State Parties Must Include Same Sexers in Delegate  Selection Process   Historic New Turn Celebrates Democratic Party Inclusiveness

Members of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), which controls the assembly, gay activists, academics, sexologists, federal legislators, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties discussed discrimination, homophobia, the construction of gender, sexual education and culture, and a plethora of other matters.  

They brainstormed on legal reforms and other measures aimed at "eliminating all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation," said Deputy David Sanchez Camancho, who organized the event.  

The forum "promoted public policy that will guarantee the application of the laws and the elaboration of programs for the homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities and in general all sexual diversity in the areas of education, culture, employment and healthcare," Sanchez Camancho said.  

The PRD began planning the event after the respected news magazine Proceso reported on the increasing number of gay Mexicans seeking asylum in the U.S. to escape homophobic abuse at home. 

"Homophobia is the irrational hatred of sexual dissidents," journalist Carlos Bonfil said in an opening-day address. "In the history of Mexico, homosexuals have been burned alive, systematically morally lynched, disowned by their families, fired from their jobs, imprisoned, banished from their hometowns ... excommunicated and murdered -- solely for the crime of their sexual orientation." 
 

Canada to Survey Gays and Lesbians  

The Canadian federal departments of justice, women's issues and Canadian heritage are funding the first national survey of gays, lesbians and bisexuals.  

Thirty thousand surveys in English and 10,000 in French will be distributed over the next few months by the national lobby group Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere.  

"This survey will help meet a number of important governmental objectives, including improving our understanding of this often- marginalized group," said federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan. "The first step is clearly to have access to accurate information." 

Rex Wockner's weekly international news reports dating back to May 1994 can be searched at http://www.wockner.com. The reports in their original form are archived at http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/world/wockner.html, which also archives Wockner's Quote Unquote column and some of his longer gay-press articles.