Date: Fri, 11 Aug 1995 13:01:21 -0500 From: leto@werple.mira.net.au (Brendon Wickham) Subject: (Australia) Brother Sister News - 13/8/95 BROTHER SISTER - QUEER NEWS FROM DOWNUNDER Issue 86 This and previous postings are archived for the QRD. Point your URL to http://werple.mira.net.au/~leto/news/index - or go through the Pacific Region of the QRD at http://www.qrd.org/qrd/world/pacific/ =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= KENNETT LAW MAY FACE UN *Contentious changes to Victoria's Equal Opportunity Bill may be heading towards the international courts unless the "homophobic provisions" it contains are removed.* The campaign against the Kennett Government's new law took a boost this week with the Federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission wading into the issue. In a letter to Gay Men and Lesbians Against Discrimination (GLAD), the acting Human Rights Commissioner Kevin O'Connor slammed the legislative change saying there was potential for it "to operate in a way that facilitates unjustified discrimination against gay men and lesbians". He outlined Australia's Federal obligations under international treaties guaranteeing that all persons be given equal protection under the law without discrimination. Last year, Tasmanian citizen Nicholas Toonen took his state's laws before the United Nations Human Rights Committee. He won his case with the Committee expressing the view that sexual orientation was recognisable grounds for discrimination. GLAD spokesperson, John Davey said unless the Kennett Government repealed its current legislation his organisation would call on the Federal Government to enact legislation in the same way they did with Tasmania's Sexual Privacy Act. He said the response from the Human Rights Commission indicated that "the more red-neck conservatives in the country cannot simply hijack the Human Rights agenda". Davey said State Governments were equally beholden to international obligations as the Federal Government and if necessary action would be taken in the international courts "to strike out the homophobic provisions of the (Kennett) Bill". The amended Victorian Equal Opportunity Bill was passed through the Upper House on June 8 1995. It established a number of new grounds for discrimination, including age, lawful sexual activity and physical appearance. The major concerns expressed about the Bill were the large number and scope of exemptions from the prohibition against discrimination. O'Connor said he shared GLAD's concerns over the exemptions where the care of children was involved. "It has a potentially very wide scope, covering many occupations involving the care of children, such as teachers, social workers, pediatricians, and childcare workers," he said. "I share your concern that it may be used to perpetuate discrimination against homosexuals, including the erroneous and stereotyped portrayal of homosexuals as pedophiles." He also raised concerns over the exemption for 'genuine religious beliefs', describing it as "an all-embracing exemption with no attempt to limit or clarify the scope of its application". "As such it presumably would not prevent discrimination of religious grounds in the acquisition of goods and services, the provision of accommodation, and a range of other situations, which would clearly be undesirable." O'Connor also shared GLAD's concerns over the use of the 'lawful sexual activity' as the ground for prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals. "In my view 'sexuality' or 'sexual orientation' would be a far more appropriate term in circumstances where there remains social confusion as to the extent to which consensual homosexual conduct has been decriminalised," he said. "The Victorian ground will, I suspect, also tend to promote prurient inquiry." O'Connor said he would be raising his concerns with both the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission and the Federal Attorney-General. Bill Calder TOLERANCE KIT TO BE RELEASED *The International Year of Tolerance committee is launching an information pack on gay and lesbian issues next week in Melbourne.* The date and venue for the national launch has been chosen to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the First National Homosexual Conference opened in Melbourne on August 16, 1975. The package, to be released throughout the general community and media includes an historic overview of events and legislative changes impacting the gay and lesbian community over the past 50 years. It will also include three brochures highlighting key issues of the present time: the recognition of same-sex relationships; anti-gay violence and HIV/AIDS. The launch will take place at the offices of the ALSO Foundation and the Minister for Ethnic Affairs and Immigration, Sen Nick Bolkas is expected to release a statement. One of the speakers at the launch, Sydney activist Stevie Clayton told Brother Sister this week that while launching the information pack was a positive step, there remained a need to guard against complacency. "It's dangerous to focus on how far we've come and not to focus on where we've got to go," she said. "Now is a time of enormous change with the largest area of inequality being the failure of the law to recognise our relationships." She said discrimination, abuse and violence remained widespread and