The Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has presented its annual community-group award to the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group in recognition of its successful nine- year battle to overturn the state's sodomy law, which was Australia's only remaining gay-sex ban.

"Our appeal to the United Nations, the passage of the federal sexual-privacy law and our High Court case were extremely important and changed the face of Australian and global human- rights law," said TGLRG's Nick Toonen. "But our most important achievements have been in forging a more tolerant and inclusive society by reaching into the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens."

Local PFLAG founder the Rev. Eldon Hay received the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission annual Human Rights Award December 10.

"The award is presented each year to a New Brunswick individual or group that has shown outstanding effort, achievement and/or leadership on a volunteer basis in the promotion of human rights and equality, and as such serves as an example to all New Brunswickers," said Commission Chair Constantine Passaris. "Eldon Hay ... has been an outspoken advocate of gay and lesbian rights, and other social causes, for more than 30 years."

Hay told reporters: "Some parents say that it's nobody's business that their child is gay or lesbian, and so they don't talk about it. But, as long as gays, lesbians and bisexuals are harassed and oppressed, it is my business; therefore, I speak out."

The first "Australasian BDSM Conference, CONsensual '98" hits Sydney January 24-26.

"We hope to provide something for the whole BDSM [bondage, discipline and sadomasochism] community," said spokesperson Kirrily Robert. "We envisage that the conference and any national organization that grows out of it will be pansexual and broad- ranging, reflecting the diversity of the BDSM and leather scene in Australia."

For further information, write CONsensual '98, P.O. Box 386, Dulwich Hill, NSW 2203, Australia; e-mail consensual98@hotmail.com; or visit http://www.tertius.net.au/CONsensual98/

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