ROUND UP
BEING QUEER IN TANZANIA Sadly, men who have sex with men can be sentenced to life imprisonment. The semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar also outlaws same-sex sexual acts between women with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment or a 500,000 shilling fine.
TANZANIA BANS LUBRICANT
UK : HIV CURE IN OUR SIGHTS
SAFE SCHOOLS IN CANBERRA
In all it’s apparent wisdom the African nation of Tanzania has banned the import and sale of sexual lubricants as part of a sustained crackdown on the country’s gay community. And it gets even more crazy with Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu telling local media that banning lube will also curb the spread of HIV because gay men won’t be able to have sex without it.
HIV advocates are celebrating the news that scientists working on a cure for HIV infection in the UK have had a massive breakthrough.
The ACT Labor Government has pledged $100,000 to take over funding for the Safe Schools Program in the ACT, countering changes imposed by the Federal Government. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said, “The requirements the Commonwealth are putting on this funding are making it impossible to deliver an effective program.” He announced the ACT Government would instead take over funding of the program and allow Safe Schools to continue in its original form.
The ban of water-based lubricant directly contradicts UNAIDS recommendation that lube should always be distributed with condoms to prevent the spread of HIV in high prevalence areas.
A 44 year old British man could become the first person in the world to be cured of HIV after using a new therapy designed by a team of scientists from five UK universities. Scientists told The Sunday Times UK that presently the virus is completely undetectable in the man’s blood, although that could be a result of regular drugs. However, if the dormant cells are also cleared out it could represent the first complete cure.
USA : NEW TRANSGENDER RIGHTS LAW TAKES EFFECT IN MASSACHUSETTS A new law that prevents public places from discriminating on the basis of gender has taken effect in Massachusetts. The new bill allows trans people to use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. Republican Governor Charlie Baker signed the law in July after several years of disagreement. Advocates for the bill hope that trans people can no longer be discriminated against in public places. 12
NEWS&POLITICS
In response, and after being questioned by the Australian Christian Lobby, the ACT Liberal deputy leader Alistair Coe said he had “real reservations” about the Safe Schools Program and said if elected an ACT Liberal Government would be “vigilant” in ensuring it was age appropriate.
USA : BIZARRE RANT WONDER WOMAN IS BISEXUAL Wonder Woman’s writers have revealed that Wonder Woman is a bisexual and fans have found it hard to contain their excitement. When quizzed about Diana’s life with her fellow Amazons — who are all female and live on the fictional island of Themyscira — writer Greg Rucka said that the superhero had “obviously” been in same-sex relationships.
Evangelical Christian Stephen Baldwin recently made baffling comments regarding same-sex marriage while being interviewed by Yahoo News anchor Katie Couric. Baldwin said his stand on marriage equality is a “Jedi mind trick”, adding that it would be great for couples who are gay to marry, but only if they started their own churches. Back in 2012 he told Rosie O’Donnell, same-sex couples should be permitted to marry but only “in their world.” FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU