ISSN 1446-4896 ISSUE 3, 1999, NUMBER 43
JULY - SEPTEMBER 1999

1) INTERSECTION: ACCESSING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES:

A few weeks ago, the Sydney Star Observer journalist, David Mills, reported (SSO 19.8.99) that the Tweed Shire Council had developed an issues paper which looked specifically at the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people living in the area.  The paper, "Sexual Minorities in the Tweed Shire", is being hailed by Rodney Croome, Outlink Officer of the Human Rights & Equal Opportunities Commission, as a blueprint for councils across the country.

Rodney Croome may well be right.  However, Tweed Shire Council is but one of the 177 NSW Councils which has had to address the sexual minorities situation throughout the state.

For the first time planning guidelines were issued by the NSW Department of Local Government in May last year covering the needs of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. This is what the Department's Social/Comrnunity Planning & Reporting Manual had to say in Appendix A:

a)            Identify the degree to which gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people are isolated;

b)            Identify the barriers experienced by gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in assesing council facilities, services and processes.

Councils were informed that they should make sure their planning takes into account the needs of sexual minority citizens living in their communities and that they comply with State and Commonwealth anti-discrimination legislation.

Furthermore councils should be aware of privacy concerns when conducting a needs analysis for this target group. Many people within this group face direct or indirect discrimination as a result of their sexual preference, so councils need to be sensitive to these issues when assessing the needs of this target group.

So, how come councils are being told to prepare a social plan in accordance with Department guidelines that addresses our needs?

In 1997, InterSection, a group that works to ensure sexual minority access to appropriate community services met with social planners to discuss the inability of their procedures to identify the needs of sexual minorities in the population.  Most councils had safety committees that ignored homophobic violence, libraries that were poorly resourced for sexual minority citizens and local community services that had nothing to offer them.

These were findings revealed in the Crossroads Tolerance Report by Christine Bird from a survey conducted in the Sutherlard Shire between 1995-1996.  InterSection was formed at Christine Bird's instigation and ended up with representatives from Crossroads Community Care Centre, Local Community Services Association, Access-Plus and Lesbian and Gay Solidarity as the key participants.

InterSection alerted the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW (ADB) with the findings and also wrote to a selected number of suburban and rural councils enclosing a summary of the Tolerance Report findings and requesting feedback on the situation for sexual minorities in their communities. Most who replied claimed they didn't have any! In March 1998 the Department of Urban Affairs and Local Government issued issued draft planning guidelines for NSW. InterSection advised the ADB and peak gay, lesbian and transgender groups of the draft and submitted its own proposal guidelines for inclusion on sexual minorities.

InterSection's proposal was accepted in its entirety.

InterSection currently is working with Christine Bird to finalise a social planning kit and in building a case on the anomalies that exclude sexual minorities from being seen by government departments as a social justice issue and a disadvantaged community.

There is still much work to be done on assisting councils to recognise their shortcomings. InterSection would welcome more help from gay, lesbian and transgender groups who understand the difficulties and indirect discrmination their members suffer in endevouring to access government services.

InterSection can be contacted by phoning Christine Bird on (02) 9525 3790.

2) NET CENSORSHIP: 

The following is a complete letter published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 1st April 1999 under the heading: "A tangled Web".

"My dear friends John H., Brian H. and Richard A., at Parliament House, Canberra. 

You would have me believe that your concerns to restrict phone-sex and to censor Web sites arise genuinely out of a concern for our children's moral welfare.

Is it unreasonable if I ask you - as rational gentlemen - to be consistent? That would seem to mean a policy imposing equal strictures on all communications media likely to pose a moral threat to children, at least as substantial as that posed by phone-sex and naked body pictures.  At present count, there are 250 Internet Web sites dedicated to white supremacy, Aryan superiority, Nazism, and the hatred of specific minorities.  More appear daily.  All are at least as accessible to my children and yours as any pornography site.

None, significantly unlike pornography sites, requires evidence of age before access to their hateful manifestos. Any schoolchildren can take lessons in hating their fellow humans, whenever they care to log on.

Kindly inform me and fellow Australians whether you now also intend censoring these at least equally, abhorrent Web sites and, if not, explain why you bother to censor anything at all that unless perchance, for pure political advantage."

From (Dr) Lee W. Andresen, Ballina.

