Thirteen contestants entered the annual Miss Galaxy transgendered beauty pageant July 9-11 in Nuku'alofa, capital of the South Pacific nation of Tonga.

The "fakaleitis" ("men who act as women") displayed their creativity in such areas as sewing, dancing and a talent segment. They were sponsored by hotels, airlines and even rugby teams.

The event took place in the Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga's grandest venue, the Queen Salote Memorial Hall, before a standing-room-only audience dressed to the nines. It was part of annual celebrations surrounding the birthday of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. His granddaughter, Princes Lupepau'u Tuita, 20, was this year's pageant patron.

Niko Besnier, an anthropology professor at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, who studies Tongan fakaleitis, said the contest "was more dignified" than in previous years.

"Past pageants tended to degenerate into a circus in which drunk members of the audience would make the contestants trip, or pull on their bras, or try to ridicule them in one way or the other," Besnier said. "This year, there was a much greater sense of empowerment, and the show included some superb outfits and performances, without neglecting a good dose of humor."

In the end, Natasha Pressland, 18, emerged victorious. Her hobbies are "dancing, praying and meeting people." She plans to become a flight attendant.

The Australian state of New South Wales' Anti-Discrimination Act bans discrimination based on homosexuality but not heterosexuality, the Equal Opportunity Tribunal has ruled.

Brett Halliwell, 32, had sued the Sydney lesbian nightclub Sirens for kicking him out, claiming he was mistreated due to his sexuality.

But Tribunal Chair Peter King said the law only protects gays --and Halliwell must have been looking for "trouble" anyway.

A co-owner of the club testified that Halliwell was ejected because he was drunk and refused to pay the cover charge.

GAYS & TRANSVESTITES ABUSED IN ARGENTINE CITY

Life is hell for gays and transvestites in Mendoza, Argentina, according to a new report from activists in Buenos Aires.

Located near the Andes Mountains in the western part of the nation, the city has strong conservative and military influences.

Among the reported abuses:

* Male transvestites are arrested whenever they are spotted by police. They are charged under local Article 81, which bans scandalous behavior, or local Article 54, which penalizes prostitution. Transgendered people are assumed to be working as prostitutes anytime they leave their homes. They are jailed for up to 30 days each time they are nabbed.

* Jail conditions are horrible. Transvestites are locked in a basement cell "where the only air they get comes from the sewers," the report said. They are fed greasy water with animal bones in it. When they get food poisoning, which is common, they are denied medical treatment.

* Gay men who look feminine also face frequent arrest, usually under Article 78 which bans "offenses against public modesty." They are usually held for 12 hours, beaten and pressured for bribes.

* Both transvestites and gays are tested for HIV each time they are detained. If they test positive, they are jailed for that. One HIV-negative transvestite spent eight months in jail after her test results were confused with those of someone else. (Argentine prostitutes are assumed to be HIV-negative. They are regularly tested by the government and issued a "Health Card" showing their negative status.)

To join an International Lesbian and Gay Association protest against the situation in Mendoza, send an e-mail to actions@ilga.org containing your name and home or work address.

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Rex Wockner's weekly International News dating back to mid-1994 is fully searchable at http://www.wockner.com

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