ISSN 1446-4896 ISSUE 4, 1998, NUMBER 39
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1998

1) We are attempting to compile a list, from A to Z, of those countries where homophobia is legislated, or where gay and lesbian issues are not being properly addressed.

We are hoping for input from our readers to make the listing as complete as possible, so that we may advise people to consider their travel venues when going on business or holiday trips to various countries.

"A" could well begin in Australia, where there are still different laws in different states and the Federal Government still has in place discriminatory legislation relating to superannuation and other human rights violations entrenched in the law. Age of consent is an issue very much to be taken into consideration, and to this end a table found on the web on the following site may be of interest: http://www.ageofconsent.com/ageofconsent.htm

2) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
(EP) passed a resolution on 17 September 1998 denouncing Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Romania for unfair treatment of gays. The vote was 110 to 89 with 6 abstentions. The move was spurred by Austria, Cyprus and Romania's recent refusals to bring their anti-gay laws into line with European human-rights standards. The parliament also expressed its refusal to "give its consent to the accession [into the 15-nation European Union] of any country that, through its legislation of policies, violates the human rights of lesbians and gay men." Specifically, the EP called on Austria to repeal sections of the penal code, which set a higher age of consent for gay sex. They also deplored the "insufficient law reform" passed by the Parliament of Cyprus last May, which replaced the complete ban on male homosexuality with a series of other discriminatory provisions, including a higher age of consent and also deplored the refusal of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies in June to adopt a government bill that would have repealed all anti-gay legislation. "The adoption of this resolution is a big success for the European lesbian and gay movement," said Kurt Krickler, co-chair of ILGA-Europe, a regional body of the International Lesbian and Gay Association. (Capital Q, 2.10.98)

3) COUNTRIES TO CONSIDER BOYCOTTING
 are: Argentina, Australia (some states), Austria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Egypt, Finland, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, Kenya, MALAYSIA, Nigeria, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United States of America (some states), Zambia, Zimbabwe.

4) MALAYSIA
Dr Mahatir, Prime Minister of Malaysia had better start preparing himself for a new occupation.

No dictatorship lasts forever, and in his case, where he has thrown democratic principles away in favour of entrenching his rather shaky hold on power, Dr Mahatir should look around the world.

In the USA a corrupt right-wing Republican group has been doing its best to get the President impeached. In the latest mid-term congressional elections, this has backfired so badly in relation to the President"s alleged heterosexual misconduct, pursued relentlessly over a period of at least 6 years, that the Republican speaker of the Lower House has resigned due to his misreading of the public"s feelings.

Dr Mahatir has also used sexuality to condemn his deputy and possible successor, Anwar Ibrahim with homosexual (sodomy) allegations.

To the discredit of all involved in the conflict, homophobic attacks have been on the increase. Dr Mahatir has made the allegations, Anwar has denied them, and it has taken Mahatir"s daughter, Ms Marina Mahatir, to put some perspective on the issue.

Ms Mahatir is involved in running HIV/AIDS educational, support and other related assistance organisations. She has stated that she believes there has been a conspiracy to trump up charges against Anwar Ibrahim, and it is aggravating an already homophobic response to HIV/AIDS in Malaysia. She would like to say more, but fears harassment and arrest if she openly involves herself in campaigns against her father and Anwar Ibrahim.

It does seem as if people giving evidence have confessed that they will lie, even under oath, if it serves Dr Mahatir's purpose.

Such confessions would seem to destroy the foundations of Dr Mahatir's trumped up charges against Anwar Ibrahim, and the sooner Dr Mahatir resigns, the better for all concerned.

Indonesia is a country in his region that Dr Mahatir should keep his eyes on, as that country is undergoing revolutionary changes which may see an introduction of democracy there and finally independence for East Timor, and ultimately West Irian.

5) LGS calls for lesbians and gays travelling abroad to think about excluding from their travel itineraries such countries which continue to violate the human rights of lesbians and gays.  Such countries do not deserve to have their finances increased by  lesbians and gay men using their travel dollars, where those dollars will be used to continue the oppression of sexual minorities in their countries.