Those specific minorities include gay and lesbian hate sites of which one of the best known is http://www. godhatesfags.com - but there are numerous others.  We need to list them so that we can attack our enemies and play them at their own game.  Send your nominated sites to the editors and we will print them in future newsletters.  Here are a few to be going on with:

http://www.yoderanium.com/webhome/aidscuresfags

http://www.crusader.net/texts/cng

http://www.christiangallery.com         

http://www.godhatesamerica.com

http://www.enyart.com

http://www.melvig.org/mel/MELVIG.htm

CHICK PUBLICATIONS- "Doom Town"

3) NEW BOOKS:

"A SYDNEY GAZE -the making of gay liberation" by Craig Johnston. 

A collection of his articles, speeches and conference papers over 25 years of gay liberation politics from 1973. "Despite oppression, we survive.  We enjoy.  Because we continue to define what being gay is about.  Love and life.  Years of words spoken in pride, pain, fun, exasperation, anger, defiance, hope, cheek." Should be available at The Bookshop in Oxford Street, Taylor Square. $25, or also probably at gleebooks, Glebe.

"ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS" by Julie Fuad. 

Her daughter Melanie died from HIV / AIDS and in a fresh, unsentimental style, the author conveys compassion, spirit and insight. The book proves that nobody is really safe but that AIDS is preventable.  Fuad says that the aim of the story is to change the perception of many young people, particularly young girls and women who still think AIDS is something that can't happen to them.  Available from most bookshops or direct from FUAD Publications, 1 Evans Street, Bellingen NSW 2454, for $23.95 + $5 Postage and handling,

"HAUNTED BY THE PAST", Dr Ruby Langford-Ginibi's fourth book tells the story of her son's life and his incarceration, it includes some of the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody cases that are still screaming for justice to occur.  Dr Langford-Ginibi, an Aboriginal author, is an historian and a lecturer on Aboriginal history, culture and politics as well as a fiercely proud Bundjalung woman.  From major bookshops $17..95

"LOOKING FOR Ms. WARSCEWICZ" by Ian MacNeill. A school novel for adults.  "Not long ago, Eva, just back from Cambridge with a PhD determined to do something useful.  She found herself in the classrooms of an ordinary Australian high school ----- Available from specialist bookshops or direct from Mieli Press, PO Box 738, Potts Point, NSW 1335 for $14.40 +$5 postage and handling.

4) INDIAN PRIDE MARCH:

The Asian Age and the Times of India, both from Calcutta, carried reports in their issues of  Saturday 3 July 1999, together with photos, of the first Indian Gay Pride march to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Stonewall riots which broke out in New York in June 1969.  The Times reported "Dressed in bright yellow T-shirts, 15 men from different parts of the country, walked together to help the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community emerge from the closet and be accepted.  'We are a small group out in the open but there are millions with us.  They just need to know they are not alone,' said Humsafar Trust chief Ashok Row Kavi".

Owais Khan, one of the conveners, visited Australia in April / May 1999, and joined us on May Day before the march through Sydney.  It was a good opportunity for some international solidarity and we were able to offer support to the group in their efforts to work for change for gays and lesbians in India.

The group's Gay Pride walk was all the more significant in view of the ferocious uproar when the Indian film "Fire" was released some months earlier.  Two women were seen to be having a lesbian relationship, and some of the conservative Hindu groups were outraged and attacked the cinema where the film was first released.

We wish the group much success and hope to be able to offer them further support in the future.

5) DONATIONS:

 Our thanks to those who have sent us donations to help with the costs of producing the newsletters.

6) SPAIDS:

Last year (1998) South Sydney City Council called for suggestions on the types of artworks suitable for Sydney Park.  SPAIDS co-coordinator made a submission for an imaginative permanent AIDS memorial and we waited for the outcome from the Council.  Due to problems which arose at the time, nothing further was done about submissions received, but this year changes have occurred and it seems Council have renewed their interest in the scheme and discussions are proceeding.  We will continue to urge council to develop the natural and unusual elements in the SPAIDS presentation which will provide a focus for the AIDS Memorial Groves in Sydney Park.

SPAIDS 17th planting took place on Sunday, 5 September 1999.  We have now planted about 6 000 trees and recorded about 1500 names in our register which is updated after every planting.  This was the last planting for 1999 - and this century!! - but we hope to resume plantings in 2000, when Council will provide dates early in the New Century and new year.  The first planting of the new year will probably be about May/June 2000.

