flfiTfUL i o s n m M
softs
chairs
Rights Nigeria. “Recently, some of us have been
arrested by the police, thrown into jail and
raped in the cells.”
Matters are worse in the Muslim-dominated
northern region, Odumuye said. “Because of the
application of the Shariah code, they kill men
and even young secondary school boys. We
know that it’s still happening today.”
Nigeria punishes gay sex with up to 14 years
in jail. The 12 northern states that have adopt­
ed Islamic Shariah law punish
homosexuality with death by
stoning, the report said.
SPAIN
“Such radical changes to our marriage laws
are likely to be held up for months if not years
by committee inquiries, making John Howard’s
move nothing but tawdry electioneering to pla­
cate the social right before the national poll,” he
said. “The move is also wrong because it will
deprive those Australian same-sex couples who
have already been married in Canada of their
right to a day in court.”
Three Australian gay couples are suing to
force recognition of their
Canadian marriages under
provisions of the Common­
wealth Marriage Act. Same-
sex marriage is legal in Massa­
chusetts, Belgium, the Nether­
lands and the Canadian
provinces of British Columbia,
Ontario and Quebec. Canada
has no residency requirements
for marriage.
he Vatican’s ambassador
to Spain, Archbishop
Manuel Monteiro de Castro,
said May 3 that same-sex
unions should be recognized but
that same-sex marriage should
remain banned.
* :♦
“There are other forms of
cohabitation, and it is gtxxl
hristian activists pressured
that they he recognized,” he
five Australian companies
said. “They are not the same as
to stop advertising on The
marriage. We will leave the Archbishop Manuel Monteiro
L Word television series, The
term marriage for that which it de Castro contradicted the
Sydney Sun-Herald reported
April 25.
has always referred to, and Vatican by expressing his
other arrangements should he support for same-sex unions
The Saltshakers organiza­
tion convinced Just Jeans,
given other names.”
Monteiro also said he supports extending DaimlerChrysler, Roche, Allianz and Centrum
spousal rights, such as social security payments, to pull their ads from the U.S. program, which is
to gay couples. The statements contradict offi­ broadcast over-the-air on Australia’s Channel
Seven. In the United States, The L Word airs on
cial Catholic positions.
the Showtime pay cable network.
CANADA
The Sun-Herald said the Christians are more
anada’s Senate voted 59-11 to add sexual upset about the show’s depiction of self-
orientation coverage to the nation’s hate jnsemination with donor sperm than nudity and
crimes laws April 28. The changes will protect lesbian sex scenes. “There are a lot of people out
gays and lesbians from incitement of hatred and there concerned, and companies concerned that
their ads may be supporting women self-
genocide under the Criminal Code.
The measure had passed the House of Com­ inseminating and women bringing children into
mons last year. It will take effect after the for­ the world who haven’t got fathers,” Saltshakers
head Peter Stokes said.
mality of royal assent.
Gay activists denounced the development.
The legislation had been introduced by gay
Member of Parliament Svend Robinson, who is “It’s disappointing that such big companies
on a medical leave after recently confessing that would respond to a pathetically small group that
he stole a $50,000 ring from a jewelry show. "It’s nobody has ever heard of and be cowed into
sort of bittersweet that he’s put so much into it reacting that way,” Merryn Johns, editor of Les­
and he’s not able to he there at the Senate to see bians on the Loose magazine, told the paper. jH
it go through,” said fellow New Democrat MP
Libby Davies.
Compiled by R ex WOCKNER, who has reported
mgs
lighting
ortico
3630 S E Division St.
Portland, Oregon
(503) 230-2522
♦♦♦
study by Canada’s Justice Department has
determined that gays may make better par­
ents than straight people, the Can West News
Service reported April 25.
The study declared that many gay parents have
relatioaships that are more supportive and egali­
tarian than those of straight people, which has “a
positive impact on children.” It also suggested that
gay dads may have superior fathering skills.
“Gay fathers may be more likely than hetero­
sexual fathers to exhibit authoritative parenting
practices,” the report says. "In North America an
authoritative parenting style that provides chil­
dren with clear limitations in addition to
warmth, affection and support has been found to
be associated with positive child adjustment.”
A
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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AUSTRALIA
rime Minister John Howard announced
plans April 25 to rewrite federal marriage
law to block courts from legalizing same-sex
marriage, The Australian reported.
The changes would prevent states and terri­
tories from going their own way on marriage and
would bar recognition of gay marriages that take
place overseas. Rodney Croome, spokesman for
the national gay lobby group Equal Rights Net­
work, predicted Howard’s efforts would face an
uphill battle in Parliament.
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