Date: Sat, 1 Jul 1995 18:13:10 +1000 Subject: Brother Sister News - 1/7/95 BROTHER SISTER - QUEER NEWS FROM DOWNUNDER this and previous posts are archived through the QRD at http://werple.mira.net.au/~leto/news/index.html ======================================================== MARRIAGE NOT ON: KEATING *Prime Minister Paul Keating has refused to endorse calls by the Governor-General, Bill Hayden for lesbian and gay adoption rights, the recognition of homosexual relationships and legalisation of active euthanasia.* A spokesperson for the Prime Minister, Tony Melville, said the Prime Minister had no plans to act further on the Governor-General's remarks, and "would not be drawn into" commenting on the range of responses from community organisations. Keating said in Federal Parliament last Thursday: "I have my own personal views; social views on these things, but these are not a matter of government policy. We don't make laws governing these things." Last week on the Gold Coast, Hayden told members of the Royal Australian College of Physicians objections towards legal and formal gay 'marriage' and adoptive rights were unsustainable because society no longer condones discrimination. "When society took the decision to no longer regard the practice of homosexuality as a threat to established, monogamous marriage, - regarded as the cornerstone of society for so long - certain inevitable consequences followed. "Certain rights flowed to homosexuals in the wake of that decision and unanticipated changed to community standards followed," Hayden said. Hayden rejected discrimination in adoption on the commonly raised misnomer that gay parents constitute a threat to the child. "I think the point to remember is that because someone, male or female, is homosexual, it does not mean that person is any more a pederast than a heterosexual is,' Hayden said. Hayden's comments were welcomed by the gay and lesbian community and Australian Democrats' senator, Sid Spindler, who is drafting a private senator's bill which seeks to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and provide legal recognition of same-sex partnerships. ACLGR spokesperson, Mr Brian Greig said the comments by the Governor-General illustrate growing community concern about the continuing discrimination against lesbians and gay men which has not been addressed by the government. He said national ACLGR delegates last week discussed discrimination issues with senators and members at Canberra's Parliament House. "It is still legal in Tasmania and Western Australia to discriminate against homosexual people, and anti-discrimination laws in many other states are either hopelessly inadequate or contain offensive exemptions to legitimise homophobia," Greig said. ALSO Foundation executive director Darren Ray said he believed Keating's refusal to support gay marriage was simply a "political comment". "These comments are hardly surprising given he's about to fight the hardest election since 1983. He's trying to throw a rug over the fire." Ray said that nothing Keating says will be able to take gay marriage off the agenda. ACLGR delegate, Dr Jenny Brown said the gay community needed to encourage influential straight people to speak out more on gay issues. Describing Hayden as a man of great humanity and great courage, Dr Brown called on the gay community to applaud both the Governor-General and The Australian Democrats for their efforts toward ending discrimination. Senator Spindler also welcomed the Governor-General's comments. "We are still researching same-sex marriage and adoption rights, but we are supportive in principal to the Governor-General's comments," Senator Spindler said. "I have welcomed the involvement of the Governor-General in the debate. I think it is important for figures in leading positions to put forward views on value- issues which affect the community at large. "What certainly should be considered is the welfare of a child in an adoptive situation, not the sexuality of the partners wishing to adopt." Spindler said. Senator Spindler said a draft of his bill will be released in July or August. Iain Clacher & Ben Lidicombe GAY MIGRATION RULES ARE EASED *Up to twenty gay men and lesbians born overseas will automatically have access to Australian residency on Monday following wide-reaching changes to key sections of the nation's migration regulations.* The changes mean that same sex relationships will in future be treated identically to de facto relationships under immigration law. The Gay and Lesbian Immigration Task Force has hailed the reform as a "giant step forward". At the heart of the Government's decision is the creation of a new interdependency visa class. This will allow someone, in a same sex relationship with an Australian, to be granted Australian residency within six months. Until now applicants were required to go through a three-stage visa process. This involved applying offshore for a temporary entry visa. On arrival, they could apply for a further temporary entry visa valid for two years. After that period they were eligible to apply for permanent residence in Australia. The new visa class is only available for applications made outside Australia. Applicants living in Australia still face a two year wait before processing and only applicants who began the process overseas will gain from Monday's windfall. A Victorian spokesperson for GLITF described the Department's new visa class as "another step towards equality". "Prior regulations were also up to individual interpretation by officers," he said. "Now if you meet the criteria, the officer has to forward your application to the Minister. The Government has removed the opportunity for discrimination." He said GLITF had played a significant social role by assisting hundreds of couples to stay together who might otherwise have been separated by the Australian immigration system. The first interdependency visa category was introduced into the Migration Regulations in 1991, while Chris Hurford was Immigration Minister. According to the Department of Immigration those provisions recognised that Australian citizens or permanent residents "may develop a very close, and in all likelihood, a lifetime relationship with another person who is not a relative and who has no residence rights in Australia, but without whom the Australian would either experience undue emotional hardship or be faced with leaving Australia in order to continue their relationship." While the Department recognised that most of the people who benefit from the category "are likely to be in a homosexual or lesbian relationship" the regulatory criteria made no reference to a sexual relationship and a broader group of people were able to benefit. The latest reform to the visa category follows a report presented last year to the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs from GLITF. AIDS TRUST RELEASES FUNDS *The AIDS Candlelight Vigil has received $5,000 from the AIDS Trust of Australia. The Victorian AIDS Council also received $3,000 for its 'Choosing to Die' euthanasia project.