there was a need to guard against advances in gay rights being set back by the emergence of right wing groups. The United Nations declared 1995 the Year of Tolerance on the grounds that tolerance is an essential factor for world peace. Its mission statement declared that intolerance was one of the greatest challenges confronting the world on the eve of the 21st century. "Intolerance is both an ethical and political issue. It is the rejection of differences among individuals and cultures. When intolerance becomes collective or institutionalised, it erodes democratic principles and poses a threat to world peace. "UNESCO has always stood for diversity. We believe that diversity enriches our world and is an engine for progress," it says. "Differences among cultures and individuals can lead to disagreements and even disputes. These are a healthy consequence of pluralism and democracy. However we condemn the use of violence as a means of resolving disputes or enforcing views on others. "It is a fact that in most societies today, many different religions, cultures and lifestyles coexist. It is essential to recall that the basic human values that unite us are stronger than the forces that pull us apart. Our message is simple: United Yes, Uniform No." Bill Calder POLICE PROBE SEX INDUSTRY *Three thousand sex videos have been seized and Sydney's gay brothels, sex shops and escort agencies are under surveillance as part of a police "intelligence probe" into the sex industry.* The operation is being conducted by the Gaming and Vice Squad, which wants to gather and collate information on sex businesses in Darlinghurst, East Sydney, Surry Hills, Newtown and elsewhere. A senior member of the Gaming and Vice Squad, Detective Peter George, confirmed the police operation, but said: "We're not here to victimise gay businesses or any other operators. We're conducting an intelligence probe to make sure no-one is contravening the law. "We want to know where every vice premise is in the region, we want to gather intelligence on those premises, and then assess what the appropriate police response and strategy should be." Confirmation of the police activity follows the police raid on sex shops in Kings Cross, which snared 3,000 sex videos, and the recent closure of Alexanders, a gay brothel at 391 Ridley Street, Surry Hills. Kings Cross police late last month seized the videos from six local sex shops. The action was triggered by staff from Channel Nine's A Current Affair, who purchased a number of pornographic videos then complained to a former member of the vice squad. The TV program later aired a story about police corruption and illegal activity in the Kings Cross area In a separate incident, Alexanders closed its doors while subject to court action under the Disorderly Houses Act. A former manager of the brothel is being charged with living off the earnings of prostitution. Alexanders closed soon after it moved into newly refurbished premises in Riley Street. Its owners are now in dispute with a tradesman over an unpaid $3,600 plumbing bill. The brothel came to police attention after neighbours lodged a complaint when it operated in Bourke Street, East Sydney. The brothel then moved into Riley Street, but sources say the business earned South Sydney Council's disapproval because it misrepresented itself in a development application. Sources also say the brothel provoked further police attention because it boldly advertised its move into the new premises. However, David Imrie, whose company Talscor Pty Ltd operated Alexander's, has denied that the closure was linked to police activity. Said Imrie: "The legal situation had nothing to do with the closure. We closed it because the person running Alexanders, Maxine Hamilton, left to run her own business." Other businesses in the area say they have been visited by police but are not being harassed. The police surveillance coincides with evidence emerging from the Police Royal Commission of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes being paid by local brothel and strip club owners to police over the past two decades. Police are now moving to contain the damage being wrought by the Commission, and have set up a "police corruption prevention unit" to identify instances of police corruption. The corruption unit is particularly keen to build relationships with the gay and lesbian community and business operators. Dominic O'Grady CONDOM RECALL *Ansell International has recalled a batch of condoms for failing to comply to Australian quality standards.* The company is urging consumers to check the batch numbers on Lifestyles Ultrasure Spermicidal Condoms. The number in question is B405004100, expiry date 02/97. The Victorian AIDS Council says that none of the condoms it had distributed were from the batch being recalled. The Council is encouraging individuals who have been exposed to risk through failed condoms via this batch or at any other time, to become involved in their counselling, testing, peer support and legal programs. BURNET CENTRE STAFFER HEADS TO UN Dr Rob Moodie, deputy director of the Macfarlane Burnet centre for Medical Research has been seconded to the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS in Geneva as director of Country Operations. The position is arguably one of the most senior international health appointments ever