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
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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
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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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According to Pope John Paul II, the media’s
positive portrayals of gay people “ are
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