6) POVERTY AND BLACK GAYS 
Durban - A gay-rights activist has dismissed as nonsense the argument that  homosexuality is a creation of white people or the west. Addressing an equality forum at the University of Natal, Mazibuko Jara, co-ordinator  of the equality project of the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (NCGLE) argued that it was difficult for a gay black person to "come out" and declare  his or her homosexuality for fear of being an outcast, and possibly being subjected to violence. Mr Jara pointed out, however, that this problem was not peculiar to one race.He said that because of poverty and a dependence on parents for a living, most black people were scared to come out for fear of losing the "supply line." Mr Jara pointed out that historically gays experienced discrimination and said it was      difficult for black people to express their sexuality because of the position sexuality  occupies in the community : "It is true that open sexuality in the black community is taboo."   (Sunday Argus [South Africa] 4.5.97)

7) 9TH JOHANNESBURG GAY PRIDE PARADE
According to Gavin Hayward 1500 people marched in Africa"s only gay pride parade on Saturday 26 September. One of its 1998 aims to include more black lesbians and gays, apparently was successful because there were more lesbians in general and more lesbians and gays of colour than in previous years. Delegations also came from Namibia and Zimbabwe. A carnival marked the end of the Parade or what Sydneysiders would liken to their fair day.

8) "EQUALITY DELAYED IS EQUALITY DENIED"
In a landmark decision, South Africa"s highest court in constitutional matters ruled on 9 October laws which criminalised sex between men were unconstitutional. The ruling was based on an unopposed case brought by the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (NCGLE) and the South African Human Rights Commission.

According to the ruling by Judge L. Ackermann, any person who was charged, convicted or suffered loss because of committing consensual same-sex acts under any laws declared unconstitutional has the right to approach any high court for appropriate relief. NCGLE says it will assist any person in this process.

The court held that the laws which criminalise same-sex sexual and erotic activity, independently breached the rights to equality, dignity and privacy. The laws, Judge Ackermann said, undermined self-esteem, caused psychological harm and legitimised violence and blackmail against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The harm also radiates out into society generally and gives rise to a wide variety of other discrimination, the Court also declared.

Zackie Achmet of NCGLE pointed out that the criminal law for more than 300 years had punished the expression of love between gays and he could only echo the Court"s sobering words: "Equality delayed is equality denied."

9) SOUTH AFRICA"S NEW APARTHEID
From the Website of Wola Nani, an income generating and support project for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in South Africa, we learned that Wola Nani wants to remind everyone that discrimination and ignorance are still alive and well in the new South Africa. Wola Nani, it says, along with 2.4 million individuals affected by HIV in South Africa, are not going to be fooled into believing otherwise. The group says it cannot get effective interministerial collaboration to confront the issue of AIDS because various cabinet ministers have been more interested in the Olympics than the struggle against AIDS and the real plight of 14% of the population. Wola Nani"s "beyond ignorance" campaign is a defiant effort to fight the stigma that impedes dignified living for those with HIV/AIDS - the stigma that is instrumental in advancing the spread of AIDS. The new Apartheid is the stigma and prejudice against PLWHA's. Wola Nani broadcasts its radio series, Positive Nation, on 40 stations in English and Xhosa.

10) ZAMBIA
has become the latest country on the African continent to publicly denounce homosexuality. The Post, Zambia, reported on 31 August 1998 that " Zambian gays, lesbians and bi-sexuals are this week expected to register a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to be called the Lesbians, Gays, Bi-sexual and Transgender Persons Association (LEGATRA)."

In the same edition, a Lusaka resident, Jimmy Munganguta, said homosexuality is a mental illness and urged government not to allow the group to form the NGO. He says anyone supporting them is also sick. He added, "The government should put up a law before this behavioural phenomenon, which was almost non-existent amongst indigenous blacks in Africa, becomes a problem of epidemic proportions amongst Zambians. Homosexuality can be viewed as the sexual expression of male weakness, passivity and effeminization."

However, in its 1 October 1998 edition, The Post was reporting that police in Lusaka had begun a clamp-down on the gay movement and their supporters. "Lesbians and Gays and Transgender Association (LEGATRA) programme officer Gershon Musonda, in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, said one of their members is being pursued by the police after his uncle had reported him to them ---- and he has since gone into hiding."

By 8 October 1998 The Post was reporting that religions were buying into the homosexuality debate. "Instead of just criticising gays and lesbians, Daily Bread Outreach Church has decided to start preaching the word of God to them because they are sinners who need to be saved."

And the Muslim community has condemned "gayism", describing it as a calamity of Allah. At a seminar aimed at teaching methods of avoiding HIV/AIDS, in Lusaka's Matero township on Monday, the principal of Ma"ahad Har Amain Al-Islamy (Islamic Institute) said "such dirty and filthy acts should not be legalised."

A report in Talkabout, October 1998 reports that the AIDS epidemic has resulted in a dramatic increase in orphans in Zambia and many other African nations. According to the United Nations, 40% of children in rural parts of East Africa, who have lost a parent by age 15, lost their parent due to AIDS. Last year, AIDS orphaned 1.7 million children, the overwhelming majority of whom were in sub-Saharan Africa.

