Date: Mon, 24 Apr 1995 11:20:55 -0400 From: David B. O'Donnell To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: (Australia) Brother Sister News [ Send all responses to leto@WERPLE.MIRA.NET.AU only. Any responses to the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ] BROTHER SISTER - QUEER NEWS FROM DOWNUNDER ============================================================= PROTEST UPSETS GAYMES *The annual Australian National Gaymes, held in Adelaide over Easter, were marred by right-wing extremists who contaminated the Burnside Community Pool, forcing the swimming carnival to be moved to another venue.* Anti-gay protesters scaled the fence at the pool early Saturday morning and dyed the water purple. A person claiming to represent the ultra-right National Action group rang media outlets claiming responsibility for the action. Burnside City Council spokesperson, Andrew Mugge said it was probably KondiUs Crystals (once used as a treatment for warts) which were thrown into the pool, though samples are still being analysed to confirm this. The Council was forced to close the pool as the crystals could cause injury if swallowed in large quantities. "It's horrid to think that this sort of thing can happen in Adelaide," Mugge said. The drama did not end there, as about a dozen National Action supporters turned up at the alternative venue, Payneham Pool, heckling and jeering participants in the carnival as they entered. One interstate visitor was spat on as he entered the pool. It is understood that a report was taken and police will be laying charges against one member of the National Action group. After about 40 minutes of heckling the police moved the group to the other side of the road from where they quickly dispersed. Despite the incident, organisers say the Gaymes were a huge success with hundreds of local and interstate participants competing in 12 different sporting events. It was the first time the Gaymes, in their ten year history, have been held away from the Eastern states. Gaymes spokesperson, Bryan Thalbourne said emphasis was on participation rather than competition with most athletes "in it for the fun". "Everywhere I went people were laughing and having fun," he said. "I though it was brilliant, I really enjoyed it, smiling faces everywhere, people having fun and a bit of fierce competition. It was great." The weekend of fun and goodwill was helped along by the D- votion dance party on Saturday night which was attended by about 2,000 people. The party gave interstate visitors a chance to mingle with each other and with Adelaide's gay and lesbian community. It wound down about five o'clock with the die hard party goers moving on the Recovery at the Mars Bar. Result highlights of the Gaymes include: - Victorian teams dominated the volleyball, taking the first four positions, Flower Power took the gold. - A Queensland representative took bronze in the Ten Pin bowling. - South Australia was too strong in the softball, netball and indoor soccer, and - New South Wales had some strong performances in the athletics. assistance Adelaide GT GAY FAMILIES OKAY IN NSW *Gay and Lesbian couples are likely to be recognised as 'family' for the first time in New South Wales law, according to an agreement reached at the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on the weekend.* The agreement, which was submitted to the Commission last week, will grant lesbians and gay men the right to take paid time off work to care for sick partners. The deal was initially struck at an Easter weekend bargaining session attended by representatives of the State Government, the NSW Labour Council and the Employers' Federation of NSW. Despite some minute wavering from individual employer groups the deal is expected to be ratified. Co-convener of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby David McLachlan, described the agreement as "another indication that the momentum of change is behind us." He believed the fanfare over the agreement was a "little overblown" as employers were obliged to provide these benefits under the Anti-Discrimination Act. However, he hoped it would be a precursor to the NSW Labour Government's recognition of same-sex couples, property rights and interstate laws and some 160 pieces of legislation that needed review because of the special status given to spouses and heterosexual couples exclusive of same-sex couples. "There are 20 pieces of legislation which affect us which need urgent reform," said McLachlan. He stressed the agreement was a "flow-through" from a decision made by the Australian Industrials Relations' Commission last year, which granted family leave to carers who were "members of the same household". "That decision didn't mention lesbians and gay men but what this has done is bite the bullet and include same-sex relationships specifically." Secretary of the NSW Labour Council, Peter Sams, said the ACTU (Australian Council of Trade Unions) was committed to reform but was concerned that they could not push ahead with it federally. "There are some objections from some of the smaller employers, but ultimately that won't matter with the Labour Council and the State Government in agreement." But the head of the Employer's Federation of NSW, Garry Brack, said the IRC was not the place to challenge definitions of family. "There are two definitions of family formally recognised currently, that of marriage and de facto relationships and that is the definition of family that should apply." Brack maintained it was the responsibility of the legislature to follow "the will of the people" and that homosexuality "hadn't yet acquired the same level of acceptance" as heterosexuality in society. He also said the broadened