Friday May 11, 2007 SGN.org |
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Volume 35 Issue 19 |
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Friday, Aug 29, 2008
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Rex Wockner |
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| International News | |
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GAY PRIDE THWARTED AGAIN IN MOLDOVA Gay pride didn't go well in Moldova for the third year in a row. Authorities in the capital, Chisinau, banned all public pride activities again, despite a Supreme Court ruling that last year's ban was illegal. The city says pride events threaten public order, offend Christian values and promote sexual propaganda. Despite the ban, Gay activists attempted to lay flowers April 27 at a monument to victims of repression. They were stopped by police, who said a permit was required for the action. The flowers were then deposited at the officers' feet, said Boris Balanetkii, head of the pride organizing group GenderDoc-M. "Police [said] GenderDoc-M has to have official permission of the City Hall to hold this event [but] later a representative of City Hall commented in an interview ... that the actions of the police were not correct and in order to lay flowers there is no need for any permission," Balanetkii said. Later in the day, about 20 activists went to City Hall and stood in front of it for 15 minutes with their mouths taped shut with rainbow stickers. Police allowed the protest and protected the activists from about 30 counterdemonstrators from an extremist youth organization, Balanetkii said. "This event showed that the public disorder, of which the members of the City Hall [are] so afraid, did not take place, and the majority of the people who were witnesses of the event were peaceful," Balanetkii said. "We consider it was the first small victory in the fight of the LGBT community for the freedom of assembly in Moldova. [We will] do our best that next year a public manifestation of the LGBT community will take place not only as protest action but as a pride parade." Activists from the Netherlands, Sweden (including Member of the European Parliament Maria Carlshamre), Romania, Canada and Ukraine traveled to Chisinau to participate in the pride activities, which also included cultural events, concerts, forums, a soccer match and the Moldovan premiere of The Vagina Monologues. EURO PARLIAMENT BLASTS POLAND ON GAY ISSUES The European Parliament passed a resolution April 26 criticizing government-sponsored legislation in Poland that would ban discussion of Gay topics in schools and punish teachers and principals who violate the proposed law with firing and a fine or jail time. The vote was 325 to 124 with 150 abstentions. "These kinds of people cannot work with children," Polish Deputy Minister of Education Miroslaw Orzechowski told local radio in March. "These activities need to be acted upon ... before it's too late to make a difference." Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister Roman Giertych also has spoken in favor of the legislation, saying, "Homosexual propaganda must ... be limited so children will have the correct view of the family. ... If we will not use all our power to strengthen the family, then as a continent there is no future for us. We will be a continent settled by representatives of the Islamic world who care for the family." The Euro resolution also calls for a Gay fact-finding mission to be sent to Poland, for worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality, and for the European Commission to launch court actions against European Union member states that breach EU obligations. Following the parliament's vote, Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski claimed that "nobody is limiting Gay rights in Poland." But he added: "If we're talking about not having homosexual propaganda in Polish schools, I fully agree with those who feel this way. Such propaganda should not be in schools; it definitely doesn't serve youth well. It's not in the interest of any society to increase the number of homosexuals -- that's obvious." Kaczynski previously has called Gays "perverse," and his twin brother, President Lech Kaczynski, has warned that if homosexuality "were to be promoted on a grand scale, the human race would disappear." In response to the Euro resolution, Patricia Prendiville, executive director of the European branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association, said, "Homophobia is, unfortunately, alive and well across Europe and the firm stance of the European Parliament is crucial for furthering the fight against discrimination and prejudice which LGBT people in Europe face on a daily basis." EARLY GAY-RIGHTS WRITINGS FOUND University of Manchester academic Dr. Hal Gladfelder has discovered pro-Gay writings from 1749 in the National Archives in Kew, England. The five-foot-long handwritten scroll is a legal indictment of the printer of a book by Thomas Cannon called "Ancient and Modern Pederasty Investigated and Exemplify'd." The book -- which contained stories and philosophical texts in defense of male homosexuality -- disappeared immediately after it was published, but the indictment reproduces many passages from it. One surviving extract states: "Unnatural desire is a contradiction in terms; downright nonsense. Desire is an amatory impulse of the inmost human parts." Gladfelder said the book "must be the first substantial treatment of homosexuality ever in English. The only other discussions of homosexuality were contained in violently moralistic and homophobic attacks or in trial reports for the crime of sodomy up to and beyond 1750." Gladfelder "came across the scroll in a box of uncatalogued legal documents from 1750." "[T]he 18th-century courts -- who were trying to suppress this -- unwittingly helped publicize it 258 years later," he said. Little is known about Cannon, but Gladfelder