Badpuppy Gay Today

Thursday, 29 May 1997

AUSTRALIAN STATE'S SCHOOLS: HOMOSEXUALITY IS NORMAL

Starting in July, the Australian state of New South Wales will teach grade-and high-school students about gays and lesbians.

The program will be test-run in six primary and two secondary schools in the Sydney area in hopes of reducing anti-gay vilification. If it succeeds, it may be expanded statewide.

Students will be taught that gay sexuality, attitudes and lifestyles are normal. They will study gay-positive theater and literature, role play, and learn that anti-gay discrimination is illegal.

The Department of School Education got interested in the program after a high-profile case in which a gay high-school student filed suit after he was forced from his school due to anti-gay harassment.

"What we are trying to do is eliminate vilification," said department spokesman Kevin Gardner. "The realities mean that strong steps must be taken to deal with it."

Some conservative politicians are predicting an outcry from parents who believe gay sex is sinful.

DUTCH CITY PLAYS HOST TO GAY CULTURAL FESTIVAL

The government of Utrecht, the Netherlands, is in the midst of a two-month extravaganza of gay films, theater, visual arts, music, street art, literature, sports and dance.

The project is designed to show the richness and diversity of gay culture in hopes of reducing discrimination.

The city also brought to town gay groups from Utrecht's sister cities -- Brno, the Czech Republic, and Len, Nicaragua.

Throughout the two months, the bells of Utrecht Dom tower -- the city's highest church tower -- are playing a specially composed Pink Spring song hourly.

Utrecht is a longtime member of the International Lesbian and Gay Association.

SWISS GAYS BATTLE GOVERNMENT FOR PROTECTIONS

Switzerland is updating its constitution to reflect rights established by court rulings but gays are being left out.

On April 22, parliament's Constitutional Committee refused to add "sexual orientation" to the proposed new anti-discrimination clause.

The gay groups Pink Cross and Swiss Lesbian Organization continue their lobbying and will stage a large protest in Bern, the capital, on May 31.

Members of 35 organizations join will join the demonstration in front of the House of Parliament. In the evening, gay cabarets, concerts, movies and parties were {will be} presented across the city.

For further information, write Pink Cross, Schwulenbuero Schweiz, Box 7512, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland. E-mail: pinkcross@ilga.org. Phone: 011-41-31-372-3300. Fax: 011-41-31-372-3317.

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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/

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