WHOSE CAMPAIGN IS THIS ANYWAY?

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young bringing it back to topic at Saturday's rally. 

The National Union of Students rally outside the State Library last Saturday, lead by queer officer James Vigus, was all about handing over a petition supporting a reversal in the ban on gay marriage to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.... or was it?

The 30,000 signatories were proudly paraded in front of the audience of around 100 people who braved an unusually cold and wet Spring day in Melbourne. The carefully wrapped pile of signatures was precariously poised on one of the Library columns as a series of speakers screamed their support into the megaphone.

Great, the National Union of Students getting behind a campaign against homophobia and supporting gay marriage. But hang on, what are they talking about? Student Union fees, blah, blah.... New government legislation about the operation of student unions, blah, blah..... All worthy topics for a Saturday rally but that's not why we were there. Some of us felt a bit cheated. Coming into the city to get behind the campaign for gay marriage only to be confronted by pimply students spitting their venom at the Rudd Government... well just about anyone really. 

But it was their 'day of action' so I suppose they can scream about anything they want. They did get back to the main game eventually and the Senator spoke in support of the petition to reverse the government's stand on gay marriage. Start to finish, 30 minutes.

But I left thinking that with friends like this, who needs enemies. I am not sure whether just lumping the issue of civil unions and gay marriage into the angry custard of student issues is good enough. We were the crowd magnet being hijacked by all this other stuff that had no revelance to anyone who weren't 1) a student or 2) interested in student politics. The protest signs were all about getting rid of homophobia and supporting gay marriage. But the rhetoric was mostly something else altogether.

This week's The Spin will hear from James Vigus and discuss the protest meeting with the Southern Star Observer editor Andie Noonan. From 7pm this Tuesday on The Spin.

WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?

On last week's program we discussed media reporting of a report stating that the numbers of female CEO's in Australia is dropping. Dropping? How can that be? The study stated that only 2% of the CEO's in ASX200 companies were women. And that percentage is less than in the past. Our guests Andie Noonan (Editor Southern Star Observer) and Hayley Conway (VGLRL) were as mystified as most. So is the question... 1) Why don't women want the top jobs or 2) Why won't men let women reach the top job?

JOY is not a representative organisation when it comes to the average gender spread. But we have some curious gender skews as well. In both membership and representation on air we are highly skewed towards men. On air we have almost exactly half the number of women as men presenting programs. Is that fair? Well, given the membership of JOY it's totally fair because we have a higher percentage of male members of the organisation - not twice as many but heading in that direction.

Taking the issue back another step..... are there more lesbians than gay men? Or are there more 'out' gay men than 'out' gay women? The numbers of titles in the gay press tell us the same story. A lot more gay rags out there for gay men.

Finally, getting articulate lesbians (even women) with a sense of humour and a desire to share strong opinions with a wider audience is bloody hard!!! On The Spin we try, constantly, to find new female participants for the program. And I reckon the 2% participation rate reported in the report is about the same as the success rate we have for finding new female presenters on the program. If you are up to it please get in contact with us!

So what is it with females and lesbians, generally, when it comes to either taking the top jobs in companies in Australia or talking on community radio?

Your responses would be welcomed.

NASTY WORDS ABOUT CRICKET

Jerry Lewis has landed himself in hot water on the eve of his latest Australian tour. Asked in a Channel 10 interview about Australian's obsession with Cricket he said. "Oh cricket, it's a fags game".

So who is he slagging? Cricket or the gay community?

The 82 year old has got priors in this area with comments about an "...illegitimate fag..." on the annual muscular dystrophy telethon in the US last year. He has since apologised for these comments.

Do we give him a break because he's 82? Do his words really hurt? Are we taking ourselves a bit seriously? What do cricketers think about the slur?

Join Tim Newton, Hayley Conway from the VGLRL and Andie Noonan from Southern Star Observer on The Spin as we wade through the murky waters of hate-speech in 2008.

And Jerry Lewis would be acutely aware that his comments will be widely reported and will help publicise his tour of Australia. Will this publicity sell tickets or will gay groups picket his shows? As they say... "any publicity is good publicity, as long as they spell your name right!"

Come and join in the discussion on The Spin. JOY 94.9, Tuesdays @ 7pm

TIM WILSON TAKES A REST

Semi-regular panelist, Tim Wilson, is having a break whilst he seeks election as Melbourne's new Deputy Lord Mayor. Apart from being very busy over the next month, his role on The Spin could compromise the JOY guidelines for presenters.

Program host and producer, Tim Newton, believes his shos will be hard to fill.

"Tim (Wilson) has been a fabulous participant on the program. His views are sometimes completely off the traditional GLBTI graph. We loved it. We would like to think that we air all views, whether popular or not, that don't traditionally fit into the GLBTI mold. The program's been in trouble with station management in the past and I'm sure we'll piss listeners and management off in the future as well."

Tim Newton was suspended for a week and the program was forced to air an apology after an editorial relating to Jonaton Welch's departure from the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian chorus. He has also drawn a great deal of community criticism with other editorials on JOY and in the local gay and lesbian press.

"Our community is robust with a wide church of views. I embrace our differences and love the fact that some people get so upset when they are presented with a fresh or varied view. We will continue to air the broadest range of views from our community and hope to keep people thinking about the many issues we present on the program. Of course, we always do it with a smile and welcome people's responses to the program."

The SPin returns, without Tim Wilson, this Tuesday at 7pm with guest panelist Andie Noonan from the Southern Star Observer.