said he had to leave England to avoid indictment. "Interestingly, his father was dean of Lincoln Cathedral and his grandfather was bishop of Norwich and Ely," he said. "It's a fair assumption that Cannon was writing for a Gay subculture at the time," Gladfelder added. "Though he lived in anonymity -- possibly because of the notoriety of his pamphlet -- I certainly regard him as a martyr. His life has many parallels with Oscar Wilde, who was persecuted by the law, forced into exile, and effectively silenced for being an apologist and advocate of same-sex love." OUTGAMES TO HAND CREDITORS CRUMBS The financially disastrous 1st World Outgames, held last summer in Montreal, will pay its biggest creditors 15 or 20 cents of each dollar owed them. Creditors voted to accept the settlement April 25 rather than see the Outgames declare bankruptcy, which would have made it difficult for the Outgames to collect money it is still owed, leaving its creditors in a worse situation. The Outgames lost more than $5 million Canadian. Some $3 million of that has been written off by governments that loaned the organization money. There are 308 creditors remaining who are owed about $2.3 million. Of those, 121 who are owed $500 or less will get all their money, said the Montreal Gazette. More than 100 who are owed more than $500 have agreed to accept a flat settlement of $500. That will leave about 80 larger creditors who will receive pennies on the dollar. The Canadian dollar is worth about 90 cents U.S. BP CEO OUTED, RESIGNS The chief executive officer of BP (formerly called British Petroleum) resigned May 1 after London newspapers reported that he had a four-year relationship with a 27-year-old man he met through an escort service. The media also reported allegations that CEO John Browne, 59, had misused company funds, facilities and staff to support ex-boyfriend Jeff Chevalier's cell-phone ring-tone business. It also emerged that Browne had lied to a court about how he and Chevalier met, as Browne fought a months-long behind-the-scenes court battle to block publication of a story about the relationship by Associated Newspapers, publisher of The Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday and the Evening Standard. Browne had claimed the two met by chance while he was exercising in a public park. Browne also allegedly lied to the court, medical tests reportedly confirmed, in claiming that Chevalier was hooked on alcohol and drugs. "For the past 41 years of my career at BP I have kept my private life separate from my business life," Browne said in a statement announcing his departure. "I have always regarded my sexuality as a personal matter, to be kept private. It is a matter of personal disappointment that a newspaper group has now decided that allegations about my personal life should be made public. "I wish to acknowledge that I did formerly have a four-year relationship with Jeff Chevalier. ... I deny categorically any allegations of improper conduct relating to BP. "My initial witness statements, however, contained an untruthful account about how I first met Jeff. This account, prompted by my embarrassment and shock at the revelations, is a matter of deep regret. "These allegations will result inevitably in considerable media attention for both myself and BP. ... I have therefore informed the board of BP that I intend to stand down as group chief executive with immediate effect." |
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by Rex Wockner "When we try to have an honest debate about the crises we face, whether it's on the Senate floor or a Sunday talk show, the conversation isn't about finding common ground, it's about finding someone to blame. We're divided into red states and blue states, and told to always point the finger at somebody else -- the other party, or gay people, or immigrants." --Presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addressing the California Democratic State Convention, April 28 in San Diego. "Are you ready for a president again who actually respects science and believes we ought to listen to scientists on -- oh, let's say, global climate change and stem cell research? Are you ready for a government that treats all Americans with dignity and equality no matter who you are and who you love? Are you ready to replace cronyism with competence again?" --Presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., addressing the California Democratic State Convention, April 28 in San Diego. "I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be." --Presidential candidate Tommy Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin, when asked during the May 3 Republican candidates' debate, "If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?" After he answered, Thompson was then asked, "So the answer is yes?" and he replied, "Yes." (Video: http://tinyurl.com/257krv) "I made a mistake. I misinterpreted the question. I didn't hear, I didn't hear the question properly and I apologize." --Gov. Thompson a day later, to the Associated Press. "The sex was good." --Dina Matos McGreevey, wife of now-gay former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, in her new book, Silent Partner. "It just hit me like a ton of bricks [when he came out to me]. I wasn't absorbing it. I just started to cry. ... I felt like my world had crumbled and my life was over. In the course of the three days of his explanation and confession to me, it was clear to me that he never loved me. ... No one ever said to me that he was gay. It's a cliché that the wife is always the last to know, and it's true. ... I'm not in denial, but I don't think he's simply gay. I think he's bisexual. I mean, he was married twice. He has two children. And, you know, I never saw him checking out men, but I certainly saw him checking out women. ... I want [other people in a similar situation] to know ... you have nothing to be ashamed of. You've done nothing wrong. Most