IRAN BANS BOOK
A book that discusses the homosexuality of Persian literary figures was banned in Iran Sept. 16. Witness Play ( Shahed-Bazi ) by Cyrus Shamisa had been approved by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance but then the approval was withdrawn.
The director of the Ferdos publishing house told Agence France-Presse he has recovered about 400 of the 2,000 copies of the book that were printed.
HIV+ MUPPET AIRS
Sesame Street South Africa's HIV-positive Muppet was unveiled Sept. 17.
Kami is yellow and likes being outdoors, collecting things and telling stories. She will first appear on the Sept. 30 episode.
One in nine South Africans is HIV-positive.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA GAYS GET RIGHTS
The state of Western Australia's Lesbian and Gay Law Reform Act took effect Sept. 20, lowering the age of consent for gay sex from 21 to 16, and extending marriage rights to same-sex couples in the areas of adoption, in-vitro fertilization, medical treatment, inheritance and death benefits.
"The pursuit of equality for gays and lesbian in WA started back in 1972," said Gay and Lesbian Equality WA spokesman Damian Meyer. "Finally, young gay men will be treated the same as their straight counterparts when discovering their sexuality."
GALE's Jackie Beesley added: "Lesbian couples having children by artificial conception will now both be recognized as that child's parents. Other same-sex couples can now co-adopt their partner's children or be considered step-parents, in the exact same way as opposite-sex couples."
IRAN BANS BOOK
A book that discusses the homosexuality of Persian literary figures was banned in Iran Sept. 16. Witness Play ( Shahed-Bazi ) by Cyrus Shamisa had been approved by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance but then the approval was withdrawn.
The director of the Ferdos publishing house told Agence France-Presse he has recovered about 400 of the 2,000 copies of the book that were printed.
HIV+ MUPPET AIRS
Sesame Street South Africa's HIV-positive Muppet was unveiled Sept. 17.
Kami is yellow and likes being outdoors, collecting things and telling stories. She will first appear on the Sept. 30 episode.
One in nine South Africans is HIV-positive.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA GAYS GET RIGHTS
The state of Western Australia's Lesbian and Gay Law Reform Act took effect Sept. 20, lowering the age of consent for gay sex from 21 to 16, and extending marriage rights to same-sex couples in the areas of adoption, in-vitro fertilization, medical treatment, inheritance and death benefits.
"The pursuit of equality for gays and lesbian in WA started back in 1972," said Gay and Lesbian Equality WA spokesman Damian Meyer. "Finally, young gay men will be treated the same as their straight counterparts when discovering their sexuality."
GALE's Jackie Beesley added: "Lesbian couples having children by artificial conception will now both be recognized as that child's parents. Other same-sex couples can now co-adopt their partner's children or be considered step-parents, in the exact same way as opposite-sex couples."