Aug 15, 2003  | COMMENTS     

NEW YORK (AP) — Secretary-General Kofi Annan followed up his appearance at a panel on protecting the rights of lesbians and gay men with a statement last week declaring that the United Nations cannot condone discrimination or persecution on any grounds. Annan made a brief appearance Aug. 4 at the symposium, which organizers said was unprecedented at the United Nations. “He believes that the United Nations cannot condone any persecution of, or discrimination against, people on any grounds,” said the next day’s statement, issued by his spokesperson. Gay activist speakers, including U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, a Democrat, demanded that gay rights be included in international human rights treaties and asked the United Nations to provide equal benefits to same-sex couples. U.N. spokesperson Fred Eckhard said Annan was carefully considering how to move forward on the issue because “member states themselves have divergent and strongly held views on this subject.”

Croatian legislation recognizes gay couples
ZAGREB, Croatia — New legislation from Croatia will give gay partners the same legal rights as their unmarried straight counterparts, a move that has been hailed as the first step toward full recognition in the country, Gay.com U.K. reported last week. The legislation will give same sex partners of at least three years the same rights as unmarried cohabiting opposite-sex partners, including the right to legal regulation of property and mutual responsibility for financial support. The move reflects a general liberal attitude in Eastern Europe’s former communist block. In 1996, the Hungarian Constitutional Court made a similar move, extending the rights of unmarried cohabiting opposite-sex partners to same-sex partners.

Independent journalist on trial for sodomy pleads guilty
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) — An Uzbek journalist charged with sodomy has pleaded guilty at his closed trial and dismissed his lawyers, according to rights activists who alleged Monday that his actions were the result of pressure from the authorities. Ruslan Sharipov said at a hearing Aug. 8 he was ready to admit his guilt on all charges and apologize to President Islam Karimov and other officials for criticizing them in his articles, according to Surat Ikramov, a rights activist who has been helping defend Sharipov in court. Sharipov earlier maintained his innocence and said the case against him was fabricated. Sharipov, 25, a journalist who leads an independent civil rights group that focuses on protecting media freedom, was arrested May 26 and accused of having gay sex, having sex with minors and running a brothel. Sharipov, who is open about his homosexual orientation, faces up to three years in prison if convicted under a Soviet-era law banning sodomy. If found guilty on the other charges, Sharipov could face another five years in prison.

Malaysia bans TV show episode, says it encourages homosexuality
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Government censors banned an episode of a popular Malaysian TV show for allegedly encouraging the acceptance of homosexuality, officials said last week. The show’s producers — who include the daughter of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad — accused the censors of being out of touch with real-life issues faced by young people in this predominantly Muslim country. “We’re not trying to condone homosexuality,” said Lina Tan, executive producer of “3R,” a weekly current affairs series for young women. “But we want to promote better understanding of this issue.” Tan, who directed the banned episode, titled “Identity Behind The Mirror,” said it contained interviews with two middle-aged lesbians, as well as a skit about discrimination against gay men and lesbians. Same-sex acts in Malaysia are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a flogging. However, the laws are only enforced occasionally. Mahathir, who has led Malaysia for 22 years, has denounced homosexuality.

Liberals in Canada prepare to debate same-sex marriage
OTTAWA — Some Liberal backbenchers want to force Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his cabinet to back down on same-sex marriage at what is expected to be a heated national caucus meeting next week, the Toronto Globe & Mail reported. “This [same-sex marriage issue] is going to possess the caucus,” Sarnia Liberal MP Roger Gallaway told the Globe & Mail. The caucus meets Aug. 19-21 in North Bay. Gallaway said he wants to force the prime minister and the cabinet to reverse their position on gay marriage by either staying the Ontario court decision or withdrawing and restructuring the reference made to the Supreme Court of Canada. Chretien, a reluctant champion of same-sex marriage, will urge Liberal MPs at the caucus meeting to follow his lead in accepting that gay and lesbian marriage is here to stay, the Associated Press reported.