Andrew Goldie,  South Sydney's landscape architect, who with the new gay and lesbian liason officer, Berenice Carrington, has been so very supportive of SPAIDS, leaves South Sydney to take up a new position with Sutherland Shire.  We wish Andy every success.  The new South Sydney landscape architect, Simon Shaw, was present at the latest planting and indicated his special support for the SPAIDS project.

7) ALGA HISTORY CONFERENCE:

New dates for the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives second history conference were announced last month.  It will be held now at Melbourne University over two days - Friday 19 November and Saturday 20 November 1999.  Following the success of last year's conference, various unexplored aspects of Australia's camp, homo, lesbian, gay, tranny and queer histories are likely to emerge this year.  For inquiries and information contact ALGA, PO Box 124, Parkville, Vic. 3052 or email Dr Graham Willett at gwillett@unimelb.edu.au

8) ACLGR:

The Australian Centre for Lesbian and Gay Research urgently needs your support as members and to assist with fund-raising for the Organisation.  Contact them at Building H31, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, or phone (02) 9351 5561

(This organisation was closed down somewhere around 2002 due to lack of community interest and involvement.)

9) AGE OF CONSENT:

A report from the BBC online network dated 23 July 1999, headlined "Rethink for gay consent age" states that the UK Government is to try again to lower the age of consent for gay men to 16.  "Home Secretary, Jack Straw, has announced that the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill will be reintroduced in the Queen's Speech, which will open the next session of Parliament in November (1999)." Mr. Straw has, pledged to invoke the Parliament Act to override the Lords if necessary.  The House of Lords has twice voted against the proposals by large majorities, but because the Parliament has the ability to override the Lords, this will be done in the event of the Lords turning the bill down for a third time.

It is now imperative for pressure to be maintained in Australia on both Federal and State parliaments to enter the 20th century by equalising the age of consent for homosexual males with that of heterosexual males - in all states and territories in Australia.

There is still too much discrimination against the gay and lesbian communities entrenched in legislation in Australia, leading to gay and lesbian hate crimes because of the homophobia taught and maintained in our societies.

10) UK ARMY AND HOMOPHOBIA:

Peter Mandelson was one of the people responsible for the election of the Blair "Labour" Government in 1997.  He had to resign earlier this year from the position he held in the Government, and is now attempting to obtain a new position as Defence Secretary.  However, according to a report in the electronic Telegraph (UK), dated 22 August 1999, Defence chiefs have advised Tony Blair that it would be difficult to appoint Mandelson to that position because of his homosexuality.  Blair may decide to ignore the advice from the Ministry of Defence, but has put off any decision for the time being.  If the UK government caves in under pressure from the Defence Ministry, this will be yet another triumph of homophobia over progress, and will set the clock for total reform of the UK army approach to homosexuals back once again, and the fight will have to be fought all over again.

As every one knows anyway, homosexuals in the UK armed forces have been at the forefront of major positions, and includes people who have led troops into battle in some of the UK's major war involvements - no names, no pack drill! As they say in the classics!

11) BLOOD DONATIONS FOR GAY MEN:

A report from q online from South Africa, dated 15 July 1999 highlights once again the discrimination faced by lesbians and gay men in communities around the world.  Despite the new Constitution adopted by the first democratic goverment in South Afiica, a gay radio presenter's blood has been rejected by the transfusion service in South Afirica.  Despite blood tests confirming HIV negative status, the radio presenter, Andrew Barnes, was barred from donating blood on the basis of his sexual orientation.

At a time throughout the world where blood donations are in short supply, where tests have proved so far to be effective (the recent case in Australia involving a teenage girl who needed blood for an operation and was given blood from a female donor who later tested positive, and the recipient has now become HIV positive, this being one case in 14 million since screening was adopted) and where countries like Australia and South Africa have testing procedures in place to guarantee safety for recipients, there seem to be no reasons for continuing to refuse donations from gay men who are otherwise eligible.This continued discrimination is another fight that has not yet ended, and. again, pressure needs to be maintained on governments to achieve change.


12) TWO STARS PROJECT:
In Newcastle CSN, ACON, and both the Mothers and the Fathers support groups, have combined to promote and raise funds for a memorial book of Hunter AIDS Quilt Panels.  The book is already in production and is expected to be launched on the 1999 World AIDS Day, 1st December. The title for the book, "Two Stars", was chosen from a chance remark by a small child whose parents have both died from HIV/AIDS.  'That's Mummy and that's Daddy", the child exclaimed indicating two bright stars close together in the evening sky.  A fundraiser in the form of a trivia quiz night was held in Newcastle on 20 August 1999.  The event was a great success.  Overall it raised $1300.  CSN Hunter tells us that the project still has a way to go in raising the final amount to cover production costs and welcomes further donations.  For more information phone Rosemary or MaryAnne on (02) 4929 3464.


