10 MLCs voting against the proposal and 8 voting in favour. Key MLCs Ross Ginn and Stephen Wilson were persuaded to vote against a referendum by advice from the Solicitor-General, Bill Bale, that the State's anti-gay laws are already overridden by the Federal sexual privacy law. Croome disputed Bale's opinion, saying that most constitutional lawyers agree that a Court case is necessary before the Federal privacy law supercedes the State anti- gay laws." He claims, "Mr Bale has failed to recognise that the State law is only invalid once a Court has found that it is an arbitrary interference with privacy within the terms of the Federal Act. But regardless of the reasons for the vote, we are pleased the Upper House has accepted that it is the role of Parliament to resolve this issue." SEXUALITY BILL INQUIRY LAUNCHED * The Senate has voted in favour of establishing an inquiry into the discrimination and vilification on the grounds of a person's sexuality or transgender identity by a Legal and Constitutional References Committee.* As was predicted in Brother Sister last issue the Senate supported Democrat senator Sid Spindler's moves to have anti-discrimination bill made subject of an inquiry. His motion for an inquiry was carried, gaining support from the Coalition, the ALP and the Greens. West Australian ALP senator Jim McKiernan will chair the inquiry committee that will also include Victoria's Barney Cooney, Queensland's William O'Chee and Spindler. The Australian Council for Lesbian and Gay Rights, who officially opposed the section of Spindler's bill that referred to the recognition of same-sex couples, have welcomed the inquiry. The Council Co-convenor, Robyn Walsh greets it as a forum for debate and urges people have input into the inquiry. Walsh: "It is imperative that a diverse range of people and organisations submit to the inquiry." Brian Grieg, Male Council Co-convenor adds, "The process will be well resourced and we believe that participation in the inquiry will be very accessible to individuals and organisations." The closing date for inquiry submissions is July 19. The Committee will report its findings at the first sitting of the Senate in March 1997. FAIRFIELD TVS NOT ON AT ALFRED *Television sets donated to the HIV/AIDS unit at Fairfield are not able to be used by patients that have been relocated to the Alfred Hospital. Another concern for patients, families and carers is that the hospital doesn't provide an area for smoking as existed at Fairfield.* Despite these hitches a spokesperson for the Alfred claims that the relocation of Fairfield's HIV/AIDS services to its grounds has been a smooth transition. Anthony Kennedy, the Alfred's HIV Services Co- ordinator, also told Brother Sister that both these issues were already being addressed by the hospital. Kennedy: "All the furniture donated to the Fairfield has come to the Alfred. Only the TVs have been put in storage due to a deal a TV company has with the hospital for hiring from them." Kennedy believes that the TVs will be available for use in the future and says that the hospital is currently in negotiations with the TV company. He explains, "At the moment the patients do have to pay for TVs but we are negotiating with the TV company for a fairer deal. We are hoping that they will be able to provide TVs for less money." About the televisions in storage he adds, "Twenty TVs have come from the Fairfield and they will be put in use once the Continuing Care Unit is ready for use." Kennedy also says that the Alfred is spending $20,000 building an area that will enable people to smoke at the hospital. "We will be constructing a gazebo in a warm, secluded, garden environment on the ground floor," explains Kennedy. Other than these concerns though, Kennedy claims that the relocation has taken place "without any major hiccups". He says, "Patients have been pleasantly surprised to see how many familiar faces there are amongst the staff at the Alfred." Over fifty staff have been transferred to the Alfred as part of the relocation plans. Kennedy says that the next big step will be for the opening of the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre once nursing staff have been recruited. Also to be located to the Alfred in the near future are the HIV/AIDS Palliative Consultive Program, Positive Women, the Quilt Project and the Hepatitis C Foundation. Construction is due to start on the smoking pavilion within three weeks while the Continuing Care Unit is currently in the architectural planning stages. Andrew Mast COUNCIL JOINS PRIDE MARCH BID *Tuesday June 11 1996 the City of Stonnington councillors voted to support Commercial Road Traders' bid to the Pride March Committee.* Commercial Road Traders are now getting together to formalise their bid to have the 1997 Pride March in Commercial Road. "This is a major shot in the arm for support from the City of Stonnington," commented Richard Martin, Chairperson of the Commercial Road Traders Group. "We believe Commercial Road is the best place for a Gay and Lesbian Pride March," Martin said. "We are now putting our bid together to explain our reasons why the Pride March should be in our street." Martin went on to say, "We have a few aces up our sleeve to convince the committee. It is great that the councillors are now showing publicly support for the gay and lesbian community. We are grateful to Cr. Roz Wilson who has supported the street since elected back in March." For further information, please contact Richard Martin on 9525 3111. =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ BOTTOM LINE SMARTARSE Don't forget your sunnies Last Saturday night at Winterdaze I had an epiphany on the dancefloor. I am gorgeous, I realised as I looked around in a dancing-induced euphoria. Everyone is gorgeous, the whole damned world is fantastic and we were born to dance. The epiphany threatened to become an embolism when I caught sight of myself, looking chemically-challenged, in a mirror in the toilet. But back on the dancefloor I was blessed with more celestial self-realisation. I have gone beyond the need to appear sexually attractive to other men, I thought. All I need to do is wriggle my bottom, grind my hips in time to the music, and keep an eye on that gorgeous boy over there with the letter "A" on his singlet. Nothing matters except the next song and my continued dancing. "I'll never stop dancing!" I cried as I threw my warms wide and executed what I thought was an incredibly funky sort of homeboy pirouette. Heavens dance parties do strange things to a boy. But even before you arrive there are philosophical and logistic dilemmas to overcome. Problem number 1: What to wear? Invariably it is 7 degrees on the night of Winterdaze. Do you wear a coat, or brave the elements? The queue for the coat room will stretch miles and it may be hours before you are able to divest yourself of that frumpy duffle coat to reveal your party finery. Then again if you don't carry a coat your chilblains may well swell as you march from carpark to ticket booth. Problem number 2: When do you start drinking your first bottle of champagne and/or Stoli, pop your first diet pill (WILD things), or take your first illegal (and expensive!) chemical enhancement for the evening? Timing is everything. Begin too early and you'll peak in the taxi on the way to the docks. Worse, you'll be coming down or developing a hangover by 2.00 am which will land you in bed by 3.00 while the rest of the world pulsates erotically into a spectacular dawn. Trying to meet friends at the party can be well nigh impossible. For some reason the first 20 people you see on arrival (whether you know them or not) will keep popping up throughout the night. But the people you really want to see might as well be on another planet- they are impossible to find. Then there's the bodies. On Saturday night I saw acres of pectorals, handfuls of well-waxed naked buttocks, kilometres of thigh muscles and at least two perky sets of breasts covered in glitter. Where do people GET these bodies from? Of course the wash up from a warehouse party will sustain you right through to the next one. I had the wildest time ever at this party, but lots of people I spoke to had either a mediocre time, or a major gripe about the music. It's always the same, almost like every single person was at a different party. My aim at the next warehouse party is to be one of the blessed few who remember to take sunglasses: it's a short walk to the taxi rank at the end, but in broad daylight, after a night of excess, sunnies make all the difference in the glamour stakes. Jeffrey Smart =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 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