V South Africa Makes Human Rights History As recently as several years ago, South Africa was reviled around the world for its horrible abuses ofhuman rights. Last month, however, South Africa became the first country in the world to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as President Nelson Mandela signed that nation’s new Constitution into law. The historic moment took place in Sharpeville, where one of the worst massacres ofthe apartheid era had occurred. “Out of the many Sharpevilles which haunt our his- tory was born the unshakable determination that respect for human life, liberty and well-being must be enshrined as rights beyond the power of any force to diminish,” Mandela said. "As we close a chapter of exclusion and a chapter of heroic struggle, we reaffirm our determination to build a society of which each of us can be proud, as South Africans, as Africans, and as citizens ofthe world." Same-Sex Marriage Debates Continue Hawaii's recent court decision in favor of same-sex marriage has turned up the heat for a number of1egis1a— tors in the mainland. While many states have been scram- bling to draft and pass bills prohibiting the recognition of such marriages should they become legal, other states have made moves toward recognizing gay and lesbian unions performed in the Aloha state. I William Weld, the Republican governor of Massachu- setts, has said that he favors recognition of the marriages in his state. Weld further states that failure to recognize such unions would go against the spirit of the United States Constitution by failing to guarantee “full faith and credit” to the legislation of Hawaii. Despite such progressive statements, Weld warned that Massachusetts itself was not ready to adopt legislation permitting same-sex couples to get married in that state. Meanwhile, departing Washington Governor Michael Lowry has asked his state’s legislature to consider offer- ing same-sex couples the same rights offered to married couples. While not calling the union an official “mar- riage,” Lowry hopes that such a civil contract will ap- pease members ofthe religious right who attach their own strong spiritual and predominantly Christian values to the word "marriage." Political observers in the state say the proposal has little chance of passing, but do feel that discussion on the issue may have more positive results for employment anti- discrimination legislation which is already under consid- eration. Incoming Governor Gary Locke (D) has said that he would endorse Lowry’s pro-gay measure if it ever showed up for his signature. Magazine Makeovers The lesbian publication On Our Backs should be re- turning to magazine racks around the country soon, thanks to HAF Enterprises, which also publishes Girlfrz'ena’s. HAF purchased the rights to the renowned erotica jour- 11211, which had declared bankruptcy. Once listed as one of the “Ten Most Important Maga- zines ofthe 1980’s” by the alternative magazine The Utne Reader, On. Our Backs featured the irreverent writing of the self-proclaimed “sexpert” Susie Bright. Bright has agreed to support the new venture along with Nan Kinney, who founded the original magazine. Meanwhile, the often controversial New York Native has ceased publication. The Native, published since 1980, was New York’s oldest gay periodical and received na- tional attention for its skeptical reporting on HIV and AIDS research. Publishers cited lack of financial support as the reason for the paper’s demise. Though the erotic picture magazine Euroboy won't be disappearing, don't look for it under that title in U.S. bookstores any more.iA new law enacted late in 1996 forbids even the suggestion of sexual activities between minors (sorry, young people — our government contin- ues to believe that only adults can have sexual lives). Ac- cordingly, Eitro/Joy will now have to become E1u'ogu_v in order to be sold in this country. Music to Our Ears Ellen DeGeneres, whose quasi-lesbian character on the “Ellen" show has sparked debates across the country, has reportedly videotaped an episode in which she finally says the words “I’m gay" on camera. Despite the result- ing cheers from the studio audience, the impromptu con- fession may yet be edited out for the final version. News from Around the World One studio audience member wrote on the Internet,» “My boyfriend and I attended the taping of Ellen tonight. The show, in which Ellen attends a rock’n’roll fantasy camp, featured guest musicians David Crosby, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, and Aaron Neville. At the end of the show, Ellen performs a song with them, which she wrote, called ‘I’m Scared of Being Afraid.’ They filmed two versions of the song. The first was an ordinary, straight version; in the second, Ellen sang, "So here’s what Ihave to say... And by the way, I’m gay! It’s okay!‘ She sang 'I’m gay! I’m gay!‘ over and over as the audience cheered ‘ and sereamed...It was an amazing moment." DeGeneres may have the opportunity to re-enact her fantasy quite soon. She will be the emcee for the annual Grammy awards of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, set to air on February 26. A number of gay, lesbian, and bisexual musicians will be sharing the stage with DeGeneres, most notably Tracy Chapman, whose latest album “New Beginning” garnered five nominations, including “Record of the Year” and “Song oftheYear." Bisexual singer Me’She1lNdegeocel1o has had her latest effort, “Peace Beyond Passion,” nomi- nated for Rhythm and Blues Album of the Year. Mean- while, the Broadway hits “Rent” and “VictorNictoria” will compete for an award in the “Musical Show Album” category. The works of three gay classical composers also ap- peared on the list of nominated recordings: Pyotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, Samuel Barber, and Benjamin Britten, whose opera “Peter Grimes” deals with homosexual themes. ' International Pride Day Theme Announced More than 165 Pride organizers from over forty Pride Day locations around the globe came together at the In- ternational Association of Lesbian/Gay Pride Coordina- tors annual meeting in Kansas City. The group adopted the theme “Equality Through Vis- ibility” for the 1997 Pride Day season and hoped that or- ganizing committees from all nations will incorporate the theme into their planning. 