Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 3, 1998)
juJy X 199fl ’ ju st out j 5 A U S T R A LIA 'or the first time in Australian history a gay man has won custody of his child. T he man’s former wife was found to have fal sified evidence that the man sexually abused the boy, and the court said the mother’s new house hold was dysfunctional, hysterical, stressed and crisis-ridden. T he parties in the case were not named. F B R A Z IL G ay activist and anthropologist Luiz Mott, president of the Grupo Gay da Bahia in Salvador, Bahia, received the Citizen of Salvador award in a June 9 ceremony at City Hall. T he city-conferred honor recognizes M ott’s work for the human rights of gay men, lesbians and other sexual minorities, and marks the first time a Brazilian gay person received such a des ignation. Mott has authored eight academic books on gay-related matters. B R ITA IN housands of gay men and lesbians marched through Glasgow June 13 during Scotland’s fourth annual pride parade. PH O TO BY JO H N HEIN T of consent for gay and straight sex and to repeal other laws that discriminate against sexual behavior that is homosexual in nature. A t present straight sex is legal at age 16, while gay sex is banned until age 18. O ther statutes that discriminate against men who have sex with men include one that crimi nalizes any private gay sex that involves more than two people. “These laws violate international standards which prohibit discrimination and arbitrary interference with personal privacy," Amnesty said. Amsterdam’s Council of Churches is taking a different approach: It is organizing an ecu menical service for Gay Games visitors in the world-famous Old Church. he rate of positive HIV antibody test results among gay male patients under age 30 at Amsterdam’s Municipal Health Service dropped from 17 percent in 1991 to 9 percent in 1996, according to a report in the May 28 issue o f AIDS. Over 10,000 clinic attendees were tested. T EU R O P E SOUTH A F R IC A T ? ollowing years of research by a standardiza- J[ tion committee, the European Union has increased the length of its “standard” condom from 16 centimeters (6.3 inches) to 17 centime ters (6.7 inches). T he diameter also is being increased, from 54 to 56 millimeters. T he European Union is made up of 15 nations: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, G reece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. he country’s first lesbian magazine, Closet, is holding a contest to replace the word “lesbian” because it “has always been used as a very dirty word,” a spokeswoman told the Star newspaper June 13. “We would like to find an alternative which would help to make us feel more positive about ourselves,” the staffer said. T S P A IN panish gay groups have denounced Nobel Prize-winning novelist Camilo Jose Cela, 82, for saying, “I would prefer that any homage paid to me after my death be without the sup FIN LA N D n June 15, Parliament lowered the port of gay groups.” In a later interview with reporters, Cela age of consent for gay sex from 18 to 16, the legal age for straight sex, and added, “I don’t care one way or the other [about repealed a law that prohibited promo gays], I just don’t take it up the ass.” Cela’s original remarks came at a mid-June tion of homosexuality. tribute to famed poet Federico García Lorca in No one spoke against the changes, the city of Santiago de Compostela. García which were part of a larger crime bill. Lorca, who was gay, died in Spain’s civil war in FR A N C E 1936. “W ho is he to say he doesn’t want gays at his n estimated 2,000 people turned own tributes?” said Jordi Petit, Barcelona-based out for the third annual gay pride secretary general of the International Lesbian march June 13 in Lille. and Gay Association. Well-known journalist and writer h ,y i ^ n * •» ** j n : ï »L Maruja Torres weighed in with the comment “It’s much more dignified to take it up the ass than to lick the ass of power”— a reference to Cela’s work as a censor during the rule of dictator r Francisco Franco. S ...uetter communication - i t ’s essential to every real estate transaction. Donald is an effective communicator with skills refined through years o f successful representation, assistance and negotiation. When you ’re in the market something better, simply give him a call and you will benefit from the commitment o f an experienced real estate professional. O ». 1 ■ m A m! ìli ¡ r « n i n . Singer Jimmy Somerville (left) and ScotsQ ay magazine dyke editor Heather W hite Singer Jimmy Somerville, former Bronski Beat frontman, headlined a festival on Glasgow Green afterward. Two days earlier, the City Council hosted a pride reception and flew the rainbow flag over the city chambers. “ S «ftMOS AljyCWf« he United Kingdom now has six openly gay members of Parliament. Ribble South Labour MP David Borrow, 45, came out in the June 8 issue of the Lancashire Evening Post, saying: “Everyone is entitled to a personal life, and I do not see why knowing that I am gay should not be something they should know about. I think it is appropriate at this point to be honest with the people of South Ribble.” Ribble South is in northwest England near Blackpool. Then, on June 10, Blackpool South Labour MP Gordon Marsden told his local newspaper: “I’m gay and I’m happy for my constituents to know about it. Many people in Blackpool already know— I believe my constituents have the right too. I have made no attempt to hide it or mislead people. This is merely the first time I have gone on record and spoken publicly about it.” He added, “I’m a politician first and a gay man second.” Britain’s other openly gay MPs are Chris Sm ith, Stephen Twigg, Ben Bradshaw and Angela Eagle. o u CITE[ **/ < • / ,/ / , m T n June 7, Amnesty International called on the British government to equalize the age de “Gays in the heart of the city” “T he demonstration’s one and only message was that Prime Minister Lionel Jospin should keep his promises and introduce registered-part nership legislation for unmarried couples, gay or not,” said an organizer. “Gays were in the very heart of Lille...and that’s where we plan to stay.” T he event was organized by the Committee for the Social Recognition of Homosexuals. Lille is in northern France near the Belgian bor der. N ETH ER LA N D S C ome August, hundreds of Christian youth are expected to converge on Amsterdam for an evangelization campaign slated to be held at the same time as Gay Games V. A spokesman for the Youth with a Mission group tells reporters the timing is just a coinci dence. But televangelist Bert Dorenbosch says: “It is a perfect opportunity for us. I will participate in prayer groups that have the Gay Games on their agenda. I might also help spreading leaflets. Homosexuals do not live according to the B ib le.... The Gay Games are contributing to darkness in Amsterdam." VATICAN C ITY 1 bian and gay families during a June 6 Vatican meeting with U .S. bishops. “A t a time when the very defini tions of marriage and family life are endangered by attempts to enshrine in legisla tion alternative and distorted notions of these basic human communities, your ministry must include the clear proclamation of the truth of God’s original design,” he said. Z IM B A B W E eith Goddard, program manager for Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe, has been charged with sodomizing a young man at gun point. His accuser, Siphephule Vuma, 20, mean while, has been charged with extortion for send ing Goddard letters demanding money. Goddard went to police first to report the let ters, and Vuma then accused Goddard of sexual assault. Goddard denies having sex with Vuma. The two men will testify against each other in separate trials. The incident occurred as former President Canaan Banana’s trial continues. He is charged with 11 counts of sodomy, attempted sodomy and indecent assault. K ■ C om piled by REX WOCKNER undi contributions from K ent S proule North Portland Veterinary Hospital Like any family member our pets need good healthcare. At North Portland Veterinary Hospital, w e provide the very best medical care along with big doses of tenderness and compassion. 285-0462 2009 N.Killingsworth