4 ▼ may 4 , 1 M 4 T )aat oat
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You d eserve a v a c a tio n ...
AUSTRALIA
The Australian Broadcast Company aired cov
erage of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Parade in March, despite a petition from some 90
members of the Federal Parliament demanding
that the network ignore the parade.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
wrote a letter to each of the politicians asking why
they signed the petition. Responses included a
note from Sen. Parer, of Queensland, who wrote:
“What I object to is a campaign to foist those
deviant practices on the vast majority of normal
people. That objection is strengthened when the
taxpayers’ own broadcast network, the ABC,
becomes involved in activities that denigrate true
family values.”
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GREAT BRITAIN
London International Group, a British condom
manufacturer, says it has developed a new, ultra-
thin condom from plastic, that it hopes will en
courage more men to use prophylactics, thus
reducing the spread of AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases. The “Duron” condom is
made from a polyurethane material which is
thought to be as strong as latex, at thinner weights.
Concerns that condoms reduce sensitivity during
sex prompted the company to conduct a 5-year
research and development project. “The result of
that project is a condom that’s extremely comfort
able to use, but as strong as the traditional condom,”
says Clive Kitchener, LIG’s director of market
ing. “We have carried out tests with 7,000 users,
who on every occasion said sensitivity was much
higher than with latex condoms.” The new
condoms are odor-free and can be used with
lubricants, without risk of damage to the condom.
Duron will make its U.S. debut in late summer.
JAPAN
Officials of the Japanese Ministry of Health
and Welfare are emphasizing that people with
HIV or AIDS are welcome in Japan. Yokohama is
the host city of the 10th International Conference
on AIDS, scheduled for August 7 to 12. “The
contributions and perspectives of people with
Mexican man gains asylum
because of sexual
orientation
A Mexican man has been granted asylum in
the United States by the Immigration and Natural
ization Service based on his fears that in returning
to Mexico he would face persecution because he
is a gay man.
The decision is believed to be the first issued
by the INS which recognizes sexual orientation as
a class protected by the Refugee Act of 1980.
Jose Garcia told immigration officials that
Mexican police have arrested him many times
because of his sexual orientation. On one occa
sion, he said, police extorted money from him and
raped him.
He also said that he feared persecution based
on his involvement with AIDS prevention and
awareness efforts in San Francisco.
Garcia’s lawyer, Ron Silberstein, presented
documentation that members of the Mexican po
lice and military have assassinated gay men and
health care workers who treat people with HIV or
HIV or AIDS are essential to a successful AIDS
conference, and those people are welcome in
Japan,” said Dr. Naoko Yamamoto, deputy direc
tor of the Infectious Diseases Control Division,
Health Services Bureau, at the Japanese Ministry
of Health and Welfare.
Japanese officials do not ask visa applicants
about their HIV status or sexual orientation, and
do not require them to take an HIV antibody test.
“The policy applies...not only during the
Yokohama conference, but at all times,” stated
Dr. Yamamoto. According to Ministry officials,
Japan has never denied access to any visitor or
immigrant because of having HIV or AIDS.
The Ministry’s Environmental Health Bureau
has notified local governments and a national
association for hotel health standards that the
Japanese Hotel Business Law does not allow
discrimination against people with HIV or AIDS.
In addition, the group has been hosting seminars
and lectures to ensure that hotel personnel are
well educated on AIDS issues.
SCOTLAND
The Royal Bank of Scotland announced that it
would begin issuing extra
to its trans
vestite cus
tomers who
request
them. This
would allow
custom ers
to
separate
cards de-
pi c t i n g
themselves
in male or
female
dress, in or
der to avoid
“embarrass
ment or difficulties,” said a bank spokesperson.
Compiled by Jann Gilbert
AIDS. Between 15 and 25 transvestites and gay
men have been killed in the state of Chiapas from
1991 to 1993, according to the International Gay
and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. Many
of the victims were killed with the high caliber
bullets used by police.
The governor of Chiapas has recently reopened
investigation into the killings. Earlier this month,
activists met with government officials to urge
timely investigation of the cases. Activists, in
cluding members of the Circulo Cultural Gay in
Chiapas, are concerned that the government is not
sincere in its investigation.
Also, people with AIDS who gain access to
medical care in Mexico are often discriminated
against and abused. Some hospitals deny people
with AIDS access to medicines to treat secondary
infection and sometimes refuse to care for people
with AIDS at all.
“I hope that this decision will compel the
Mexican government to make serious efforts to
respect everyone’s human rights, whether in
Chiapas or with respect to its gay citizens,” said
Silberstein.
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