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ISSN 1446-4896

Because of the ongoing racist problems caused by the outrageous Pauline Hanson/John Howard/Federal Government actions and speeches, two community marches and demonstrations were held in 1996 - 23 November as a general community protest, and 29 November 1996 as a gay and lesbian response to the racism debate.

As a consequence of the ongoing problems a group consisting of members of trade unions, left groups and gay and lesbian groups has been formed. The group is called CAMPAIGN AGAINST RACISM and is meeting on a weekly basis to formulate a plan of action to counteract the problems created by the election of tho Howard government and its ongoing racist behaviour.

The group is meeting weekly on Tuesdays at 7pm at the Transport Club, 19 Regent Street, 1st floor (just up from Central Station, off Broadway), and the meetings are open to anyone who wants to be involved in fighting racism in Australia. Their address is PO BOX 81. Newtown, NSW 2012.

Those planning holidays to Southern African countries should be aware of the following: The President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, says all homosexuals must be "condemned". They must be "condemned and rejected in our society." Nujoma's comments echo similar statements by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who says gays and lesbians are "no better than pigs or dogs" and called for the arrest of anyone "caught practising homosexuality." (SSO 3/1/97)

These countries should be avoided, despite the attractions offered by holiday and travel packages to the southern part of that beautiful and fascinating continent.

is once again rearing its ugly head, and gays and lesbians should be aware that films, magazines, videos and other media items are now on the hit lists of the born-again Mother Grundies. Actions may need to be made around worsening incidents in the near future.

On 5 August 1996, 37 gay inmates were subjected to involuntary HIV tests with contaminated needles at the Colina prison in Santiago, Chile. Upon their arrival to Colina prison, the men were ordered to strip, and each inmate was involuntarily subjected to an HIV test.

According to the prisoners, the prison medic used only 10 needles to draw blood from all 37 gay prisoners, despite information that 22 of the men were already infected with HIV. Complain to:Sra Soledad Alvear [Minister of Justice] Ministerio de Justicia, Morande 107, Santiago CHILE, fax: (56 2) 695 45 88

Copy to: Centro Lambda Chile, Casilla Postal 53575 Centro de Casillas de Santiago, Santiago de Chile. IGHLRC-ERN Vol.V No. 5 Nov. 1996.

The Supreme Court of South Africa has ordered countrywide compliance with a new Department of Correctional Services HIV/AIDS policy securing the provision of condoms to all prisoners, medical attention and treatment for HIV+ prisoners, and protection from discrimination on the basis of their HIV status or sexual orientation. IGLHRC-ERN Vol.VNo.5 Nov. 1996.

The Royal Commission continues to pursue those whose homosexual activities were illegal before the change in NSW legislation in the early 1980's. The monitoring of the Commission should be continued until these sorts of activities cease.

Phone urgently the Federal Attorney-General's Secretariat in Canberra on (06}250 5867 for a copy of THE MODEL CRIMINAL CODE CHAPTER 5: SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON discussion paper, to make a submission on this vital issue. Send a copy to Commission Watch c/o Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.

Eight tree plantings have taken place in the AIDS Memorial Groves since the first planting on 15 May 1994. Three plantings are proposed for 1997 and dates will be advised by South Sydney City Council in the next few weeks.

Euthanasia has long been part of the AIDS scene, although hopefully, with some new developments with drugs and other disease control measures, the future may be less bleak than it has been in the first 15 years of the epidemic. The third euthanasia death in the Northern Territory gives hope that the Senate may be able to defeat the Kevin Andrews religion-based bill. The euthanasia debate also needs monitoring on an on-going basis. CONTACTS:MANNIE (02)9718-1452; KENDALL (049)69-4013

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 24 APRIL 2017

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