definition was not within the "social, moral and political standards", of many employers in the State. "It's extremely significant." said Tim Leach. former co- convenor of the Gay and Lesbian Legal Rights Service. "It's a very important step in a much bigger legal process. This alone is not what we should expect from the State Government in a single term." But a spokesperson for the Minister for Industrial Relations, Jeff Shaw, said "people have to understand the agreement is not a carte blanche for an unlimited amount of sick leave." He said employees will be under obligation to show they provide support and care to their partner in order to be eligible for the award. The NSW Government was keen to pursue all negotiations in keeping with the spirit of the Anti-Discrimination Act and all NSW awards would be affected by this decision, he added. Some lawyers, however, have expressed fears that the growing recognition of homosexual and heterosexual relationships as equal may not be in the best interests of the community. SSO ALSO JOINS REFORM PROTEST *Victoria's largest gay and lesbian community organisation, the ALSO foundation, has joined the chorus of protest against State Government plans to reform anti-discrimination legislation.* The Kennett Government has proposed introducing an amendment to the Equal Opportunity Act to ban discrimination against people engaging in "lawful sexual activity". Gay activists have widely condemned the proposal for only offering gay men and lesbians protection on the basis of sexual activity. They have called for protection to be on the basis of a person's "sexuality". ALSO chairperson, David Wall, said the Government's proposal failed to recognise that being lesbian or gay is not merely about sexual activity anymore than being heterosexual is solely about sexual activity. "It fails to recognise that people most often discriminate against another person because of how s/he perceives that person to be, rather than what they do." Wall noted that ALSO was founded around the time when the Hamer Liberal Government made "the brave decision" to decriminalise homosexual behaviour in this state. "It's a pity that the 'can do' Kennett Liberal Government does not have the same strength of will to stand up to the hysterical lies being peddled by such organisations as the Australian Family Association and the more conservative churches, and to accept that in 1995 no Victorians should be treated as second-class citizens." The final form of the Kennett proposal remains under review by Cabinet and has not been tabled in Parliament. Last week though, thirty lesbians and their friends storm Parliament, hurling streamers into the Victorian Legislative Assembly, along with a banner saying: "Lesbian, transgender, bi and gay; we demand real rights now!" The groups called themselves Lesbians Organising In Solidarity (LOIS). JOY PROGRAMS FACE REVAMP *Victoria's gay radio station, Joy Melbourne is undertaking a dramatic overhaul of its broadcasting program.* Triggering the changes are complaints from the Australian Broadcasting Authority and listener concerns. Among the regular programs being dumped is Fistful, a late night funky music program; Black, Queer and Here, produced by the gay Aboriginal community; Newsbeat, a Saturday afternoon current affairs show; Down and Dirty, gardening column; and Positively Primed. Fistful and Black, Queer and Here were axed due to the use of "inappropriate language", according to programming committee spokesperson, Ian McOwan. "The other programs had become a little bit tired and gone of the air at the choice of their presenters." McOwan is a member of the programming committee which was revamped in May with the charter of reviewing what programs Joy put to air. The new scheduling will come into effect when Joy hits the air-waves again at midnight Friday 5 May. The radio station has been off air for some time in April due to Broadcasting Authority rules restricting the hours for stations on trial licences. Joy Melbourne intends applying for a full-time broadcasting licence in early 1996. Because of this the Authority's guidelines have to be strictly adhered to, McOwan said, resulting in the axing of the two programs. He said that complaints had also come from listeners that Joy's programming was too restricted, catering mostly to a younger audience with large amounts of dance music. "We have recognised that some areas of our audience were not being catered for." McOwan said that classical music and opera would be broadcast on Sunday afternoons and a current affairs magazine on Saturday afternoons. "This will be a potpourri of topical issue creating a light breezy afternoon of entertainment," he said. Also planned are regular program specials starting with a four part series on Judy Garland. ============================================================ BOTTOM LINE *Mapplethorpe too hot for WA* The Art Gallery of Western Australia may not show the series of Robert Mapplethorpe photographs recently exhibited in Sydney, after the board of major sponsors Healthway declared them "too controversial". The troubled exhibition first received publicity when an art gallery director in Cincinnati, Ohio, was charged with obscenity after exhibiting them in 1987. *** Brother Sister is a fortnightly newspaper published in Melbourne, VIC and Brisbane, QLD, Australia. I have selected the main news stories as well as items of interest. If you have any contributions, comments or questions, please e-me on (leto@werple.mira.net.au). NB: If you are representing overseas media and wish to utilise any or all of the above material, please credit Brother Sister as your source (and by-line if it is listed). Thank You. Brendon Wickham