7 IALGPC also voted to end their boycott of the Coors Brewing Co., which had once been targeted for its anti- gay policies. Since that time, the company has made a number of pro-gay advances, including the addition of domestic partner benefits. Organizers of Vermont’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Pride Day celebration will meet in Mont- pelier on February 9 to begin discussions of the event. They encourage any and all interested parties to attend (see story on page 3). What’s It All About, Alfie? After the debate caused by the inclusion of Dadd_y’s Roommate on the Rutland Free Library’s shelves, the new book Alfie ’s Home by Richard Cohen may find people switching sides. _ ‘ Alfie '5 Home was developed by Cohen to help pre- vent kids from becoming gay or lesbian. He hopes the book will counteract the pro-gay messages found in works like Daddy ’s Roommate, Heather Has Two Mommies, and the newly released Amy Asks a Question (see review on page 1 1), even though none of those books (and few like it) deal with the sexual orientation of the children depicted. In Cohen's book, Alfie finds himself confused by the mistreatment he suffers at the hands of his classmates, and also by his attraction to members of the same sex. Ltiekily, the "school and family counselors are able to "cure" him of his delusions, and in the end Alfie finds himself happily married. As part of his “cure,” A1fie’s I therapists help him to deal with a traumatic experience he had in‘the hands of his nasty Uncle Pete. Cohen, an educator and therapist, also identifies as an “ex-gay,” a man who has renounced his homosexuality and sought to “cure” himself. Despite growing scientific research to the contrary,’Cohen continues to insist that “No one-is born homosexual.” Studies have also shown that most "ex-gays," including the founders of the move- ment itself (who, incidentally, fell in love with one an- other), eventually give up on trying to "cure“ themselves and instead become "ex-ex-gays." Cohen is Executive Director of the International Heal- ing Foundation, which hopes to donate more than 1,000 copies ofAlfie’s Home to libraries. V 1 February 1997 Health Resources All p/tone /1llll1f)(’I‘.\‘ are 8'02 urea trotle 1mI<'.r.\' noted. HIV/AIDS HOTLINES Vermont: (8()0) 882-2437 New I-Iampshire: (8()0) 752-2437 New York State: (800) 541-2437 Massachusetts: (617) 522-4090 Maine: (800) 851-2437 National: (800) 342-2437 National TTY: (800) 243-7889 Teen Hotline: (800) 234-TEEN Addison County AIDS Network (ACAN) 352-6679 or 388-4193 AIDS Community Awareness Project (ACAP) PO Box 608 - St. Johnsbury VT 05819 - 748-1149 AIDS Community Resource Network (ACoRN) PO Box 2057 ° Lebanon NH 03766 - (603) 448-2220 or (800) 816-2220 - E-mail: acorn@va1|ey.net ALANA Health Care Organization PO Box 357 ° 179 S. Winooski Street - Burlington VT 05402 - 864-2631 or 864-2632 Bennington Area AIDS Project PO Box 1066 ° Bennington VT ()520l - 442-4481 or (800) 845-2437 Brattleboro Area AIDS Project PO Box 1486 ° Brattleboro VT 05302 - 254-8263 or 254-4444 (Helpline) - E-mail: sbe1l@sover.net Comprehensive Care Clinics (for HIV/AIDS) Hotline: (800) 763-2460 Brattleboro: 257-8860 Burlington: 656-4594 Rutland: 747-1831 St. Johnsbury: 748-7361 Dawnland Center (Native American) PO Box 1358 ° 121 Barre St. - Montpelier VT 05601 - 229-0601 - E-mail: Nadrumin @ao1.com Gay/Lesbian Alcoholics Anonymous PO Box 5653 - Burlington VT 054()2 - 658-4221 Lesbian Cancer Support Group 660-8386 Men’s Health Project (sec Vermont CARES listing) National Association for People With AIDS (202) 898-0414 NH/VT HIV Information Network on the Web http://www.dartmouth.edu/~hivnet/ North Star Holistic Health Care RR2 Box 3255 ' Morrisville VT ()566l - 888-2858 Tribal Remedies (ALANA Community Organization) 8 Williston St. - Brattleboro VT 053()l ° 254-2972 Twin State Women's Network PO Box 3 - Cavendish VT 05142-00()3 - 226-7807 E-mail: margoc@mail.tds.net Web Site: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~hivnet/orgs/TWSNl.html Vermont AIDS Council " PO Box 275 ' Montpelier VT 05601 ° 229-2557 E-mail: vtaids@plainfie1d.bypass.com Vermont CARES PO Box 5248 - Burlington VT 05401 - 863-2437 or (800) 649-2437 _ PO Box 6033 - Rutland VT 05702 - 775-5884 Vermont Deaf AIDS Project PO Box 172 - Brattleboro VT 05302 ° (800) 257-1 123 (TTY); (800) 253-0195 (Voice Relay); (802) 257-2013 (Fax) Vermont Department of Health 108 Cherry St. - PO Box 70 ° Burlington VT 05402 AIDS Program Office: 863-7245 AIDS Hotline: (800) 882-2437 Vermont HIV/AIDS Care Consortium Box 9 - Hinesburg VT 05461 ' 482-5100 Vermont‘ HIV/AIDS Education Network PO Box 1784 - Burlington VT 054()2-1784 - 862-1668 Vermont Office of Minority Health c/o VT Dept. of Health (see above) - 863-7273 Vermont People With AIDS Coalition PO Box 1055 ° Brattleboro VT 05302 - 229-5754 or (800) 69-VT-PWA - E-mail: vtpwac@sover.net Web Site: http://www.sover.net/~vtpwac/ Vermont Women’s Health Center _ 336 North Ave. - Burlington VT 05401 - 863-1386