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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 20, 2003)
luna 20. 2003» I 'iijiU iin e w s IN TERN ATION AL rchbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, leader o f the worldwide Anglican Com mu nion, joined other church leaders in opposing gay unions May 26, even though he personally favors them. T h e primates who head the denom inations 38 provinces took action at a meeting in Brazil in hopes of averting a schism in the church, which observers believe could he tom apart by the issue of gay equality. “T h e question of public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions is still a cause of potentially divi sive controversy,” the bishops stated. “There is no theological consensus...therefore we, as a body, cannot support the authorization of such rites.” The bishop in Vancouver, British Columbia, shirked church conservatives recently by approv ing blessings of same-sex couples— and the first ceremony took place May 29. A few other bishops in North America reportedly have similar plans. Williams reportedly supports the ceremonies and, as a bishop, ordained openly noncelihate gays. But amid intense criticism after his selec tion as archbishop last year, he promised to toe the anti-gay church line that was hammered out at a 1998 bishops conference. Vancouver-area Bishop M ichael Ingham feels no such compunction. He discussed the controversy before Michael Kalmuc and Kelley Montfort ttxtk their historic vows at St. Mar garet’s Cedar O u tage Church. “This is not a marriage ceremony hut a bless ing of permanent and faithful commitments between persons of the same sex in order that they may have the support and encouragement of the church in their lives together under God," Ingham said. “T he church recognizes that homo sexual couples face the same challenges and share the same responsibilities as other people in living out the costly demands of love. Our purpose is to encourage and strengthen fidelity and mutual supportiveness in family life, on which the stabil ity of our wider society depends." T h e Anglican Com munion includes the Church of England, the U .S. Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada and other national Anglican churches around the globe. T m J V V A I L A B L E , „ w h e n v n u are! T h e winner is decided by the contest’s 160 million viewers, who telephone or text-message their votes. They cannot vote for their own country. t.A.T.u. s biggest hit, "A ll the Things She Said,” hit No. 1 in several nations earlier this year. In the song’s video, Katina and Volkova make out passionately. T he singers have said they plan to marry each other hut still have sex with men as well. Russian journalists have claimed that the girls really are heterosexual and that their manager, Ivan Shapovalov, invented the lesbian shtick for commercial reasons. 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Human Rights W atch said May 29 that Sharipov likely has been targeted because o f his articles on police corruption and human rights abuses. “Sharipov s long-standing history of criticizing government policy, combined with past harass ment against him and his colleagues, raise strong suspicions that this is a politically motivated case," said Elizabeth Andersen, executive director of Human Rights W atch’s Europe and Central Asia division. “T hat the authorities would charge him with committing homosexual acts, violating his fundamental rights to nondiscrimination and privacy, makes it doubly egregious.” Office 503 * 297*9900 Cell Mechanics ■that f ix ! everything ¡Including! d o u g b e e b e .co m WHAT’S YOUR HOME WORTH? d o u g b e e b e .co m I yourjB HOW MUCH CAN YOU AFFORD? consdH SLOVAKIA d o u g b e e b e .co m iament passed a law forbidding employ ers from asking an employee his or her sex ual orientation, The Slovak Spectator reported June 2. Gay groups and European U nion officials said they would continue to push for a total ban on workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. Slovakia is scheduled to join the EU in May 2004. “It is progress, but it is not enough,” said O nno Simons of the European Commission’s Bratislava delega tion. “T he EC definitely looks for ward to [Slovakia approving] an anti-discrimination law.” WHAT HOMES ARE AVAILABLE? d o u g b e e b e .co m PDX Automotive is a certified Eco-Logical Business. & (503) 282-3315 C O LD w e u . BANK.GR O JA PA N A U T O M O apanese transsexuals who have sex-change operations cannot switch their gender in their fami ly register, the Supreme Court ruled June 2. T h e register determines one’s fundamental legal identity in Japanese society. According to The M ainchi Daily News, the plaintiff, a female-to-male trans sexual, argued that without the change he would he unable to get a job or get married, which vio lates his constitutional right to pursuit of happiness. J Latvians booed Russian lesbian pop duo t.A .T.u . when they kissed May 25 during the Eurovision Song Contest 503 * 780*1561 Mechanics With A Consdanca BARBARA SUE SEAL PROPERTIES Direct 503.471.3479 503.224.7325 Oman urtfWd DC0 w rt lx My Gerard Lillie *5934 N.E. Halsey o o o R U S S IA T he Russian lesbian pop duo t.A.T.u. placed third May 25 in the Eurovision Song C o n test despite oddsmakers’ predictions that they would win the wildly popular pan-European competition. T h e contest was held in Latvia, which won last year. As they often do, t.A.T.u. s Lena Katina and Julia Volkova kissed during their performance, elic- iting some btxis from the largely Latvian audience. They sang "Don’t Fear, Don’t Ask" in Russian. Turkey took home this year’s trophy for Sertab Erener’s “Every Way T hat 1 C an.” Bel- gium’s Urban Trad came in second. AUSTRALIA he state of New South Wales, where Sydney is located, will set the age of consent for gay sex at 16, in line with the law for straight sex. The Legislative Council voted 23-16 in favor of the change May 27, following a 54-32 vote in the lower house. New South Wales was the last Aus- tralian state with an unequal age of consent. J H T L a ser S Companion Pet Clinics M Compiled by R ex WOCKNER, who has reported for the gay press since 1985. He has a bachelor's degree m journalism from Drake University and started his career as a radio reporter. u rg ery F r i 8am • 6pm S A T 8am • 5pm W est L inn Sun llam -4p m W C N o w A v a il a b l e ! 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