of them, just like me, probably married their spouse because they fell in love with them." --Dina Matos McGreevey, wife of now-gay former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, in an appearance on Oprah Winfrey's TV show, May 1. In divorce papers, the ex-governor has claimed his wife "knew of my sexual orientation before our marriage" and "chose to either ignore it or block it out of her mind, even when questioned by her friends." "I think that arguments against gay marriage are just ridiculous! Who cares? People want to get married for the same reason I wanted to get married. They want to do it in front of their friends and family. They want it to be a legally binding thing. They want to have that commitment. The idea that there's some moral issue about it is so ridiculous." --Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter writing in Instinct magazine, May issue. "This legislation would create equal legal protection and responsibilities for all individuals who seek to marry or have their marriage protected in the state of New York. Strong, stable families are the cornerstones of our society. The responsibilities inherent in the institution of marriage benefit those individuals and society as a whole." --New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer as he and Lt. Gov. David Paterson submitted legislation to legalize full marriage for same-sex couples, April 27. "This bill guarantees that the inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness will be protected equally for all individuals in the state of New York. This is an important step in the fight for civil rights for all people." --New York Lt. Gov. David Paterson as he and Gov. Eliot Spitzer submitted legislation to legalize full marriage for same-sex couples, April 27. "I feel that if I had been more mysterious about my own sexuality and played it a little more ambiguous, I probably would have sold more records and had more supporters, and sometimes I do bemoan the fact that I didn't go that route." --Out singer Rufus Wainwright to AfterElton.com, April 22. "I'm aware that I was representing, in certain ways, a minority, and my greatest wish was to make [Kevin] -- not just believable and not a cliché -- but an entertaining character as well. Which is what any actor's job is. I hope I don't sound like a complete asshole at the moment." --British actor Matthew Rhys, who plays the gay character Kevin Walker on the ABC-TV series Brothers & Sisters, to Instinct magazine, May issue. "When gay fans approach me, after they say how much they love Kevin, the next question inevitably is about Sally Field and what she's like to work with and how much they adore her work from Steel Magnolias and Soapdish, so I realize the magnitude of Sally's standing as a gay icon." --British actor Matthew Rhys, who plays the gay character Kevin Walker on the ABC-TV series Brothers & Sisters, to Instinct magazine, May issue. "I am the first openly gay congressional committee chairman, which means I am the first openly gay or lesbian person in American history to have significant governmental powers. A lot of very important people in the country and in the world are going to have to deal with me on equal terms, which will be very helpful in dealing with the prejudice against gay people. This is a big deal because this chairmanship oversees legislation on banking, securities, the Federal Reserve, the World Bank, the New York Stock Exchange -- hard-edged bastions of conservatism." --Openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who became chairman of the House of Representatives' Financial Services Committee in January, to Out magazine, May issue. "There are probably five or seven [closet cases] in the [U.S.] House and at least three senators." --Openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., to Out magazine, May issue. "I wish to acknowledge that I did formerly have a four-year relationship with Jeff Chevalier. ... My initial witness statements [in a behind-the-scenes court case attempting to keep this news story from being published] contained an untruthful account about how I first met Jeff. ... These allegations will result inevitably in considerable media attention for both myself and BP. ... I have therefore informed the board of BP that I intend to stand down as group chief executive with immediate effect." --BP (formerly called British Petroleum) chief executive John Browne, 59, quitting his job May 1 after he was outed by London media as having been in a relationship with a 27-year-old man he met through an escort service. "On Monday 23 April we lost the first President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, a man who, risking his life, gave freedom to us -- a man who underpinned the democratic values of contemporary Russia. The Russian gay community will always remember Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin as a man who put an end to almost sixty years of criminal prosecution for male homosexual relations. The law that he signed in April 1993 came into force on 27 May 1993. This day entered into the Russian history of the LGBT movement. 27 May was chosen as the date for the conduct of the first-ever gay pride march in Moscow last year." --Gay activist and journalist Nikolai Alekseev writing at GayRussia.ru, April 23. "Sero-sorting -- condom-free sex between people of the same HIV status -- is a big reason why [San Francisco has seen a marked decrease in new HIV cases]." --Gay writer Andrew Sullivan on his blog, April 28. "At the same time that sero-sorting has been widely adopted in SF, HIV-infection rates are dropping. And who deserves credit for this 'prevention success'? Average, rank-and-file, commonsensical gay men that adopted the practice without any 'institutional support.' Credit shouldn't go to AIDS prevention orgs." --Gay writer Dan Savage on his blog, April 30. |
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