Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 08:28:11 +1000 From: leto@rabbit.com.au (Brendon Wickham) Subject: (Australia) Brother Sister News - 12/12/96 BROTHER SISTER - QUEER NEWS FROM DOWNUNDER Issue #121 - 12/12/96 Including: 1. Anti-gay radio slammed 2. Shameful Human Rights record 3. Perth TAFE axes ad 4. Blaze furthers Port Arthur suffering 5. Church sacks out parishioner 6. Euthanasia bill unfair 7. Lesbian rape in suburbs This and previous postings are archived for the QRD. Point your URL to http://werple.net.au/~leto/news - or go through the Pacific Region of the QRD at http://www.qrd.org/qrd/world/pacific/ =3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+= =3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+ ANTI-GAY RADIO SLAMMED *Homophobic comments made by adolescent radio announcers in the lead-up to World AIDS Day have riled listeners of the station.* Listeners claim that on Friday, November 29, 1996, presenters of the three-hour long Bert and Ernie show, on aspirant community station EAR (Employment Access Radio) FM, repeatedly made homophobic comments in what appears to be a serious breach of the Australian Broadcasting Authority's (ABA) Code of Practice. John Jennings, Chairperson and Program Director at lesbian and gay aspirant community station JOY Melbourne, told Brother Sister that he was alerted to the offensive remarks by a regular listener of both JOY Melbourne and EAR FM, and so tuned in to part of the show. He believes that the program vilified, stereotyped and denigrated the gay and lesbian community. Jennings telephoned the station and spoke to the two presenters. Introducing himself as a representative of JOY Melbourne, he complained about the content of the broadcast and reminded them of ABA standards. Asked if the presenters were concerned at his complaint, Jennings observes that "they didn't appear to be at all". At the conclusion of the program, "Bert" and "Ernie" acknowledged that they had received complaints about homophobic comments made during the broadcast and offered an apology. However, Jennings asserts that "they tried to apologise on air but they made a bigger joke about that...they really got themselves in further". Grant Leech, recently elected President of EAR FM, confirmed that several complaints about the Bert and Ernie show had been received and stated that "we're basically concerned if anyone gets offended by any of our programming...we're meant to entertain, not upset". He noted that the on-air apology at the conclusion of the broadcast had not been accepted as a "true" apology. The EAR FM Committee of Management removed the offending presenters the following week and, according to Leech, broadcast an apology every half hour in that timeslot. The presenters have been suspended and their positions at the station will be subject to review at the next Committee meeting. Leech believes that it is highly unlikely that "Bert" and "Ernie" will return to air. The City of Moonee Valley is a principal funding source for the station, however, its representatives who are involved with the station were either unavailable or unwilling to comment on the issue. JOY Melbourne has requested both a transcript and tape of the program, neither of which have been forthcoming. After reviewing the transcript, the Committee of Management at JOY Melbourne may elect to lodge a complaint with the ABA to ensure that the matter is investigated. The ABA has specific regulations which apply to aspirant community stations. These include the stipulation that "a licensee may not transmit a program which is likely to incite or perpetuate hatred against, or gratuitously vilifies, any person or group on the basis of ethnicity, nationality, race, gender, sexual preference, religion or physical or mental disability". Darren Ray, Chief Executive Officer of the ALSO =46oundation, notes that broadcasting is accompanied by "implied responsibilities". He maintains that "the public broadcasting of inappropriate or vilifying material needs to be of great concern to us as a community...I'd encourage everybody who heard it, or has a copy of any of the transcripts or the actual program, to in fact make a complaint to the ABA because when the ABA comes to decide...which one of the aspirants should be getting the licenses then it can make a judgement as to who is a responsible and a good community citizen, if you like, and that clearly does not involve these people." Although the Committee of Management at EAR FM appear to have taken some steps to address the issue, John Jennings expresses deep concerns about the effects of such a broadcast. "The thing that concerns me is that...the station has supposedly made an on-air apology, but it's these little incidents that occur that make all the work that we've done in the past pale into insignificance because this just stirs up homophobic hatred." Jodie Joyce SHAMEFUL HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD *A leading human rights commentator this week accused Australia of having hypocritical approach toward humanitarian issues.