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

ISSN 1446-4896

In August the criminal justice group CEFTAA convened to discuss what appears to be a rising tide of police and legal attacks on political activists.

The meeting heard from groups and individuals who had been harassed, arrested, and brutalised in the course of legitimate education, justice, environmental and peace activism.

Twenty five people from several groups attended and it was decided to maintain a loose and non sectarian network of progressive and activist groups, with the idea of sharing legal, paralegal, tactical skills, and resources to deal with this problem.

The second meeting, held on October 10, was also attended by representatives of LGS, which will henceforth be a member of the network. At this meeting CEFTAA. which at the moment is playing a coordinating role, explained its current work in preparing a legal resource list and a draft booklet on activist's rights.

As gay and lesbian activists (who are also involved in other campaigns for social Justice) we can appreciate only too well the necessity for this network We urge people to join up.

The governments of Spain, The USA. and the Latin American countries are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the European "discovory" of the Americas. None of these celebrations include an admission of what the invasion meant - mass genocide of the indigenous population and the oppression of those who survived; millions of Africans enslaved and transported to the Americas to slave away on plantations; the exploitation which was necessary to build up the USA into the world's largest imperialist power, the distortion and suffering forced on people's lives who had to conform to the demands of sexism and heterosexism; the continuing policy of racism affecting all peoples of colour.

However, these 500 years of oppression have also been met by 500 years of resistance. Native Americans, Blacks, Chicanos, other people of colour, workers, women, lesbians, gay men, and other queers - all have fought back, striving for social Justice.

Australian gay and lesbian activists join in solidarity with all our struggling brothers and sisters in the Americas.

A debate in the mainstream media over a nudist beach on the north shore, took on an anti-gay twist in the 13 October issue of the Sydney Morning Herald - a 'quality' paper. Peter Collard, a member of LGS and the OPI sent the following letter to the Minister for Police and the NSW Ombudsman's Office:

RE: Comments by Sergeant Wadesworth

I was distressed to read, in an article in the Sydney Morning Herald today, comments by Sergeant Peter Wadesworth of Tweed Heads Police. The words quoted were, 'a lot of them are poofters, you know, queers, who sit in the dunes perving.'

If I were to use the word "pigs' to refer to the police, I would probably be charged (although I would never imply tliat the police have pride, integrity or guts). However, this cowardly sergeant, hiding behind his gun and uniform, and legislation which makes him immune to the laws of the state, can use vile and derogatory words with impunity.

It is well past the time when the police should have stopped making such comments in public, or to the press. It is also well past the time when they should have stopped taking this atttude in their work.

I take this as both a personal and community insult. I am sick and tired of being treated in this way by the police. At the very least, we are due a public apology for the insult, both for the sentiment exprassed and the offonsive language used.

I suggest, in addition, that you make clear what the requirements of the job are, and that any future comments of this nature ( by ANY member of the police) wll result in immediate dismissal. Counselling and re-education do not seem to work on this sort of person. If they are unwilling or unable to fulfill the requirements of the job, then they rnust go."

The Ombudsman's Office has replied to Peter with the assurance that it will look into the matter.

This Is an anthology of essays wntten over a period of ten years by the gay socialist historian John O'Emilio. He joined the early radical gay liberation movement and has stayed true to his commitment to radical, progressive politics. His essays are invaluable to activists who will find a goldmine of information on both pre- and post-Stonowall gay and lesbian history. More important is his insistence on making sure that researching and publishing our hlslory is an integral apart of being an activist. An understanding of history is essential for working out tactics and strategies for our present day struggles as well as for giving us a perspective for future directions.

GLAR meets every second Saturday of the month at the GLRL Centre, 2nd floor, 74-78 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. Meetings commence at 2pm. Contact by wnting to PO BOX 9, DARLlNGHURST, NSW. 2010

The NLP Lesbian and Gay Group meet every third Thursday of the month, at the Trades Hall, 4 Goulbourn Street HAYMARKET. at 5.30pm. Contact (02) 267 6820

GAYWAVES Thursday nights. 8pm to 10.30 pm. 2SER FM 107.3MHz. Gaywaves needs more lesbians on its collective. Call on 330 3080 during the broadcast. WILDGALS Salurday nights. 7pm to 10 pm. 2RSR FM 88.9 MHz

Melbourne monthly newsletter of gay and lesbian activism. Contact P O BOX 108. NORTH CARtTON. VICTORIA. 3054. Subscriptions: $15 one year. $6 concession.

Gay Men and Lesbians, who are Arab or of Arab Origin, to form a social group. Contact Tony Nicholas. P O BOX 139. CAMPSIE. NSW. 2194.

Dinner and Bent Peg Award. Friday December 4. 1992. 7pm. Raddlson Hotel. $35, or $30 concession. Phone: 360 6650

Second Thursday of every month, at the Newtown Community Centre (opposite the railway station) at 8pm. Next meetings: November 12, January 14. 1993, Fobruary 11. 1993. and March 11. 1993.

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 20