18 JU StOUt
FEBRUARY 3. 2006
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world
South Africa Commission Supports
Gay Blood Donors
KAREN M. SWEIGERT, MD
Phone
503 274-9936
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Donor Insemination
1040 N.W. 22nd, Suite 330, Portland, OR 97210
South Africa’s Human Rights Commission said
Jan. 20 that gay men should not he automatically
barred from donating blood.
“Everybody practicing unsafe, high-risk sex
should be excluded from donating blood, and a spe-
.cial emphasis should not be placed on rhe sexual
activities of gay men," said commissioner Leon
Wessels. He said the South African National Blood
Services should be taken to court if it refuses to
change the policy.
According to several reports, black South
African women might have a higher rate of HIV
infection than white South African gay men.
Nigeria to Ban Same-Sex Marriage
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The Nigerian government’s Federal Executive
Council approved a measure banning same-sex
Rodney Croome says Tasmania has failed to
marriage Jan. 17 and sent it to the National
promote the relationship register.
Assembly for consideration.
The proposal would punish anyone entering
pensions, taxes, insurance, health care, hospital vis
into a same-sex relationship or marriage with five
itation, wills, property, parenting and bereavement
years in prison. The same penalty would apply “if leave.
you aid or support in any way anybody of the same
sex to contract a relationship or marriage,” said
Australian Tennis Star Comes Out
Justice Minister Bayo Ojo.
Australia’s most accomplished women’s doubles
The measure also calls for a ban on gay organi
tennis player came out Jan. 16 in the Australian
zations and rallies.
gay newspaper Melbourne Community Voice.
“In most cultures in Nigeria, same-sex relation
Renrtae Stubbs, 34, who has won the
ships, sodomy and the likes of that is regarded as
Australian Open
abominable," Frank Nweke, minister for informa and Wimbledon,
tion and national orientation, told the British
said she was
Broadcasting Corp.
inspired by U.S.
Gay sex is already illegal nationwide; in several
basketball player
northern states ruled by Islamic Sharia law, it is
Sheryl Swoopes’
punished with stoning.
coming out.
Nigeria, population 130 million, is Africa’s most
“When I read
populous nation. The northern parr of the country
that, 1 remember
is mostly Islamic, and the southern half is mostly
thinking, wow, it
Christian.
would ’just be
great to be out in
A
the public eye just
Rennae Stubbs has won
N.Z. Gay Men Banned
so I didn’t have to
the Australian Open and
from Donating Sperm
answer any ques
Wimbledon.
Gay men in New Zealand cannot- donate to
tions carefully or
sperm banks, local media reported in mid-January.
worry' about it anymore—that I could do my job,”
The policy persists even though the nation has a
she told MCV. “1 thought maybe 1 can make a bit of
sperm shortage that forces women to wait up to two
a difference here and try and get the-general public
years for artificial insemination. The Reproductive
to think that their kids can look up to me and aspire
Technology Accreditation Committee uses a
to be me—but I’m gay and it’s not a big deal."
lifestyle declaration to reject men who have had sex
with men, arguing that they are at higher risk for
Australia Tries to Stop Citizens
from Marrying Overseas
infection with HIV and other diseases.
Australia’s government is trying to stop its citi
Tasmanian Partner Law Unpopular
zens who live overseas from entering same-sex mar
Only 58 couples have taken advantage of the
riages in countries that allow them, The Age news
relationships register in the Australian state of paper reported Jan. 14.
Tasmania during its two years of existence, The
The tactic being utilized is refusing to provide
Mercury newspaper reported Jan. 16.
written proof to the other nation that the
Forty-three couples got hitched in 2003 and 15
Australian in question is free to marry.
in 2004- Forty-six were same-sex couples and 12
In one case, Peter Kakucska, an Australian living
opposite-sex. Of the same-sex couples, 24 are male
in Vienna who wanted to marry his Austrian partner
and 22 are female.
in the Netherlands, where same-sex marriage is
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group
allowed, was given stamped certifications of the anti-
spokesman Rodney Croome blamed the slow take gay policies by Australia’s Austrian embassy.
up on the government, saying it has failed to pro
One certification said: “Following the advice of
mote the register.
the Australian Attorney-General’s Department we
The register also is available to nonsexual part herewith certify that Australian law doe»not allow
nerships, such as when one person is a caregiver to
the issue of a Certificate of No Impediment to
another. It grants spousal rights in areas such as
Marriage to persons wishing to enter into a same-