Zambia has the highest proportion of orphaned children in the world, the UN reports, with 23% of children under 15 missing one or both parents. High poverty levels have resulted in the abandonment of many of the children; there are more than 90 000 children now living on the streets of Lusaka, as compared with 35 000 in 1991. Officials believe that HIV levels in the adult population will not begin to fall before 2010 and that orphan levels will not peak until a decade after that. The HIV rate in urban Zambia is expected to plateau at 28% and at 22% in rural areas. (from CDC Daily Summaries)

The situation in Zambia will have to be closely monitored, and gay and lesbian communities internationally should offer support to LEGATRA while at the same time informing themselves fully of problems which would arise if they travel there with same-sex partners.

11) NAMIBIA
is another African country which is continuing its official homophobic stance. This is another country to be excluded from travel arrangements for tourists in the African continent!

12) ZIMBABWE
Before the newsletter editors went on holidays to the south (Melbourne) and west (Adelaide) where we had great times, we sent letters of support to Keith Goddard of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) and letters to Zimbabwean government ministers calling for charges of sodomy against Goddard to be dropped and actions of intimidation against GALZ cease. We received the following email: "G" day LGS, Many thanks for your message of support and solidarity. It is very heartening to know that there are people out there who care so deeply about what goes on in Zimbabwe. Best wishes and thanks again. Keith Goddard". GALZ, Private Bag A6131 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe. Email: galz@samara.co.zw

Robert Mugabe, homophobic President of Zimbabwe was also urged to drop charges against gay rights activist Keith Goddard and to end persecution of lesbian and gay Zimbabweans at a noisy picket outside the Zimbabwean Embassy in Cape Town. A letter demanding an end to government harassment of gay people in Zimbabwe was delivered to the embassy by the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality. Th coalition is an affiliation of over 74 organisations in southern Africa defending the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.

13) FEAR, LOATHING AND HATESVILLE!
Have any of you web browsers searched for hate groups? Oh, they"re there all right! Try "www.godhatesfags.com"

Okay, how many of you have emailed or posted a letter to Bob Carr demanding equality with hets in Age of Consent laws recommended by the Royal Commission into Police Corruption and more recently by the report into Hate Crimes Against Homosexual People and "Panic Defence" in gay bashings because of a so-called homo advance?

There's a NSW state election in March 1999 and we should give the ALP and the Libs a bit of stick instead of pretending they will keep their promises if we don't rock the boats.

14) DEALING WITH SCHOOL HOMOPHOBIA
According to an article in Education, 26.10.98 (Journal of the NSW Teachers Federation) a NSW High School has developed its own programme for dealing with homophobia in the school community.

As part of staff development day in term 2, a two-hour session on homophobia was conducted to launch the programme. The film "Out in the Bush" was shown which demonstrates the prejudices suffered by many gay and lesbian high school students and the drastic effects on their whole school experience. Many of the staff found it quite confronting.

Nevertheless, the school was registered by the Anti-Violence Project for "Campaign Week - What are you scared of?" It provided a focus for the school to deal with the issue. During the campaign week, whole school activities involved all staff and all students from years 7 to 12. Discussions focussed on discrimination, defined homophobia and increased awareness of homosexual vilification. "Step ahead" activity highlighted the limited access to social services and lack of privilege experienced by people who are "different".

Comments and behaviour of students have indicated positive changes in awareness of acceptable and fair behaviour towards those who are different. Students have also become more open in talking about the issues.

Further programmes are planned, even a parent session is envisaged, and other schools are invited to contact this school (Smiths Hill HS) for information and recommending  "Resources for Teaching Against Violence" which Smiths Hill HS says is invaluable in all schools.

15) FREEDOM VERSUS ANTI-VILIFICATION?
An LGS Member, Sister MMQC, attended the recent Australian Centre for Lesbian and Gay Research public lecture to hear David Marr on the topic "Can we square freedom with anti-vilification laws?"

MMQC picked up some interesting information from the lecture which he wanted to share with the editors. It seems the NSW Law Reform Commission is trying again to put religion under the Anti-Discrimination Act. Even more worrying, he says, is that a NSW right wing ALP member of the Lower House of Parliament is campaigning for anti-vilification laws to cover religion. Maybe we should support this guy. It would be fun, MMQC thinks, to be able to prosecute christian fundies for threatening hellfire to (gay and other) atheists under anti-religious - vilification laws!

