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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2002)
febfuary 15 .2 0 0 2 > 23 l'iijü i'in e w s • Designs and Construction EGYPT t least eight more men have been arrested on suspicion of homosexual behavior, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission reported Jan. 21. “The arrests, fol lowing on last year’s trial of 52 men for homo sexuality, suggest a steadily growing pattern of persecution,” the group said. Several other anti-gay arrests have occurred in recent months as well, some of them related to alleged sexual advertising on the Internet. “Enough is enough,” IG LH RC’s Scott Long said. “Too many people are sitting in jail whose only crime is to he suspected of homosexuality. Homosexuality is not perverse; the behavior of the Egyptian government is.” The newest arrests took place in Damanhour, capital of Al-Beheira province. A local newspaper suggested further arrests are possible because an address hook was confiscated containing “the names and addresses of a large number of perverts.” Damanhour prosecutor Yaseen Zaghloul report edly ordered that the mens genitals and anuses be examined to confirm their homosexuality, a prac tice that was seen in the earlier cases as well. Cairo’s Emergency State Security Court handed down verdicts Nov. 14, 2001, in the cases of 52 men who had been detained for six months on charges of obscene behavior and contempt for religion. A total of 23 of them were sentenced to between one and five years of hard labor, and 29 were acquitted. Police say they were arrested in and around the gay club Queen Boat. International human rights activists maintain many of the men were nowhere near the bar when they were taken into Custody May 11 and following days and have denounced the prosecutions as a sham. A A spokesman said the decision was made because “National Police Training does not wish to create the potential for offense. NPT believes this is a measured, pragmatic approach to what is a sensitive issue.” The college’s president called Gay Times, which is similar to the Advocate, “salacious and suggestive.” Gay activists and the magazine’s publisher denounced the policy. “If the police were treat ing ethnic minority publications in this way, there would be an absolute outcry,” activist Peter Tatchell said. Gay Times media critic Terry Anderson asked the BBC, “How on earth will the recruits be able to go on the frontline and deal with the gay community when in their training the atti tude is that there is something salacious, some thing undesirable and something that has to be hidden about homosexuality?” About 20 members of the National Union of Students Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Campaign picketed the training center Jan. 23. “If they are taking steps to keep magazines like Gay Times out of sight, then how are we supposed to have any confidence in them and believe that they will help us with our problems when the time comes T pro tester Adrian Bradley asked ICCoventry.co.uk. waterfalls and fountains C V sprinkler systems r S '! concrete patios cedar fencing low voltage lighting B ritain’s Conservative Party plans to become more gay-friendly, the BBC reported Jan. 25. “There is indeed an intent to alter the tone of the party’s approach to gay people,” former Tory vice chairman Steven Norris said. 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Added Security IN C LU D ES • • • • • J A M A IC A he government said Jan. 21 it has no inten tion of decriminalizing gay sex despite a •*9* report from Parliament’s joint select committee on oy George threw the switch to launch a new the Charter of Rights Bill. “We will not be consid digital gay radio station Jan. 25 in England. ering the issue of homosex Purple Radio, which was for uality,” Information Minis merly available only via the ter Colin Campbell said. Internet, now can be heard via The committee recom digital cable and satellite televi mended the government sion. “Lesbians and gay men are consider “the issue of the one of the many communities repeal of the Offenses that make London such a won Against the Persons Act derful place to live, and we need insofar as it relates to the to have a range of broadcast offense of buggery outlets to ensure the capital’s between consenting diversity is reflected," Mayor Ken Livingston commented. Boy George switched on Purple Radio adults in private.” Buggery is punished with impris onment at hard labor for up to 10 years J H <r ritain’s national gay newsmagazine, Gay Times, is being kept iaside a folder rather than open Compiled by R ex WOCKNER, who has reported ly on display with other publications at the Nation for the gay press since 1 985. He has a bachelor's al Police Training Center’s Multicultural Commu degree in journalism from Drake University and started his career as a radio reporter. nity Information Center near Coventry, England. LANDSCAPE residential and commercial L U N IT E D K IN G D O M r~ • Maintenance IS R A EL Former Tory vice chairman Steven Norris says the party will become more gay-friendly } Road hazard tire protection Car rental a llow ance fo r w arranty repairs Towing service Trip interruption allow ance Regular M ain ten an ce (Jp to 24 (XXI miles Prom otion may increase saving price of vehicle T At the corner of Mission and 25th in Salem. 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