www.newsandletters.org
|
|
NEWS & LETTERS, June 2002
Queer Notesby Suzanne Rose In Russia, several members of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, introduced a bill that would make lesbian relations a criminal offense in the country. Lexei Mitrofanov, a nationalist member, said that lesbians were responsible for the decline in the population. "If a woman doesn't observe moral, ethical norms, then there will be no growth in the birth rate," he said. In April, Gennady Raikov, the leader of a pro-Kremlin parliamentary faction, stated that he and other lawmakers had drafted a bill that would reinstate criminal punishment for homosexuality. *** In Wales and England, prison rules have been reformed to allow gay partners to be classified as close relatives. It is hoped this will make it easier for gays to visit their partners in jail. Gay prisoners who are in a relationship with other prisoners at a different prison will now be allowed to apply for "inter-prison visits." According to Martin Narey, the Prison Service director general, it is hoped the move will encourage stability in the lives of gay prisoners. "Maybe this is formalizing gay partner visiting rights, but it will not change much," said Steve Taylor, spokesman for the Association of Prisoners. "Prison staff are being given diversity training, but it doesn't extend to inmates who can be racist and homophobic. A gay couple cannot kiss and cuddle in prison visits like a heterosexual couple - they'd probably be assaulted on the way back to their cell and we know that for a fact." |
|
Home l News & Letters Newspaper l Back issues l News and Letters Committees l Dialogues l Raya Dunayevskaya l Contact us l Search Published by News and Letters Committees |
