Date:         Sat, 30 Jul 1994 07:42:00 EDT


TASMANIA WAR and BOYCOTT

Two weeks ago members of Sydney's G&L business community organised a
boycott against Tasmanian products due to Tasmania's refusal to change
its anti-gay legislation even after the UN Committee on Human Rights
declared the legislation in violation of the Human Rights Convention.
Last week the 90-day deadline set by the UN Committee for Tasmania to
respond passed without anything but the same stupid rhetoric from the
Tassie government.

The Federal Government is now likely to intervene and overrule the
Tasmanian Government using its constitutional powers to override
discriminatory state legislation/ or its foreign obligations powers or
both. I am not sure on the exact constitutional agent that will be used.
Meanwhile the boycott on Tasmania produce is in full swing.  Tassie
produces lots of wine, cheese and seafood, and all the chi-chi
restaurants in Sydney, Melbourne etc have taken all their Tassie produce
off the shelfs.  The boycott is now countrywide and heating up each day.
The 'Buy Tasmania Association'(which markets and promotes Tassie
products) has said that it might consider suing the Tassie government for
lost income.  The Association has deplored the antigay laws and the
government inaction in changing them.

This also includes the boycott of Cadbury-Schweppes (as in chocalates and
softdrinks) which is based in Hobart.  Cadibury-Schweppes recently pulled
out its advertising when a Gay-Mardigras live crossover was aired.
BOO-HISS

Those of you in the STATES and EUROPE may want to initiate your own
letter writing campaign/boycott of Cadbury and Schweppes products in
support of us over here in OZ.  Maybe somebody with boycott experience
could give me some advice that I could pass on to the boycott committee.


GAY MARDI GRAS MAKES RECORD PROFIT

The Gay Mardi Gras made a $A113,511 net profit from an $A 2 million
turnover from March's Mardi Gras parade and celebration. This event is
now the largest money-maker of its kind in Australia. Current president
of the Mardi Gras Susan Harben is stepping down after an accomplished
history. THREE CHEERS (plus some more) FOR SUSAN!!!!  The next president
is likely to be Rob Patmore pending the July 31 election.


AUSTRALIAN GAY CINEMA SETS ANOTHER MILESTONE

Hot on the heels of "PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT" which won the top
popular prize this year at Cannes is the the just released Australian
film "THE SUM OF US". It won the best feature film award at this year's
Sydney Film Festival. This was originally a play by David Stevens.  The
play appeared widely in the US including off-broadway.

I went to see the movie last night and it was great.  Although the scene
with the two older lesbians is sooooo sad that I was reduced to floods of
tears.  It is an incredibly positive movie which portrays Gays and Gay
relationships as 'Family' in all the traditional senses.  It is very
funny and poignant.  The two central guys are cute but ordinary looking.
The movie is heavily into Aussie dialect, so study your Oz dictionaries
before you go. As a gay man who as a boy had a particularly close
relationship with my Great-Aunt and my Grandmother this movie was
particularly touching. It is hard to turn on the television or go to the
movies in Australia anymore without seeing two guys or two women rolling
around in the bed, kissing their hearts out (You should have seen GP, two
months ago)----OH YEAH!!!!!!!  The bed scene here is both hot and funny!!

OK G'DAY From Australia