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Panama Will Provide AIDS Treatments British Sports Minister Urges Athletes to Come Out |
| By Rex Wockner
International News Report Australia: Gay/ Lesbian Cops in Pregnancy Scandal
A gay cop and a lesbian cop in Melbourne, Australia, are being
investigated for allegedly pretending to be a straight couple so
the woman could become pregnant with the man's sperm via in-vitro
fertilization, which is not available to lesbian couples in the
state of Victoria.
The woman is now seven months pregnant. A spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Police Employees Network said the couple did not sign any documents claiming to be in a relationship. "They went to the clinic, they were surprised how easily they were accepted, they were never asked about their sexual orientation so they never volunteered it," Sgt. David Trueman told the Herald Sun newspaper. But the newspaper said the couple would have had to sign a form above lines labeled "The Woman" and "The Spouse." The two officers both have a same-sex partner and the foursome has attempted to conceive a child by other means for three years, Trueman said. The Herald Sun said Victoria is the only Australian state that bans in-vitro fertilization for lesbian couples. If found guilty of misrepresenting themselves, the two officers could be fired. Panama Will Provide AIDS Treatments
"This is a great day in Panamanian history and a great day for human rights in our part of the world," said HIV-positive AIDS activist Dr. Orlando Quintero. "Our voice was heard and our message was received." Costa Rica is the only other Central American nation whose national health-care system provides the full spectrum of anti- HIV drugs. A case pending in the Supreme Court of El Salvador may open up the drug pipeline there. British Sports Minister Urges Athletes to Come Out
British Sports Minister Tony Banks issued a call May 14 for gay
football players to come out of the closet.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today program, Banks said the existence of just one or two openly gay players would go a long way to combat homophobia in sports. "If they have to submerge this sexuality in a macho display because that is what is expected of them then, frankly, they don't feel -- and I would agree -- that they can give of their best," Banks said. "A feeling is beginning to grow that sport is twisted if it isn't inclusive. Clearly it isn't if there is a great deal of homophobia in sport. It isn't just football, incidentally, it extends across all sport." |