accepted by an Australian and will be taken up by Moodie from August 21. Working for the UN Division of Country Operations in Geneva, Moodie will be required to plan, direct and oversee the implementation of UNAIDS co- operation activities at the country level in support of the national responses to AIDS. NIB COUGHS UP Health insurer NIB Health Fund has honoured an Equal Opportunity Tribunal (EOT) ruling in favour of Newcastle couple Andrew Hope and Bill Brown - but it did so only minutes before expiry of a 14 day deadline. Solicitors for Hope and Brown received a fax from NIB's solicitors just before 5pm last Thursday. It said: "Your clients' proposed arrangements regarding contribution payments are acceptable. "Our client's records will be amended to reflect Mr Hope and Mr Brown are registered at the family rate. "We note having despatched to you yesterday under separate cover, two cheques, one made payable to Mr Hope and the other to Mr Brown." NIB's last minute concession means a Supreme Court appeal is no longer possible. It also means all major health funds in NSW now recognise same sex couples as family. This includes Medibank Private, Manchester Unity, MBF and HCF. NIB had earlier refused to recognise the men's claim to equal treatment. Hope and Brown wanted to insure themselves and their two year old son at the family rate, but NIB had insisted they pay the more expensive single rate. The couple took the health insurer to the EOT, and last month won a ruling which said they were entitled to family cover as well as $1,500 each in compensation. The EOT set a 14 day deadline for compliance. "We're so glad that is all over," said Brown after NIBs last minute fax came through. "It was a bit worrying for a while, not knowing if they were going to appeal. But now it's settled. "We're going to a party tonight at a friend's place .. so we'll probably have a second drink to celebrate." Dominic O'Grady BEATTIE BETTER BET ON GAY HEALTH *The Queensland AIDS Council (QuAC) expects a much more supportive and informed approach to gay health issues with the appointment of Peter Beattie as the state's new Health Minister.* QuAC Education manager, Jeffrey Sheather said QuAC had already sent Mr Beattie a letter of congratulations and asked for an appointment with him at the earliest convenience. "We expect him to be more supportive and informed and take a much more interested approach with QuAC. "The feeling is he's probably far more approachable and sympathetic than the previous health minister (Jim Elder) probably was," Sheather said. Former health minister, Jim Elder drew fire from some sections of the gay community for his opposition to the banned Bubble boy AIDS education campaign initiated by QuAC. Shortly after the swap care furore hit the headlines, Mr Elder was targeted at the May AIDS Candlelight Vigil by protestors brandishing placards reading "Jim Elder; AIDS Criminal." Vote Pride Co-convenor, Mr Jeff Sommerfeld also praised Beattie's elevation to cabinet on the strength of his chairmanship of the CJC parliamentary committee which recommended gay law reform. "The work he did with the parliamentary committee showed he had not only a strong leadership ability, but also a deep personal commitment on the issue (of gay law reform). "I've had reason to work with him recently, assisting the Australian Transgender Association (ATSA) with law reform proposals and he showed a personal commitment to removing all forms of discrimination," Sommerfeld said. A former State Secretary of the ALP, Mr Beattie has been a backbencher since his election to the parliament in 1989, despite his reputation as a popular, progressive and able member. Mr Beattie is the member for Brisbane Central, an electorate which encompasses the heavily gay-populated suburbs of Spring Hill, Fortitude Valley and New Farm. Iain Clacher =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= BOTTOM LINE MASKING MEMORIES *Melbourne sculpture Andrew Oleenik offers people with life threatening illnesses the opportunity to have a facial mask cast as a medium for dealing with their mortality.* Local celebrity Dale Cooke took up the offer and Brother Sister was there for the process. With straws up his nose for breathing, wet plaster strips soon covered Dale's face. Thirty minutes later, after drying, the mould was ready to be peeled off and turned into the mask. Dale is best known for running a number of gay nights including the Breakfast Club, Imagine and the Exposure dance parties. He also ran Stalks and Stems nursery for five years. "I'd done a bit of thinking on my death and funeral and wanted to give my lover something from me," he said about the making of the mask. Oleenik said facial masks had a variety of healing functions and regenerated images of people who have died providing a three dimensional tactile memory. "A death mask is usually cast after a person has died but there are positive reasons to cast the mask of a person who is in an early stage of illness looking as true to their image as possible," he said. Death masks of effigies are not new. They are the ancient rites of many cultures stretching as far back as the Pharaohs. Plaster masks cost $250 or can be made into bronze for $850. *** 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. Overseas media who 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