Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to Receive International Role Model Award at Equality Forum 2005

 
PHILADEPLHIA -- November 22 -- "As Canada's Prime Minister, Jean Chretien championed same-sex marriage," stated Malcolm Lazin, executive director, Equality Forum. "In 2003, then Prime Minister Chretien called on Canadian citizens to support marriage equality. This impressive support by Mr. Chretien demonstrates the importance to Canadians of minority rights and separation of church and state."

"We are honored to bestow our 10th annual International Role Model Award to Jean Chretien," according to Joe Farrell, chair, Board of Directors, Equality Forum. "Mr. Chretien will attend to accept the award and speak about international GLBT civil rights." The award will be presented on Friday, April 29 at the National Constitution Center, Independence National Historical Park at Equality Forum 2005


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'No Man's Land' - a documentary on 'hijras' life
Manish Chand,


New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS): Neither male nor female, they inhabit a twilight world that has its own ways. Social pariahs, they are scorned and ridiculed by civilised society.

Yet they are the first to storm a house with their lusty celebratory singing and dancing when a baby is born. If you are simultaneously fascinated and repelled by them, it's not your fault.

For, the in-between world of eunuchs, or 'hijras' as they are called in India, is cluttered with deadly clichés. So tread gently when you see "No Man's Land" - a film on eunuchs screened at the India International Centre here Sunday evening.

The documentary, directed by Prajna Khanna and Himali Kapil, demolishes some pet stereotypes about these grossly misunderstood and misrepresented `in-between' people.


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Topics on AIDS,
the intersexed discussed
in conference
by Cassie Gutierrez
News Writer


Last week, Boise State University unveiled the second annual Point of View Academic Conference: Sexuality in a Diverse Society. Tuesday, Nov. 16. The conference opened with a juried art exhibit, reception and awards. "The Performance of Pink." followed at 7 p.m. The conference continued all day on Wednesday and concluded that evening.



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Draft legislation on HIV/AIDS anti-discrimination soon
SIDDHARTHA KASHYAP
TIMES NEWS NETWORK


PUNE: Healthcare establishments (HCEs) or doctors denying treatment to HIV/AIDS patients, beware, for the proposed anti-discrimination law that is being readied, if passed, will hold the guilty liable for prosecution. Moreover, employers victimising an employee because of his/her positive status is also liable to be prosecuted under the proposed legislation.

Prepared by a group of lawyers fighting large-scale instances of stigma, discrimination that has haunted HIV/AIDS patients, the draft legislation is almost 90 per cent complete.

According to project co-ordinator of the Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS unit, advocate Vivek Divan, the project was taken up in August 2002 at the behest of Congress MP, Kapil Sibal who spearheads a parliamentary committee with the aim to build a consensus amongst politicians against AIDS in the country. Sibal is currently the union minister for science and technology.



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HIV warning over reggae lyrics


International Development Minister Gareth Thomas fears that discrimination against homosexuals is deterring people from being tested for HIV.

Mr Thomas will tell a conference in St Kitts there must be free speech but people should not incite violence against minorities.

He will single out artistes such as Sizzla Kalonji and Buju Banton.

Scotland Yard is continuing to examine the lyrics by eight artists, including Beenie Man, Elephant Man and Bountie Killer after complaints from gay rights group Outrage!.


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HIV/Aids is Expected to Slash African Labour Force By 9 Per Cent By 2010 - UN


By 2010 sub-Saharan Africa's total labour force is expected to shrink by 9 per cent due to HIV/AIDS, with losses topping 20 per cent in the worst affected countries, a United Nations-organized workshop has been told.

By 2015 these losses could reach up to 12 per cent overall, reducing the labour supply by as much 30 per cent to 40 per cent in the highest prevalence countries.

Over 100 hundred representatives from the public and private sectors attended the two-day policy dialogue last week in Accra, capital of Ghana, organized by the UN Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA) in collaboration with ILO-AIDS, part of the UN International Labour Organization, to offer policy makers recommendations to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the continent's labour force.


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Recent University diversity statement misses queer community
By John Gabriel


The recently released Statement on Diversity makes no mention of the queer population on campus, either as students, faculty, and staff, or in the community at large. Apparently this statement is an attempt by the University to justify its recruitment, retention, and hiring practices, and since the University doesn’t take sexuality or gender identity into account in admissions or hiring, this is the reason for the oversight.

That said, the statement’s language on the value of diversity in the community suggests that the University should begin recruiting students and faculty based on these criteria. The University has recognized that women and racial minorities may find the environment here somewhat intimidating and has taken special steps to help accommodate their concerns. The queer community, however, is taken for granted.