Badpuppy Gay Today

Monday, 28 April 1997

POLISH GAY LEADER CHARGED UNDER PORN STATUTE

Polish gay leader, magazine editor and rock musician Slawek Starosta has been indicted for distribution of pornography.

He edits the sex magazines, New Man, New Vamp and Super Vamp.

Pink Press Publisher Jaroslaw Ender was also named in the indictment, which cites Penal Code Article 173's ban on "pornographic materials." The term is not defined.

"Considering that a general election is to be held in June and the Pope is coming to Poland in two month's time, a public attack against homosexuals publishing pornography may make a lot of political capital for right-wing parties with strong links to the Catholic Church," Starosta said.

He noted that the move comes less than a month after Parliament passed a new constitution which bans gay marriage. MP's also removed a draft clause from the document that would have prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation nationwide.

The constitution must be reviewed by President Aleksander Kwasneiwski before facing a public vote May 25.

GUADALAJARA MAYOR SEEMINGLY BANS GAYS

Although gay sex is legal in Mexico, Guadalajara Mayor Cesar Coll Carabias recently issued a new police code punishing "practices implying a deviant life style" with a fine of 21-30 days' minimum wage or 25-36 hours in jail.

Mexico's minimum wage is a little over $3.00 a day.

An identical fine was established for people "offending public morality or practicing obscene exhibitionism in public places."

Coll is a member of Mexico's least gay-friendly party, the National Action Party, or PAN.

"100 YEARS OF THE GAY MOVEMENT" IN BERLIN

From May 17 to June 30 the Berlin Gay Museum and the Berlin Art Academy will celebrate "100 Years of the Gay Movement."

On May 17, 1897, pioneering gay activist Magnus Hirschfeld founded Berlin's first homosexual group to fight for the repeal of Paragraph 175, the ban on gay sex.

The exhibit will be accompanied by a daily program featuring artists and activists, organized by famed filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim.