In a case that mirrors the Jamie Nabozny case in Wisconsin, a 14-year-old student in Sydney, Australia, is suing his former school for failing to protect him from homophobic abuse.

Christopher Tsakalos is also taking action against 50 students he says assaulted him, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Tsakalos was bashed by groups of up to 20 youths, had scissors held to his throat, and his family home was hit with anti-gay graffiti, he says.

Tsakalos enrolled in a new school after several weeks of studying at home because the New Youth Wales Department of School Education said it could not guarantee his safety anywhere in the system.

In a deal worked out before the state Supreme Court, the department promised to educate students and staff at the new school against homophobia and take special steps to meet Tsakalos' unique needs.

Last year, gay student Jamie Nabozny won $1 million in damages from the Ashland, Wisconsin school district for its failure to protect him from anti-gay attackers.

BANNED STRAIGHT KISSERS TO FILE SUIT

A heterosexual couple kicked out of a Melbourne, Australia gay bar for kissing is filing a complaint with the state of Victoria Equal Opportunity Commission, reported The Age.

"If they (gays) want to be accepted, they have to accept everyone else," said Renny, the male half of the couple that was removed from the Sir Robert Peel Hotel nightclub.

But club manager Tom McFeely countered: "They were kissing on and off for about an hour. There were... complaints and...I think they were trying to make an issue of it. (Gay people) don't see why heterosexual behavior has to be shoved down their throats (inside gay venues).

"We can turn this situation around," McFeely added. "If me and my partner started kissing madly...we'd get thrown out (of a straight club). I believe we have the right to determine the behavior of patrons that is in the best interests of the majority of our customers."

_____________________________________________________________________ Rex Wockner's weekly world-news reports dating back to mid-1994 are searchable by keyword, city, state/province, nation and year at http://www.gaytoronto.com/wockner/