DECEMBER 15. 2006 JUStlOUtZI
Marketing the city as a gay mecca, Buenos Aires Pride organizers called the event a success.
Justice had declined to recognize the group and was
backed up by a lower court, which said the associ
ation’s goals went against “the common good.” The
new ruling said the earlier determinations violated
the nation’s guarantees of freedom of association.
20,000 at Buenos Aires Pride
Some 20,000 people turned out for Buenos Aires’
15th Gay Pride parade Nov. 25, organizers said.
The procession began at the famous Casa
Rosada and proceeded up Avenida de Mayo to a
rally and dance at the Plaza of the Two Congresses.
Marchers demanded an end to discrimination,
equal treatment for transgender people and legal
ization of same-sex marriage.
This year’s theme was “We Are All Marvelously
Different.”
Brazil Votes for Anti-Discrimination
Law
Brazil’s lower house of Congress, the Chamber
of Deputies, passed a bill Nov. 23 banning discrim
ination based on sexual orientation under penalty
of one to five years in jail.
The measure would apply in areas that include
housing, employment and public accommixlations.
It also criminalizes attempts to prevent public
displays of homosexual affection and prohibits
offensive references to sexual orientation.
The measure now moves to the Senate.
Guatemalan Transvestites
Murdered
Two transvestites were gunned down Nov. 22
outside a bar in Guatemala City.
The two individuals, who were hit several times
each, were at least the 10th and 11th transvestites
murdered in the nation this year. Gay leaders say
police make little effort to solve such killings and
are likely involved in some of them as well.
exception of Quebec, there is no waiting period
between getting a license and tying the knot.
ASIA/PACIFIC
Chinese AIDS Activist
Arrested, Released
Beijing police Nov. 24 arrested AIDS activist
Wan Yanhai, director of the nongovernmental
Aizhixing Institute of Health Education.
They forced him to cancel a conference about
HIV transmission via blood transfusions that was
scheduled to take place Nov. 25 to 30, then released
him Nov. 27.
In an e-mail written in the third person, Wan
said: “Wan Yanhai has expressed his intention to
actively seek for the government’s support and
understanding in the future so as to avoid unneces
sary misunderstandings. At the same time, he also
hopes the relevant health departments will pay
attention to the requests of thousands of people
infected by blood transfusion and provide them
with compensation, treatment and care."
In 2002, Wan was detained for two months
after exposing an epidemic of HIV transmission via
blood transfusions in Henan province.
I really know my way around the block.
HIV Surges in Sydney
Between 10 percent and 18 percent of gay men
in central Sydney are now infected with HIV,
Australia’s National Centre in HIV Epidemiology
and Clinical Research said Nov. 26.
The infection rate has been climbing in recent
years because of an apparent breakdown in safer-sex
practices. ©
R ex WOCKNER has reported on 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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MIDEAST/AFRICA
Israel Recognizes Gay Marriages
from Elsewhere
Jay P Mortensen
Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled 6-1 on Nov. 21
that same-sex couples who marry in places where it
is allowed—Belgium, Canada, Massachusetts, the
Netherlands or Spain—are considered married in
Israel.
“The court held that there should be no gay
exception to the standard rule of law that a mar
riage valid where celebrated should be honored
elsewhere,” said Evan Wolfson, executive director
of the U.S. group Freedom to Marry.
The case was brought by five Israeli couples who
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AIDS activist Wan Yanhai was detained by
were married in Canada. A couple do not need to Beijing police on the eve of a conference about
live in Canada to get married there, and with the HIV transmission via blood transfusions.
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