Date: Sun, 29 Jan 1995 13:43:15 -0500 From: David B. O'Donnell Subject: OzQueer News [ Send all responses to leto@WERPLE.MIRA.NET.AU only. Any responses to the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ] BROTHER SISTER - NEWS FROM DOWNUNDER Are you an Aussie Queer living abroad but with nostalgic thoughts of home? An overseas paper desperately seeking Oz copy? Or a simply a cyberqueer who is dying to know more about gay life downunder? Yes?....Then welcome to the fortnightly QueerOz news update brought to you by Brother Sister. Brother Sister is a fortnightly newspaper published in Melbourne, VIC and Brisbane, QLD, Australia. I have selected the main news items as well as items of interest. If you have any questions, suggestions and comments please e-me (leto@werple.mira.net.au) - I will gratefully receive any feedback! NB: If you are an overseas paper and wish to publish any of the following material, please print the entire story you've selected and credit Brother Sister as your source. Thank You. Brendon Wickham VICTORIA TO GET REFORMS Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has announced that his government will move to introduce legislation in Parliament's next sitting that will outlaw discrimination against gays and lesbians. In an interview with The Age newspaper, Kennett confirmed that the legislation, originally intended to be discussed in Parliament late last year, would be "up this session". In October last year, the Attorney General, Jan Wade, proposed amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act that would make discrimination against gays and lesbians illegal. The amendments were postponed when a vocal minority from the backbench were influenced by a right-wing letter writing campaign that condemned the proposed changes. The organisation behind the letter campaign claimed that the changes would be anti-family and result in gay and lesbian couples being able to adopt children and getting access to IVF programs. Now, after assurances from the Attorney General that the amendments would not affect adoption and IVF laws, only a few backbenchers remain in conflict with the proposal. Representatives of the Gay Men and Lesbians Against Discrimination group are welcoming the Governments push to introduce the amendments in Parliament's autumn session, beginning on February 28. David Studham, spokesperson for the lesbian and gay lobby still believes that the amendments to the EOA are far from perfect, opposing the use of the wording proposed for the legislation. "The current proposal to use the term 'lawful sexual activity' is flawed and will not address the real issue," says Studham. "It will not protect those that need the protection most of all, non-heterosexuals." Studham went on to point out, "Lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals are not likely to be defined in this term and it is they that are the ones experiencing discrimination, hatred and bigotry by some Victorian service providers, employers, educators and landlords. Although the amendments would bring Victoria's laws into line with the federal legislation and the legislation in other states and territories, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory all have amended their Equal Opportunity Acts to protect gays and lesbians, Studham says more change is necessary. "The wording, 'lawful sexual activity' is undesirable", he states, "in that it constructs gay and lesbian sexuality as an activity rather than an identity. "People discriminate against others because of who we are s lesbians and gay men not simply because of what we do in our beds." Studham claims that the current proposals being made by the Attorney General's department will pose problems of access by potential lesbian and gay complainants. He says that the proposals are based on the Queensland model which was implemented so as to prevent any protection of paedophiles, which is unnecessary in Victoria as paedophilia is already illegal in this state. "Issues of criminal activity should be dealt with under the criminal law not human rights legislation." Studham says. "The use of the term sexuality would bring into line with SA, NT, and the ACT and current proposals in WA and NSW." The Attorney General is declining to reveal details of the amendments but has promised room for alterations. A new right-wing campaign opposing the changes has already been threatened. TAS POLL EXPLODES MYTH Tasmania's Gay and Lesbian Rights Group have welcomed an opinion poll showing that the majority of Tasmanians disapprove of their government's anti-gay stance. The poll indicates that 49 percent of Tasmanians object to the state Government's handling of the gay law reform issue. Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome said that the Newspoll survey destroys the mainland stereotype of Tasmanians as anti-gay bigots. The poll sends a clear message to the State Government that its confrontational approach does not have community support, he said. Croome also attacked the State's National Party for its claim that an advertisement for a gay and lesbian dance party exposed a "sleazy agenda". Croome stated that the poll shows that the National Party does not reflect the values of the Majority of Tasmanians. There is also concern that the state's anti-gay group Tas- Alert is trying to spread its membership into other states. A national seminar is being planned in March to form a national coalition of right-wing 'family' groups. Their stated aim is to link up with over twenty other groups with concerns in the farming and health sector. LEGAL CANNABIS FOR AIDS TREATMENT Cannabis is soon expected to be authorised for prescription in the treatment of HIV/AIDS in Australia The Federal Government seems likely to endorse a mild form of cannabis for use in controlling nausea and stimulating appetite. The Therapeutic Goods Administration are hoping that the drug dronabil, a tablet form of cannabis with the chemical agent responsible for the high removed, can be approved here as it has been in the United States. The Health Department needs the co-operation of the medical societies and the states and territories appropriate authorities before it clears the drug for use. PINK POST For those who believe that Oxford Street is the centre of everything gay in Sydney, think again. One Sydney suburb now has a gay post office and it's not Darlinghurst. Operated by Belton Fonti Pty Ltd, the Post Office, situated in Canterbury, may be the first in Australia which is entirely gay owned and run. Former Australia Post employee, Tom Belton, started the business with his partner of three years, Joe Fonti. The post office also sells books, toys and stationery, and Belton said that he would soon be stocking massage oils. "And Wet Stuff, under the counter," he added with a laugh. A contact in the Petersham CES was asked to send potential employees sympathetic to the working environment, and subsequently gay man, Rick Naickar, joined the staff. "I didn't know Rick was gay when I hired him, but he told me shortly afterwards. It's worked out quite well," said Belton. Asked whether he thought the post office was part of the growing gay economy, Fonti said:"Yes, in a way. It's important to show gay people can do things as well as straight people." Fonti said that Canterbury had a large gay population, but that being away from the city centre meant many of them were closeted. While the post office has no sign or symbol suggesting its affiliation, there is a Bobby Goldsmith Foundation collection box on the counter with leaflets. Asked whether there had been any negative community reaction, Fonti replied:"Not yet. Not everyone needs to know we're gay, and there's a newsagency next door with four men and a girl, all straight, but they talk to us about boyfriends and things. "[The company] would love to move into Darlinghurst, but with counter sales being about 50 times what we get in Canterbury that means the business would also be about 50 times more expensive to buy." In the meantime, the Canterbury business continues to extend its product line and serve both gay and straight communities with a smile. 'Sydney Star Observer' STREET PARTY INJECTS DOLLARS Over 60,000 people are estimated to have joined in with Midsumma opening celebrations. Three stages were erected for over five hours of entertainment when Fitzroy's Brunswick St was blocked off for a giant lesbian and gay street party. Organisers of the event have described support from the community as "wonderful", and were impressed with the co- operation they received from the City of Yarra board. Midsumma ran the entire event unfunded and say they came in under-budget for the evening. However they claim that they didn't "make a killing" as local businesses benefited most from the busy trade that the party brought to the area, as most shops, bars and restaurants remained open during the evening. Police report that there were no arrests on the night though 'Brother Sister' received two reports of anti-gay abuse at the party, while St Johns Ambulance claim that the most serious injury was a chipped tooth on a Mintie. Although official figures are not yet available, the street party is estimated to have injected thousands of dollars into the local community. Bill Saunders, of the Northside Venues, who sponsored the dance floor, said, "The party was fantastic! It's about time people realised there are gays and lesbians over the river." Midsumma organisers promise that the closing carnival, to be held at the Alexandria Gardens on Sunday, February 12, will be even bigger and more spectacular. GAY SEX EDUCATION Australia's Teacher's Unions are considering a push for gay and lesbian sex education in schools. A proposal was considered at a recent union conference for schools to provide positive instruction about gays and lesbians to be taught at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. This comes after a survey showed that 59 percent of gay and lesbian teachers and students suffer from verbal abuse at school and eighteen precent reported acts of violence. ************************************************************* BOTTOM LINE Moonlite Activities Three hundred people attended a re-burial service for Australian Bushranger Captain Moonlite. The leader of a gay gang of outlaws had made a last wish that he be buried alongside his two fellow bushrangers. His two companions were killed in a shootout in Gundagai in 1879, Moonlite was hanged a year later for shooting a police officer. There was public opposition to his request at the time and he was buried in an unmarked grave in Sydney. Two Gundagai residents spent a year researching Moonlite's life and finally succeeded in having his last wish granted earlier this month.