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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2008)
JULY 3, 2008 justout 21 Report: Gay Life in Albania Is Not Good Gay people in Albania face routine intolerance and physical and psychologi cal violence, says a new report by Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights. The report was presented June 18 to the council’s Parliamentary Assembly With the help of Tasmanian Greens MP Nick and Committee of Ministers. McKim, Tasmania may become the first Australian “An open discussion regarding ho state to open marriage to gay couples. mosexuality remains taboo in Albania,” Hammarberg wrote. “LGBT persons are routinely “The group was created on the idea that wom subject to intolerance, physical and psychological en should be encouraged to empower themselves violence and seen by many as persons suffering and each other through mutual support,” organiz from an ‘illness.’ There have also been cases of ers said in a statement. “Our goal is to create a mistreatment by the police. safe space in Lebanon where LBTQs can meet, “There is no single competent body that may talk, discuss issues, share experiences and work on accept complaints on the grounds of discrimina improving their lives and themselves.” tion on the basis of sexual orientation in Albania in the context of employment,” the report con ASIA/PACIFIC tinued. “This lacuna results in victims being dis Same-Sex Marriage Bill suaded or discouraged entirely from seeking just Introduced in Tasmania satisfaction.” Hammarberg said that “to sensitize people on diversity of sexuality requires education.” He rec ommended “a combination of public campaigns, integration of further sexual education within school curricula and further training of state pro fessionals, including law enforcement, judicial and medical personnel.” U.K. Foreign Office Issues Gay Rights Kit to Embassies The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has ad opted an official program in support of sexual mi nority rights and issued a toolkit to its embassies around the world to further the undertaking. “The program and toolkit provide a great opening for LGBT activists to approach their lo cal U.K. embassy when they need help,” said the European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association. The Netherlands and Sweden are the only other countries with similar projects aimed at sup porting gay equality in foreign nations. @ Vault Martini Lounge / No Cover. Drink proceed« to Basic Rights Oregon / « mnw 12**0,11000.0. »rw — ....................... Let us do the work for you. Home & Loan Confidence L isa C hemarin Oregon Realty, Broker* Office 503-297-2523 Direct 503-407-3571 www.oregonrealty.comy LisaChemarin Tasmanian Greens MP Nick McKim intro duced a bill July 1 to legalize same-sex marriage in the state Parliament. If it passes, Tasmania will become the first Australian state to open marriage to gay couples. ‘Also Licensed in Washington J ennifer S antoro Platinum Mortgage Group, Inc. Senior Mortgage Broker Office 503.620.0715 Direct 503.890.5965 www.oregonloan.net Marriage has been considered a federal rather than a state matter in Australia, and QregSB a federal law explicitly bans same-sex mar riage. But McKim said new legal research has revealed that states are not barred from legal P latinum M ortgage G roup , inc . Available when you are! izing same-sex marriage on their own. Should Tasmania do so, the federal gov ernment could reverse it only via a High Court challenge. Tasmania already has a law that grants many of the rights and obligations of marriage to regis tered same-sex couples. A L C H E M Y But a spokesman for the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, Rodney Croome, said that doesn’t constitute true equality. “It’s painful for many same-sex couples to see their counterparts in places like California taking solemn legal vows of lifelong commitment while knowing they can not do the same in their own country.” (D Lebanese Lesbians Form New Organization R ex W ockner has reported for the gay Lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer women in Lebanon have formed a new organiza tion called MEEM. press since 1985. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Drake University and started his career as a radio reporter. e> Imît ßou<juet! Edible A R R ANGt M t N T 5 EAST PORTLAND SASH & CARPENTRY Co. Mango K iwi Blonom MAN 11 I S I YOUR PASSION W ood W indow R epair • R ope T ying G lazing • W eatherstrip R eproduction S ashes • F inish C arpentry « C ustom C abinetry 7o on/cr, fJcrw at// or visit: CONTACT US: sashrepair @CJ mail.com CCB 180257 503.453.6301 licensed, bonded, insured 2710 NE Glimm Street Kirtland, OR 972.32 III.' ' \ \\ I I )\ I It 1Ï >(K U S U i
