Candle In The Wind

Pope John Paul II Trashes Gay Families Again Mexicans Launch Anti-Hate Groups Brazilian Gay Leader Honored by City

Amnesty International called on the British government June 7 to equalize the age-of-consent for gay and straight sex and to repeal other laws that discriminate against sexual behavior that is homosexual in nature.  At present straight sex is legal at age 16 while gay sex is banned until age 18. Parliament is expected to vote on lowering the age-of-consent for gay sex within weeks. 

Other statutes that discriminate against men who have sex with men include one that criminalizes any private gay sex that involves more than two persons.  "These laws violate international standards which prohibit discrimination and arbitrary interference with personal privacy," Amnesty said. 

Pope John Paul II lashed out at gay families again during a June 6 Vatican meeting with U.S. bishops. 

"At a time when the very definitions of marriage and family life are endangered by attempts to enshrine in legislation alternative and distorted notions of these basic human communities, your ministry must include the clear proclamation of the truth of God's original design," he said. 

Several Mexican gay groups have launched the Citizens' Commission Against Homophobic Hate Crimes to battle indifference to anti-gay killings. 

Research conducted by the group revealed 38 anti-gay killings nationwide in 1995, 42 in 1996, 37 in 1997 and eight so far this year. The statistics were based on news reports in one Mexico City newspaper "where the sexual orientation [of the victim] is clearly indicated by the journalist, neighbors or police," the group said. 

The commission has set up a crisis-intervention hotline at 011- 52-5-574-1373. 
  
 

Brazilian gay activist and anthropologist Luiz Mott, president of the Grupo Gay da Bahia in Salvador, Bahia, received the "Citizen of Salvador" award in a June 9 ceremony at City Hall.  The city-conferred honor recognizes Mott's work for the human rights of gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities, and marks the first time a Brazilian homosexual received such a designation. 

Mott has authored eight academic books on gay-related matters.  

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.