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Sunday, Sep 07, 2008
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Rex Wockner |
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| International News | |
| La Paz pride
dynamited A float was dynamited at Gay pride in La Paz, Bolivia, June 30, according to late-arriving reports. Six marchers were injured in the blast that took place during the pre-parade lineup. Pride events in three other Bolivian cities - Cochabamba, Tarija and Santa Cruz - took place without incident. There have been problems in previous years in Santa Cruz and La Paz, with protesters throwing tomatoes and rotten eggs at the marchers. This year's events in Cochabamba and Tarija were the first for those cities. A Cochabamba daily newspaper reported "an overflow of glamour, joy, luxury, color and respect" as thousands of Cochabambinos danced their way from the Plaza of the Flags to Columbus Plaza. New British PM supports Gays New British Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed his support for Gays July 17, answering a series of questions from readers of PinkNews.co.uk. "I am proud of this Government's record on Gay rights," Brown wrote. "I think this Government has made a huge amount of progress: for example, we've equalised the age of consent, repealed [the anti-Gay law] Section 28, and made it illegal to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation. I can promise this Government will continue to do all it can to make Britain a fairer and more tolerant place." Brown said he was "very pleased ... to put on record" his support for the UK's civil-partnership law, which grants registered Gay couples all the rights of marriage. And he said the government has "announced an international strategy to promote rights overseas, which includes Britain's commitment to the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality." Further, the prime minister promised to do more "to tackle homophobic bullying in schools [and] discrimination in the workplace." Sperm donor stops Lesbian couple from emigrating A sperm donor in Dublin, Ireland, has stopped the mother of his son and her Lesbian partner from moving to Australia. The Supreme Court ruled 2-1 that the women could not relocate the man's 14-month-old son overseas without the man's consent. The man and the boy's mother had signed a contract agreeing the child would be told who his father is and granting the father visitation rights. But the relationship between the man and the Lesbians later soured (the parties have not been named) and the couple began restricting the man's access to the boy and announced they were going to Australia for a year. The man sued to stop the trip, and also is now suing for joint custody. U.N. grants more Gay groups official status Sweden's leading national Gay group, RFSL, and Canada's Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec are the latest GLBT organizations to achieve consultative status at the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The council welcomed the Canadian group July 20 in a 22-13 vote with 13 abstentions and six countries not present. The vote for the Swedish group was 22-12 with 12 abstentions and eight nations missing. The United States voted in favor of both groups. Other supportive nations included Albania, Bolivia, Czech Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Lithuania, Mexico, Romania, and a number of predictably Gay-friendly countries. Opposition came from Algeria, Belarus, Benin, China, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Somalia and Sudan. Consultative status allows organizations to access U.N. meetings, deliver oral and written reports, contact country representatives and organize events. Last year, three Gay groups received the status: the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians, the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany, and the European branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association. Other Queer groups with the status include the U.S.-based International Wages Due Lesbians and Australia's Coalition of Activist Lesbians. Nearly 2,900 organizations have ECOSOC consultative status. (RFSL used to stand for Riksförbundet för sexuellt likaberättigande [National Federation for Sexual Equality]. The group now calls itself simply RFSL, but also changed its long-form name to National Federation for Homosexuals', Bisexuals' and Transpersons' Rights [Riksförbundet för homosexuellas, bisexuellas och transpersoners rättigheter]. The Québécois group's name is not translated in English-language Quebec media.) Changes sought in Slovenian partnership law SKUC-LL, the Lesbian section of Slovenia's Students' Cultural Center, has sent the government several proposed changes to the nation's same-sex partnership law. The National Assembly passed the law in 2005, by a vote of 44-3, without consulting with GLBT organizations. The measure grants registered couples spousal rights in the areas of property, support, housing, hospital visitation and, partly, inheritance. It withholds equality in the areas of social security, health insurance, pensions, taxation and next of kin. "The current law imposes the duty to take care for partner if he/she is sick. But at the same time registered partners are not entitled to get a sick-leave for partner or partner's child," SKUC-LL's Tatjana Greif said in an e-mail. "Foreign partner registered to a Slovenian partner is not entitled to get a residence permit." Only 12 couples registered under the law in the first year of its existence. "The reason is the lack of trust among Gays and Lesbians in existing legal solution, with limited protection scope and no social security," Greif said. "[The law] was a fundamental step towards equal rights of sexual minorities in Slovenia [but] this is still not equality." Buju Banton signs