* The Acting chair of the Trust, Chris Puplick this week announced that $122,900 in funds raised had been allocated around the country. A large portion, $53,500 went to national projects being undertaken by the National Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS and the Haemophilia Foundation of Australia. The remainder was distributed for state based projects. Puplick said that Australia's leading national AIDS charity had just entered an exciting new phase of activity. "In the past year twenty grants have been allocated for education, care and support and research. There has been a strong emphasis on grants that will directly impact upon people with HIV/AIDS. "I am also pleased to announce the appointment of our new staff. Terry Trethowan will be joining us as the national fundraising coordinator and Jayne Headley- Boreham as the national projects coordinator," he said. Terry Trethowan is currently the executive director of the Tasmanian AIDS Council and will bring to the Trust considerable experience in fundraising and program implementation, plus a strong understanding of the Australian HIV/AIDS community sector. Jayne Headley-Boreham will be leaving the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras as their assistant production manager to join the Trust. She comes to the Trust with a strong background in events management and fundraising. The AIDS Trust of Australia underwent an organisational review in April. This has resulted in the Trust refocussing its activities on national corporate fundraising. The Trust will be co-locating with the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations later this year. This move will enhance the capacity of the Trust to coordinate national activities such as the National Red Ribbon Day and for greater liaison with AFAO members. MOVE TO LEGALISE EUTHANASIA IN NSW *ACON president Bruce Meagher yesterday launched draft legislation which would legalise active euthanasia in NSW.* Meagher said he hoped the legislation could be introduced as early as the next session of State Parliament in September. Spokesperson for the ACON Euthanasia Working Group, Tim Leach, said the draft Bill was the result of an 18 month process of community consultation. ACON worked closely with PLWHA (NSW) in preparing the legislation, which Meagher described as having "a constituency of 10,000 people." Labor MLC Paul O'Grady, who has announced his own plans to introduce euthanasia legislation, was not present at the Wednesday launch. Meagher said O'Grady had been aware of the ACON document during the draft process and "endorses the thrust" of the package, if not necessarily each provision. He said the Bill O'Grady introduces "may be a version" of the ACON draft, or incorporate elements of it. The ACON draft differs from legislation passed in the Northern Territory last month by requiring a longer "cooling off" period for patients who request active euthanasia, and setting stricter guidelines for doctors. An ACON press statement said: "The Bill clearly stipulates that people considering euthanasia must be fully informed of all health care options. In addition, there is a mandatory cooling off period after the initial request is made, and two doctors must agree on the diagnosis and prognosis." Provisions in the Bill deny access to euthanasia to those with psychiatric disorders or the clinically depressed. Guidelines published with the draft say "for a person with a terminal illness, [a secondary] request for help must be confirmed at least 14 days after the initial request. For a person with an unacceptable quality of life, the confirmation period is 90 days." A qualified doctor would complete a 'Certificate of Confirmation'. Assisted euthanasia would only be available to people over 18 years of age. Federal president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), David Weedon, said he was opposed to the introduction of pro-euthanasia legislation in NSW. He refuted a prediction made last week by the Governor-General, Bill Hayden, that such legislation would exist in most Australian states within five years. ACON Executive Officer Don Baxter responded by accusing the AMA leadership of being "out of touch with the community". He said polls consistently showed more than 70 percent of Australian were in favour of some form of legalised active euthanasia. He stressed the ACON legislation was about expanding the options of the terminally ill, not imposing euthanasia on people who did not want it. But a spokesperson for the Catholic Church, Father Brian Lucas, said "we cannot justify euthanasia by claiming a right to choose." "It is wrong to kill others, even if we think that is what they want us to do," he said. Ben Widdicombe BRIEFS CARERS RESEARCH The National Priority Program 'People Living with HIV/AIDS and their Carers' recently appointed a team of researchers to undertake social research under the National Centre in HIV Social Research. For more information contact Evan Smith or Claire Parsons on 1800 064 398. POLICE INVESTIGATE EUTHANASIA Following the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria abandoning its two-month inquiry into seven Victorian doctors who admitted helping patients die, Victoria Police has announced it will investigate to see if there is evidence of a criminal offence. TASTY CHARGE DISMISSED Melbourne Magistrates Court last week dismissed charges against a man for possessing amyl nitrate. The charges were laid by police conducting last year's raid on Tasty nightclub. SEXUALITY BOOKLET Family Planning Victoria has published two unique booklets on sexuality and the law in Victoria. The booklets are titled 'Fertility and Sexual Health' and 'People with an Intellectual Disability'. SEXDRIVE STUDY CALL SexDrive, the study into condom usage is continuing its call for participants. For more information ring 1800 062 202. SYDNEY CENTRE LAUNCHED A community centre for lesbians and gay men in Sydney was opened on the weekend at 26 Hutchinson Street Surry Hills. To contact ring (02) 331 1333. QLD MEDIA ACTION The Brisbane gay community has formed a Media Action Group aiming to reform the way the mainstream media deals with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. KISS SEEKS PERMANENT LICENCE Kiss FM is back for its fourth test transmission and is now applying for a permanent transmission licence. Kiss FM is a non-profit aspirant radio station that plays serious dance music and encourages local dance musicians and DJs to get on the air. ======================================================== BOTTOM LINE >From an article by a Brother Sister correspondent who wrote about gay cartoon characters: One of the moments in my life that I'll always remember, is when I was privileged enough to meet John Kricfalusi, creator of the cartoon series 'Ren and Stimpy'. In the hour or so I was talking with him, he confirmed the rumours floating about at the time about his animated creatures sexual preference. Ren and Stimpy are definitely gay, "Well in Ren's case, it's not completely by choice," John explained, "He would really rather have human women; but when you look like Ren, you take what you can get! Stimpy on the other hand, is like, totally into it. But they are married, so that's OK! The love they have for each other is unconditional, especially the way Stimpy feels for Ren. Ren is perfect, Ren can do no wrong." *** 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. If you have any contributions, comments or questions, please e-me at leto@werple.mira.net.au. NB: If you are representing overseas media and wish to 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