LGS HOME PAGES: http://www.josken.net

ISSN 1446-4896

HIV and AIDS have caused massive suffering throughout the world yet governments continue to persecute sufferers of the disease by refusing to spend the money to find a cure. The International Socialist Organisation has set up this forum to discuss the politics of AIDS. Held at the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby centre, upstairs 74-78 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. Feb 2, 4pm

Queer TV will be transmitting again, from 7-9 February. Opening night: Fri 7, 6pm. You can get it on UHF 31. For more info call 810 1371/314 1825.

A workshop to bring together experienced, new and aspiring lesbian and gay activists to hear from visiting overseas and out of town veteran activists, swap ideas, share knowledge of past campaigns and triumphs and document ideas for future use and inspiration. People are asked to register in advance. Phone or write to GLRL PO Box 9 Darlinghurst 2010. £20 or $10 concession /members of organising groups. Organised by the NEW left party Gay and Lesbian Group in conjunction with ACT UP, Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and Lesbian and Gay Solidarity. On Sat 22 Feb, 10am-5pm, Heffron Hall.

Just a reminder that Simon Nkoli, a founding member of Gays and Lesbians of Witwaterarand (South Africa) and ACT UP Johannesburg will probably visit Sydney and Melbourne sometime in March. More details in future.

This year we hope to organize a march and rally to commemorate the Stonewall anniversary. Discussions will probably be held at the Gay Activists' Workshop to get a number of organisations to organize it jointly.

Organised by the New Left Party Gay and Lesbian Group: Imperial Hotel, 12 Feb, 7-12pm, $25/$10 conc, $15 Mardi Gras and NLP members. Info: Jackie 331 2167.

In 1981 the Victorian Supreme Court ruled that a man who raped a prostitute is entitled to a lesser jail sentence than that for other rapes. Justice Crocket maintained that rape does not cause prostitutes "a reaction of revulsion which it night cause in a chaste woman."

On the 3rd of Jan, 11 years later, the same Judge, through the same Supreme Court, upheld that same ruling. This aroused a furore among many people and the Victorian Prostitutes' Collective held a public protest.

Rape is not a sexual act. It is men exercising power over other people, particularly women. Rape is an act of violence. It is up to us - gay men, lesbians, feminists and progressives to take up the issue and drive this point home. Meantime LGS declares its solidarity with prostitutes and will act on its pledge to solidarity should the need arise in NSW.

The merits and demerits of "Campaign"'s publishing David Phillips' letter are debatable. There is truth to both sides of the argument: hiding the existence of racism does not solve the problem; publishing a racist letter highlights its existence. On the other hand how many people would publish an anti-Black or anti-Jewish letter in the name of free speech?

However, there is no doubt as to the position takan by "Campaign"'s publisher Leo Cameron. He did not just defend the publishing of the letter. Comments auch as: "That (free speech and democracy - ed) doesn't happen in China and other parts of Asia" and "He (Philllps) has been through a lot more then a Chinese person in Australia" are a justification of Phillips' letter and as such can be construed as being racist in their own right.

In response to the Streetwatch Report, some 2 years back, 600 more police officers were deployed throughout NSW. This was supposed to help reduce the amount of violence against gay men and lesbians.

However, 2 years later, and we find the need for our own street patrols in Darlinghurst/Surry Hills, in Newtown and elsewhere. Following death threats to people with HIV/AIDS in Waterloo, a patrol will be organized there.

So the obvious question is: what are the police doing? One answer is: entrapments. In the Sydney Star Observer they denied that it is happening. At the 6 Nov '91 Anti-Discrimination Board Gay Consultation Sue Thompson {Police Gay/Lesbian Client Consultation) reported that the Regional Commanders confirmed that entrapments should not occur. The sane applies to the Centennial Park rangers.

And yet the entrapments are still occurring. This is not an allegation. This is an accusation. Entrapments are a fact.

So the moral of the story is: more police = more trouble - for us.

A number of people came up with an alternative to the Mardi Gras Ltd decision to limit sales of party tickets to members only. The proposal was that anyone who is a member of any gay, lesbian or related organisation ought to be entitled to the right to purchase a ticket. This would be consonent with the view that the Mardi Gras Festival, including the party, belongs to all of us.

Signatures were collected and the Mardi Gras Ltd was approached. However the Mardi Gras association has remained adamant. To quote a Sydney Star Observer headline, their attitude was: "We won't crack." Talk about arrogance!

If the Mardi Gras leadership were genuine about restricting our party to homosexuals and friends, then the alternative proposal should not have been objectionable. However if the real reason is financial...well that's another matter altogether.

Pressure on them will be maintained from the outside. Meantime they had better look to their own membership, which they'll eventually have to answer to.

When Clover Moore was asked what her favourite footwear was, she replied: sandshoes, to protect her from infected needles on the beach.

It turned out that needles are not a problem. Good, she replied.

To our way of thinking. Clover's comments show a lack of sensitivity. Coupled to her opposition to the Badlands Project being housed on Bourke St, Surry Hills, and we start wondering about the reason for her "commitment" to homosexuals. Maybe its just a matter of numbers - we have enough votes to get her elected. Would her commitment change if the nature of the electorate were to change?

The Gay and Lesbian Street Patrols need more members to be able to provide a better service for the Darlinghurst community and hopefully extend operations. If you are interested call Michael Glynn on 6604190.

Contact Michael Aaronson by writing to GPO Box 3716 Sydney 2001 or phone 13 2222 and ask to page 810 240.

GAYWAVES is recruiting for more lesbian members. If interested write to PO Box 473 Broadway 2007 or phone 330 3000 during broadcasting time.

Melbourne's monthly newsletter of gay and leabian activism is available from PO Box 108 North Carlton VIC 3054 for $15 ($5 concession) for one year.

LGS meets on the second Thursday of every month at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (opposite the station) at 8pm. Meetings are due: Feb 13 1992, Mar 12, Apr 9, May 14

CURRENT NEWSLETTER AND ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS

Mannie has a personal web site: RED JOS: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM

Mannie's blogs may be accessed by clicking on to the following links:

MannieBlog (from 1 August 2003 to 31 December 2005)

Activist Kicks Backs - Blognow archive re-housed - 2005-2009

RED JOS BLOGSPOT (from January 2009 onwards)

This page updated 18 SEPTEMBER 2014 and again on 26 APRIL 2017

Page 14