We can still argue for the removal of exemptions for religion under the existing anti-discrimination law. The argument for these laws is the same as the "rabbid rite" in the USA (and Pauline) - "special laws for homosexuals". At the same time, MMQC says, push to abolish special laws for the churches which give them many benefits (most local councils would agree).

Further to the religious ramblings above, the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops again was a showcase of the church"s homophobia. The representatives from African countries (KENYA AND OTHERS) made it quite plain that homosexuality was an aberration - and worse - a disease - and was not part of African lifestyles and cultures.

In Australia argument continues in all christian churches about acceptance of homosexuality. Religions are assisted in their homophobia in NSW, where religious exemptions are built into Anti-Discrimination legislation.

It is time this legislation was amended of such exemptions, and to this end, once again, we would remind those people living in New South Wales, that a State election is due in March 1999 in which they can show their feelings for those politicians who are unwilling to change legislation so that we all have the same human rights under the law.

Until this occurs it will be necessary for gay and lesbian activists to step up their activism, not shelter behind the argument of what has already been achieved since 1969 - the Stonewall Inn riots which saw the start of the modern gay and lesbian rights movements around the world.

16) THE NSW STATE ELECTION 
is due in March 1999. For those of you who have not yet written to or emailed Bob Carr about his pre-election promises to gays and lesbians in 1995 - you should either phone the Hon. R Carr MP Premier of NSW on 9349 6440 or fax 9349 4594 or email acarr@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Also INQUIRY INTO DE FACTO RELATIONSHIP LEGISLATION documents are available from Dr Jennifer Knight, Standing Committee on Social Issues, phone 9230 3078 or fax 9230 2981 or email sociss@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Submissions must be lodged by 11 December 1998. Get your copies and make your submissions as soon as possible.

Channel 9 website ran a vote on whether people support same sex couples having the same legal rights as other couples. Results as at 22 October 1998 were: yes 1164 or 73%, no 429 or 27%. website: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/National/19981019_975355_000_6679.htm

17) AUSTRALIAN LESBIAN AND GAY ARCHIVES - ALGA
On 12 September 1998 a 20th anniversary dinner was held in Melbourne to honour the originator and founder of the Archives, Graham Carbery.

About 50 people attended the dinner at which the present president, Graham Willett, spoke about the role Graham Carbery had played in proposing, establishing, housing and running the Archives over a period of many years from its inception. As Graham had also been an "Aussie Rules" referee for some years, he was presented with a cake in the shape of a rugby ball and iced in rainbow colours on a chocolate icing background. All the speeches praised Carbery's role over the years, and hoped he would continue to play a part in the running of the Archives, together with his long-time partner Gary Jaynes, who is, and has been, actively involved from the beginning.

18) INTER SECTION
The group has achieved the inclusion of sexual minorities  on the list of those for whom social planning guidelines have been established by the NSW Department of Local Government. Although gays and lesbians are not yet in the mandatory category, InterSection will continue to press for this inclusion.

The group also sent emails to all local government councils in NSW to ask them to provide information as to what steps they were taking to implement these recommendations. To date about 20 of 170 councils have responded, most of whom claim amazingly that they do not discriminate against sexual minorities.

InterSection has also contacted a new group, ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA AND ACCESS ALLIANCE: "Lesbians, Gays, Transgenders, Bisexuals and Heterosexuals working for change in Penrith, Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains" with a view to exchanging information and possibly joint meetings. The group can be contacted at c/- PO Box 197 Katoomba NSW 2780.

19) SPAIDS
has had 3 further tree plantings in Sydney Park in 1998 to remember people who have died of AIDS, who were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust period, and who have been murdered over the years by homophobic acts of violence.

To this end, SPAIDS will, at its first planting in 1999, commemorate the murder of Matthew Shepard in the USA, a gay hate murder of the worst possible sort with the most revolting violence accompanying the act. There are various web sites for those who have access and wish for further information: www.hrc.org and www.mattshepard.org

South Sydney Council is currently seeking community suggestions for its Public Art Strategy for Sydney Park which includes ideas for a permanent memorial marking for the AIDS Memorial Groves. Closing date: 27 November 1998, addressed to Cultural Development Officer, PO Box 103, Beaconsfield, NSW 2014.

SPAIDS has now amalgamated its records of the 14 plantings into one list, and this will be updated after each planting. This list is held by Mannie De Saxe who can be contacted at email: josken at zipworld.com.au   As well as for ...

SPAIDS T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE - LARGE SIZE ONLY $15, and the book:

A HISTORY OF THE SYDNEY GAY AND LESBIAN MARDI GRAS (CARBERY) $10