* On Human Rights Day, Chris Puplick, President of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board posed the question: "If Australia is going to make a great song and dance about human rights issues on an international agenda, how does this stack up in terms of the domestic agenda?" In his address to members of the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission's Gay and Lesbian Reference Group, Puplick offered lively, and often damning, criticism of State and Federal governments beginning with the "institutionalisation of homophobia" in Tasmania, the laws of which, he claimed, demonstrate that Australia is "behind the times". The refusal of the West Australian government to include sexuality in its Equal Opportunity laws was similarly noted, as were the recent efforts to apply WA censorship laws to gay and lesbian publications, including safe sex information. In Queensland, the Minister for Family Services was singled out for his proposal to prevent members of the gay and lesbian community from fostering children, and his plan to reassign up to one hundred children, currently fostered by gay men and lesbians, to heterosexual foster parents. The Federal government was also criticised: "Despite the clear legislative power that the Commonwealth had to do more about Tasmania, it didn't." Puplick claims that it also "continues to ignore the recommendations of the Watson Senate Committee in relation to superannuation." Communications Minister, Richard Alston, was singled out at Federal level: "He thinks that we're all so bloody stupid that we actually believe that he was only responding to a couple of constituent letters when he...[approached] the ABC about the broadcast of the Mardi Gras." In NSW, Puplick observed that the government "refuses to move on the issues of age of consent, differential age of consent" and that "in relation to legislation for same-sex partner recognition the government has gone completely weak at the knees...under threat from the Catholic Right in the Labor Party in NSW." However, Puplick reserved his most scathing criticism for the Wood Royal Commission into Police Corruption: "The unrestrained activities of this lunatic Wood Royal Commission in fact is bringing...the most appalling degree of homophobia back into the community, while at the same time telling everybody that of course it's got nothing to do with them." Despite his criticisms, Puplick suggested that progress in NSW was evident in many areas. Anti-vilification laws refer now to lesbianism, homosexuality, transgendered people and HIV status. Exemptions for private schools and small businesses were recently removed from the Act. The President of the Anti-Discrimination Board now has "the right to intervene in all matters dealing with industrial awards and enterprise agreements". And, on October 1 of this year, it became unlawful to discriminate against transgendered people. Puplick anticipates far-reaching law reform in the area of same-sex relationships in NSW: "There is in fact a bill which has been approved by Cabinet...that deals with same sex partner relationships." If passed, the bill will extend de facto status to same-sex relationships. Puplick remarked: "The Attorney General is personally quite committed to trying to get the legislation through...it's something which we may see in the first session next year." In relation to Victoria, Puplick raised "the nightclub raid" and police culture, as cause for concern. Offering a summary of the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) Gay and Lesbian Reference Group's current activities, Michael Gorton, Convenor, announced that the EOC was, in conjunction with Victoria Police, providing training to senior officers as a first step. The preparation of a discussion paper on legal recognition of same-sex relationships was also referred to. =46ollowing the address, Robyn Walsh, member of the Reference Group, argued: "The Victorian Equal Opportunity legislation enshrines discrimination. A review of that legislation is currently being conducted and more resources should be applied to that than legal recognition of same sex relationships." She also added that sustained debate on the subject and an opportunity to express a range of views were vital. In view of the fact that the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act offers no protection for transgendered people, Julie Peters, transgender activist and member of the Reference Group, emphasised that "it's important to start collecting evidence of discrimination, vilification and violence against transgendered people, because that's what got the act moving in NSW". In his discussion of the discriminatory laws and practices to which gay men, lesbians and transgendered people are subject throughout Australia, Puplick warned: "Before we get out and start talking to Indonesians and everybody else about human rights issues, we've got a few domestic matters to sort out." His address effectively highlighted many such matters of concern to gay men, lesbians and transgendered people on Human Rights Day. Jodie Joyce PERTH TAFE AXES AD *An attempt by the Western Australian AIDS Council to place an advertisement for the Freedom Centre in a 1997 student diary has resulted in Peer Education Manager Mark Bebbington lodging a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission.* According to Bebbington, Midland College of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Client Services Manager, John Doherty, withdrew his approval for placement of an ad from the Council when he discovered it would be promoting a service to young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. The Freedom Centre is a drop-in space for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth located in Northbridge. The Council supports the centre as a part of its strategy to prevent transmission of HIV, and to assist HIV-positive youth. When the Council approached Doherty for an explanation on behalf of the Freedom Centre, he told them the diary was over-booked with ads. According to Bebbington, Doherty made it very clear that the gay and lesbian content of the ad was unacceptable as TAFE was a "conservative organisation". "Conservatism is not an acceptable excuse when you're talking about providing services for young people. It is clear that the decision not to take the ad was discriminatory," Bebbington said. "I have a duty as Peer Education Manager to follow this up. There is nothing the Equal Opportunity Commission can do in this case, but a complaint has to be made as a matter of principle." It is not unlawful to discriminate on the basis of sexuality in WA. A recent ALP attempt to amend anti- discrimination legislation to include sexuality was rejected by the government. When first contacted, Doherty denied having said that the gay and lesbian content of the advertisement was the reason the booking was not accepted. However he later admitted he had said "words to that effect" to a representative of the printers handling the diary. Health Consumers Council Executive Director Michele Kosky said Doherty's actions would deny gay and lesbian students access to HIV and STD information and o a safe and supportive space. "I think TAFE's actions puts young students at risk," she said. According to the Manager of the Sexuality and Youth Suicide Prevention Project, Joe Bontempo, refusal of the ad goes against TAFE's policy of equity and access. "As a government-funded and accredited training provider, TAFE has a contractual obligation to ensure equity and access for all people. The demographics of TAFE students shows a high proportion of young people and that is significant," he said. TAFE is a training institution which follows the guidelines of Australian National Training Authority and works within the concept of the Vocational Education and Training system. Neither this system nor the Training Authority support discrimination in education and, in effect, exist to counter discrimination in education. "The Freedom Centre has highly responsible strategies aimed at maximising young people's potential to make the most of their lives," Bontempo said. A spokesperson for the WA Department of Training said the department was not involved because the TAFE college is independent and self-managing. "The department does not have a policy about access and equity in advertising because it doesn't accept advertising for department publications," the spokesperson said. Danae Gibson BLAZE FURTHERS SUFFERING *The Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group says it is confident that the Tasmanian Police will investigate the possibility that anti-gay hatred was behind a blaze which destroyed the home of a gay man who, earlier this year, lost his partner in the Port Arthur massacre.* Spokesperson Rodney Croome said that the Group has been assured by the Tasmania Police that all avenues for determining the motive of the crime will be pursued. David Capper returned home early on Friday morning to discover his house had been burgled and gutted by fire. Capper lost virtually everything he owned, including photographs of his partner Andrew Mills who was murdered by Martin Bryant at Port Arthur on April 28. CHURCH SACKS OUT PARISHIONER *A Nowra church organist believes he was sacked from his church job for being openly gay.