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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2004)
february 2 d 2004 * J u t M * j2 3 U N IT E D K IN G D O M he Office for National Statistics has report ed that 78,522 people in England and Wales told census-takers they are part of a cohabiting gay couple. According to PA News, Brighton and Hove has the highest percentage of partnered gays at 1.29 percent of the population. The next highest numbers are all in London—in the city of London, Islington, Lambeth, Tower Hamlets, Camden, Hackney, Southwark, Westminster and Haringey. T A U S T R A L IA wo men from Melbourne, married in the C anadian province of O ntario, where same-sex marriage is legal and open to foreign ers, plan to demand that Australia recognize their marriage, The Age reported Feb. 4- Jason , McCheyne, 33, and Adrian Tuazon, 30, will take their fight to the Family Court. Justice Minister Irwin Cotier says the Canadian “We see marriage as a lifetime commitment, government still supports opening up full just like everyone else," McCheyne told the marriage to same-sex couples nationwide newspaper. “We are a family now. We are very Court of Canada on the matter, asking if the traditional in that sense.” Constitution actually requires legalization of Although hundreds of American same-sex same-sex marriage, as the O ntario and British couples also have gotten married in Ontario— Columbia courts insisted. and in British Columbia, where same-sex mar The addition of the question may hint at fed riage also was legalized by court order last year— eral equivocation on the issue, given that there has no similar court challenges have been launched been informal talk of trying to enact a civil union in the United States. law instead of opening up marriage. The addition of another question also has the effect of delaying -5* the Supreme Court hearing on the matter until total of 40 cops from the state of Victoria after this springs election, granting breathing received pay to march in Melbourne’s Gay rcxim to politicians who would rather not defend Pride parade Feb. 1. A report in The Herald Sun gay marriage during a campaign season. said the officers “drew some of the loudest However, Justice Minister Irwin Cotier con cheers.” firmed that the government still supports open “It’s to show our support for our gay members ing up full marriage to same-sex couples nation and everyone else in the community,” acting Cmdr. wide. He said the question was added merely to Sandra Langlands said. “I couldn’t believe the deaf be sensitive to the concerns of Canadians who ening cheers that we got— it’s magnificent.” believe the Supreme Court should weigh in on a matter of such profound social change. The three S O U TH KOREA questions that were submitted earlier did not he South Korean government said Feb. 4 it specifically ask the Supreme Court if it agreed will remove homosexuality from its list of with the provincial courts’ determinations. unacceptable sexual acts that harm teen-agers. T he Netherlands and Belgium also let same- T he list— which also includes incest, bestiality, sex couples marry under the ordinary marriage prostitution and sadism— is used for censoring laws. Numerous other nations unite gay couples movies, b<x>ks and Web sites, among other pur via civil union or domestic partnership laws. poses. The law change is expected to take effect in a IN T E R N A T IO N A L few months’ time, following public hearings and he U nited N ations extended benefits passage by the National Assembly. “We revised the Jan. 29 to employees’ same-sex spouses and bill because the United Natioas and National registered domestic partners. Human Rights Commission of Korea, among oth The change came in the form of an adminis ers, said that we shouldn’t violate the human rights of homosexual minors in society,” Lee Ju-hyun, trative order from Secretary-G eneral Kofi Annan. W hen an employee applies for the ben director of the government’s Commission on Youth Protection, told the JcxmgAng Daily newspaper. efits, the United Nations will seek an OK from the government of the worker’s home nation “to confirm the existence and validity of the domes B E LG IU M tic partnership contracted by the staff member '"* ays from other natioas can now get married under the law of that country.” y in Belgium as long as one of the individuals lives there or visits regularly. Same-sex marriage is perm itted in the N etherlands, Belgium and the C anadian Previously, same-sex marriage had been open only to Belgians and people from nations that provinces of British Columbia and Ontario. Domestic partnerships or civil unions are avail also allow same-sex marriage, namely the Netherlands and two provinces of Canada. The able in Denmark/Greenland, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden change took effect Feb. 6. and the U.S. states of California, Hawaii, New The Netherlands’ marriage laws are similar to Belgium’s. In the Canadian provinces of Ontario Jersey and Vermont. Gay couples also have access to some spousal rights in Australia, Aus and British Columbia, however, foreign same- sex couples can arrive from abroad, buy a license, tria, Hungary, New Zealand, South Africa, get married the same day and go back home. Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It is unclear what the U.S. government’s «9» response wcxild be to an inquiry regarding a U.N. elgium’s C enter for Equal Opportunities employee from a state that offers civil unions or and the Fight Against Racism will sue domestic partnerships. Marriage and marriage-like Roman Catholic Cardinal Gustaaf Jix» for unions are regulated individually by the 50 states. telling a magazine that gays are perverts. It said It is also unknown what determination would his remarks are illegal under the nation’s anti be made when citizens of a country that does not offer same-sex unions get married in Canada. For discrimination laws. “All those who say they are lesbian or gay, a eigners can arrive in Bntish Columbia or Ontario, maximum of 5 to 10 percent are effectively les buy a license and get married the same day. A T bian or gay,” Joos, 80, told P-magazine Jan. 21. “All the rest are simply sexual perverts. Don’t hesitate to write that down. I demand you write that down. I don’t care if they all come and protest at my door. I won’t open the door.” CZECH R E P U B L IC gay registered partnership bill was with drawn from the C abinet’s agenda Jan. 28, the Czech News Agency reported. The measure had been put forward by the justice and interior ministers. A Justice Ministry spokeswoman said she was perplexed by the news, given that the gov ernm ent’s Legislation Council had only “for mal,” not “factual,” objections to the bill. No official explanation for the development was forthcoming, but Gay and Lesbian League activist Petr Zaloudek said that there was mere ly a “technical” problem and that the measure will return to the agenda soon. A $ meets, ete. fine tliocolatrs & iwportrb ranturs “A variety of flavor* trout our Fudge Kettle” M old-fashioned candy shop. Stop in for a taste of our own handmade fudge! TH E P H IL IP P IN E S he Philippines’ House of Representatives last month passed a bill banning discrimina tion against gay, lesbian, bi and trans people and sent the measure to the Senate. About 30 gay activists spent the day lobby ing senators Jan. 27, INQ7.net reported. They charged the measure is languishing in the Sen ate’s youth and family relations committee. The proposed law prohibits anti-queer dis crimination by employers, the police, the mili tary, schools, public services and commercial establishments. It also bans forced psychiatric tests aimed at determining or changing some one’s sexual orientation. T NEW!! Roger's Chocolates from Victoria, B.C. Sweets, Etc. In the heart of Multnomah Village 7828 SW Capitol Hwy (503)293-0088 TH E V A TIC A N ope John Paul II said Jan. 24 that the media are harming society with positive depictions of gay people. T he pontiff called for govern mental regulation to protect the family from media assault. “The family and family life are all too often inadequately portrayed in the media,” he said. "Infidelity, sexual activity outside of marriage, and the absence of a moral and spiritual vision of the marriage covenant are depicted uncriti cally, while positive support is at times given to divorce, contraception, abortion and homosex uality. Such portrayals, by promoting causes inimical to marriage and the family, are detri mental to the common good of society.” JH P Complied by R ex W c XTKNER, who has reported for the gay press since 1985. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Drake University and started his career as a radio reporter. 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