anti- homophobia pledge Buju Banton has joined fellow Jamaican reggae-dancehall singers Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton in signing an agreement to stop bashing Gays in their music. Banton's huge hit Boom Bye Bye advocates shooting Gay men, dumping acid on them and setting them alight. Under the Reggae Compassionate Act, written by reggae promoters working with activists from the international Stop Murder Music campaign, the four performers will not release new anti-Gay songs, perform their earlier Gay-bashing material or make homophobic public statements. The document states, "There's no space in the music community for hatred and prejudice, including no place for racism, violence, sexism or homophobia." "I really hope that [Banton's] actions are genuine and it is not just because international pressure is hurting his pocket," commented Carl Edmonson of the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays. The Stop Murder Music campaign, headed by British Gay leader Peter Tatchell, has provoked cancellations in several countries of concerts by the four singers and fellow Gay-bashing dancehall singers Elephant Man, TOK, Bounty Killa and Vybz Kartel, who have not signed the agreement. Some of the singers also have lost sponsorship deals because of the campaign's initiatives. Meanwhile, The Jamaica Observer newspaper reported July 22 that Beenie Man is denying he signed the agreement. "Mi neva sign it, yuh hear sah," the singer reportedly told the paper. "I do music. Dancehall mi do, I can't promise nuh man dat." But Tatchell provided this column a copy of a signed document, which can be seen on the Web at tinyurl.com/yo63db. Beenie Man's real name is Moses Davis. In the Observer interview, Beenie Man also said he feels Gay sex is wrong but that Gays don't deserve death. "We don't need to kill dem," he said. "We just need fi tell the people dem the right ting because I not supporting a Gay lifestyle because it's not wholesome to me." Samples of some of the dancehall singers' Gay-bashing lyrics are on Tatchell's Web site at tinyurl.com/2xax3b. |
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| Quote/Unquote | |
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| "[I]f our Constitution really means what it says, that all are created equal, if it really means what it says, that there should be equality of opportunity before the law, then our brothers and sisters who happen to be Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender should have the same rights accorded to them as anyone else, and that includes the ability to have a civil marriage ceremony."
-Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich at the CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate, July 23. "How would I want my two daughters treated if they grew up and had a different sexual orientation than their parents? Good jobs, equal opportunity, to be able to retire, to visit each other, to be with each other, as other people do. So I feel very strongly, if you ask yourself the question, 'How would you like your children treated if they had a different sexual orientation than their parents?' the answer is, 'Yes, they ought to have that ability in civil unions.' I don't go so far as to call for marriage. I believe marriage is between a man and a woman." -Presidential candidate Christopher Dodd at the CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate, July 23. "I would do what is achievable. What I think is achievable is full civil unions with full marriage rights." -Presidential candidate Bill Richardson at the CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate, July 23. "I feel enormous personal conflict about this issue [same-sex marriage]. I want to end discrimination. I want ... equal rights, substantive rights, civil unions ... but I personally have been on a journey on this issue. I feel enormous conflict about it. As I think a lot of people know ... my wife Elizabeth spoke out a few weeks ago, and she actually supports Gay marriage. I do not. But this is a very, very difficult issue for me. And I recognize and have enormous respect for people who have a different view of it." -Presidential candidate John Edwards at the CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate, July 23. "I remember hearing [former GOP Sen. Rick] Santorum ranting about how homosexual marriage threatens heterosexual marriage. I could be wrong, but I think heterosexual marriage is threatened more by heterosexuals. I don't know why Gay marriage challenges my marriage in any way." -Elizabeth Edwards, wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, to Salon.com, July 17. "[W]e've got to make sure that everybody is equal under the law. And the civil unions that I proposed would be equivalent in terms of making sure that all the rights that are conferred by the state are equal for same-sex couples as well as for heterosexual couples. Now, with respect to marriage, it's my belief that it's up to the individual denominations to make a decision as to whether they want to recognize marriage or not. But in terms of, you know, the rights of people to transfer property, to have hospital visitation, all those critical civil rights that are conferred by our government, those should be equal." -Presidential candidate Barack Obama at the CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate, July 23. "My only ask was that if his [Dick Cheney's] daughter doubted my tolerance to her [Lesbian] orientation that I would hope that he would help make it clear to Mary that this is a - I was just worried about - the reason I'd federalized the issue [of same-sex marriage] is because I was worried about the courts' defining the issue and that we'd end up with de facto marriage that was not traditionally defined, I guess is the best way to put it." -President George W. Bush to Weekly Standard writer Stephen