13) HIROSHIMA DAY RALLY:
Lesbian and Gay Solidarity has continued to demostrate a visible presence at Hiroshima Day marches and rallies, and this year on Sunday 8 August, was no exception.  Unfortunately our community media ignored our releases and emails evinced only a tiny response from our friends, but, nevertheless, we marched.  We consider it essential to remind a complacent Sydney, especially, in the countdown to Y2K, of the offensive danger to human life of nuclear weapons.  How can we be sure that the computerised systems of these deadly weapons can be relied upon to remain safely inactive in all the countries which possess these weapons, as we pass from 1999 to 2000? Mining of uranium in Australia adds to this peril.

14) MEXICO AND OTHER HOMOPHOBIC COUNTRIES:

The news from Mexico is not good - but then, the news from most countries is not good, only some countries are less NOT GOOD than others! The following is a report from PlanetOut (NewsPlanet Staff - with thanks to GAIN and Rex Wockner) filed on 26 August 1998 - one year ago: Mexico's Citizen Commission Against Homophobic Hate Crimes distributed a report to the Spanish and European Parliaments citing the assassinations of 125 gays 'with -viciousness and extreme violence' since April 1995.  In May (1998) "Processo" magazine reported increasing numbers of Mexican gays seeking asylum in the USA.  It has caused Deputy David Sanchez Comacho to tell the Mexico City Council that 'Arbitrary discrimination exclusion and segregation against homosexuals and lesbians affects all facets of their lives, from the family in which they suffer the first rejection, to social repudiation -- including police extortion raids on gay gathering spots, beatings, firings, being kicked out of rented housing due to the stigmatisation of which they are the object on up to unpunished murders'." Journalist Carlos Bonfil is quoted as saying, ' In the history of Mexico, homosexuals have been burned alive, systematically morally lynched, disowned by their families, fired from their jobs, imprisoned, banished from their hometowns -excommunicated and murdered - solely for the crime of their sexual orientation."

A year later, the Sydney Star Observer reported on 19 August 1999 that about 500 homosexual murders have been committed in Mexico over the last four years, but not one case has been resolved, according to press agency Inter Press Service (IPS).

Send protests to the Mexican Embassy in Canberra and boycott travel to Mexico - another on our growing list of countries for us to exercise our rights to travel boycotts as tourists.  PlanetOut Staff reported on 6 August 1999 re FLORIDA HATE CRIMES: "Florida Attorney General, Bob Butterworth, on 5 August released new statistics on hate crimes in the state in 1998.  Overall, hate crimes increased 27% from 160 in 1997 to 203 in 1998.  This increase is largely attributed to improved reporting by law enforcement, although hate crimes are still believed to be grossly undereported.  About half of the hate crimes were assaults.  By category of bias motivation, the largest number of hate crimes were racist but homophobic crimes were second with 14% of reported incidents."

15) HIV / AIDS REPORT:

On 31 August 1999, the Sydney Morning Herald carried a report from Atlanta USA that deaths from AIDS declined 20% in the USA between 1997 and 1998.  However, in its edition of 1st September the following day, a report from Washington stated that researchers report that a decline in AIDS deaths in the USA that began three years ago has begun levelling off, with worrying signs that new HIV infections may be rising among young gay men.  Experts said that new statistics offered evidence that the epidemic was far from being under control.

16) THE WOMEN'S LIBRARY:

This year another birthday passes for the Library, but this one can hardly be said to be celebratory.  Apart from a rental subsidy from South Sydney City Council for the Newtown premises, the library has been unable to attract recurrent government funding.  It is now in dire straits and has announced that it will be restricting opening hours and will have to reduce its staff.  It will open only on Saturdays and Sundays 11 am to 5pm.  Closed monday to Friday.  There's to be a special general meeting at the Library, 8-10 Brown Street Newtown, on Sunday 19 September at 1 pm to discuss the future viability of The Women's Library.  Further information from (02) 9557 7060.

17) BOOKS & T-SHIRTS.

Graham Carberry's excellent "A History of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras " $10 . A1so T-shirts with the slogan "Stonewall was a riot...... now we need a revolution," $15 available from us at LGS (see masthead for addresses).