* Don Dudgeon has been a parishioner at the country New South Wales church for almost a decade, playing the organ, taking up the collection plate and organising choral groups. The Sydney Sun Herald last week reported that Dudgeon's homosexuality had never caused a stir among fellow church-goers until recently when the new minister, Reverend David Robson, was inducted and Dudgeon was removed from his voluntary posts. Now the mainly elderly congregation are angry about what they see as vilification of Dudgeon and are demanding he be reinstated. Dudgeon, 71, a music teacher, has been saddened by the events, but hopes he can return to his duties at the church. He approached St Andrews, asking to worship there, after he was asked to leave Nowra's Uniting Church ten years ago. Dudgeon told the newspaper, "I'm hoping that the new minister will accept that homosexuals are not the fearsome people he seems to think they are. He seems to feel that homosexuality is wrong. I believe he's misguided." EUTHANASIA BILL UNFAIR *AIDS organisations claim that Monday night's passage of the anti-euthanasia bill though the House of Representatives directly contradicts the wishes of the majority of Australians.* Peter Grogan, the Acting President of the Australian =46ederation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) said: "The majority of Australians support the right of people to choose to die with dignity, as allowed by the Northern Territory Euthanasia Legislation. The Senate will now decide on that crucial right." AFAO will be making submissions on voluntary euthanasia to the Senate Committee investigating the issue. Gorgan added, "AFAO believes it is crucial that the Senate Committee process is open and thorough, and that a broad and comprehensive consultation occurs." LESBIAN RAPE IN SUBURBS A 33-year-old Melbourne woman has made allegations of rape against her girlfriend's ex-lover, saying she was followed to her north-suburban home from a gay nightclub and raped vaginally and anally in an attack that lasted for six hours. The woman, who required medical treatment after the attack, was extremely distraught and went to the police over the matter. Police are expected to lay charges soon. =3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+= =3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+ BOTTOM LINE Smartarse by Jeffrey Smart LAUNCHING STRAIGHT AHEAD Openings, openings, openings. Galas, festivals, fabulous events celebrating the accomplishments of politicians, starlets and captains of industry; the life of a homosexual columniste is impossibly taxing and glamorous. I barely have time to recover from one event before the taxi arrives to rush me to the next exclusive soir=E9e. This week it was the launch of a new drink: the Smirnoff Mule. This frivolous little beverage comes in a fascinating orange bottle and tastes like sticky cordial for grownups. The drink itself is irrelevant-it's alcoholic, it looks kind of attractive on the shelves of the fridge and it's an alternative to all those other alcoholic softdrinks-the event was more important. There was not a drag queen in sight. I counted four poofs (maybe six) including myself in a crowd of several hundred; if there were dykes they were heavily disguised in girly drag. Obviously the official launch of this new elixir was not aimed at the gay and lesbian market. Smirnoff was saying: this is a drink full of testosterone and good clean heterosexual fun. The promotional video was aimed at the sort of people who want to dash around playing high impact sports, guzzling a dozen Mules, and bonking a member of the opposite sex. The bar was packed with hordes of haughty girls with blond hair. Their cute little toes were pedicured and painted and squeezed into gorgeous little pairs of sandals and stilettoes. Hemlines began at the upper mid-thigh, and rose as high as the navel. Cleavages abounded, lips pouted and Mules were slugged back daintily between nibbles of finger food. The boys stood back and ogled the girls. Only one or two of them were dressed in body shirts and hipsters; most clung steadfastly to something more masculine-even a little Roger David-like chino slacks and short sleeve shirts. A few tough little homeboys hung around thrusting their pelvises mindlessly as they joked and talked about computer games. The only gay icon was a big muscle mary, squeezed into a tiny Smirnoff t-shirt, carrying a toolbox filled with ice and bottles. I smiled flirtatiously as I reached in to take another drink, and my companion brushed him lightly on the arm to catch his attention. "We're in!" we thought lustily as we drooled over his biceps. But the muscle mary snarled at us to get our drinks from the bar and sped off, obviously unsettled by our unwelcome advances. Wouldn't happen at VM's! Eventually I reeled off to the toilets, unsteady on my feet and leering at the chunky lads standing at the urinal. I whisked demurely into the cubicle and was alarmed to find the toilet seat dangling off its hinges and the floor awash with urine. Shivering in disgust I picked my way daintily back to the vanity basins to check my hair. Men glared at me as I made myself beautiful; obviously this loo was for pissing, not beauty therapy or cruising. I'm going home to the ghetto this weekend, dear readers; make mine a double vodka on ice. At least they Spray and Wipe the toilets in a poofter bar. Jeffrey Smart =3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+= =3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+=3D+ 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