F. Hayes in his new book "Cheney: The Untold Story of America's Most Powerful and Controversial Vice President," as reported by The New Republic, July 16. "You know when we lost everything, it was the Gay people that came to my rescue and I will always love them for that." -Tammy Faye (Bakker) Messner on TV's Larry King Live, July 19. She died the following day, of lung cancer. "I feel great about it [being a Gay icon] because I feel that it's a platform for my purpose, which is to bring the love and music of Christ to all of my fans. And because they trust me, I think, they know my music is honest and they believe me to be honest, and perhaps, because of that, they will follow where I'm leading. I want to lead them to Christ and what he has for them, not what I have for them. I have no hell for anyone to go to. I want to lead them to him, I want to lead them to truth. ... I want to lead them to Christ, simply, and whatever he has for them." -Singer Gloria (I Will Survive) Gaynor to BBC Radio 4, July 13. The final sentence was a response to the question, "That doesn't necessarily mean to you that you see homosexuality as something sinful?" Gaynor paused before answering the question. "I don't give a shit. I've never cared about the Gay rumor. It's so stupid. It's funny because people are always infatuated with that. A lot of the guys that say that are the typical guys that are insecure with themselves. I've heard so many rumors about so many people being Gay that it's ridiculous. I've sure you've heard a million." -Singer Enrique Iglesias to the New York Gay magazine HX, July 7. "It's [Lesbians] such an insular community - at least, it is in LA. It's so very small - really, that six degrees of separation thing where so many women have slept with so many others and all know each other." -The L Word star Jennifer Beals to the British Lesbian glossy Diva, August issue. "The Gay community has been my constant supporter. I used to sing in wet bars at four a.m. - I am not even sure such bars exist anymore. Not only did they have respect for me but they also paid me well. I have had many, many setbacks, heartaches, losses and even though I have been very, very low I have never seen rock bottom and that is because when the rest of the world didn't want anything to do with me, the Gay community supported me, they literally kept me from a life on the streets. But for them I would not exist. They have been very faithful to me. God is faithful too. So it's God and the Gay community that have kept me here." -Dreamgirls original Jennifer Holliday to Ohio's Gay People's Chronicle, June 22. "I have been a supporter [of the Human Rights Campaign] for six years now. Basically the Gay community has been my sole source of survival, especially when I was really down and out. So this is my way of giving back. If lending my name can help them then that's great. I wish I have money of my own to give but I'm not wealthy." -Dreamgirls original Jennifer Holliday to Ohio's Gay People's Chronicle, June 22. "I had gastric bypass surgery and lost two hundred pounds. I had always assumed that all my problems were connected to my weight. And then when I lost the weight I realized I still had the problems. I didn't have a career, I didn't have a boyfriend, I can't get along with people. And even recently I have had many losses, many heartaches. I lost my mother to cancer, a couple of relationships that failed. But I am trying to move on. I am beginning to find out how to make it all work, hoping I will survive, that I will make it." -Dreamgirls original Jennifer Holliday to Ohio's Gay People's Chronicle, June 22. "It would be impertinent of me to comment on Singapore society but this happens to be a law [the Gay-sex ban] that I find personally offensive and I don't think it should be on the statute books because it inhibits my free behavior as an openly Gay man. I feel free to comment on behalf of people who do have to suffer laws which the British empire invented and left behind. The press like to talk to actors. They mustn't be surprised when actors talk back to them. We are privileged that we have access to the media and our opinions sometimes are reported and I appreciate that. But I only speak on things that I am an expert on. ... You won't hear me talk about my politics, you won't hear me talk about my vegetarianism, you won't hear me comment on the Iraq war. You'll only hear me talk about being Gay and being an actor. I am just public on those two issues." -Sir Ian McKellen speaking to Reuters in Singapore, July 19. "[T]he fire chief is Gay, the mayor has Gay senior staff, a City Council member and a state senator are Gay, a superior court judge is Gay, the county's district attorney and innumerable lesser officials: Gay, Gay, Gay. Forget 'Don't ask, don't tell.' In millennial San Diego, the motto these days is, 'Who knows, who cares?'" -Writer Eric Wolff in the San Diego weekly newspaper CityBEAT, July 18. "[W]hen you're single and you've finally made it past the age when you've felt both love's deepest tongue probings and also its most random horror-flick slashings, past the age when getting moronically drunk every weekend and hooking up is the ultimate goal and you've had enough sex to fill a thousand porn movies and everyone around you is no longer on some sort of giddy, wide-eyed first-adult-relationship must-get-married must-have-babies track of impossibly optimistic utopian desire, what it means, at least for me, is that you get to become this odd sort of sounding board - a blank slate of love's warped potential, a reason for others to extrapolate on the nature of love and life and sex and how goddamn difficult/wonderful/impossible it all really is." -Straight San Francisco Chronicle columnist Mark Morford, who frequently writes about Gay stuff, in his July 25 column. |
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