THIS WAY OUT : THE INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN RADIO MAGAZINE, PROGRAM NO. 725 (February 18, 2002)

THIS WAY OUT the international gay & lesbian radio magazine Program #725. (hosted this week by Greg Gordon and produced with Lucia Chappelle) Program I.D. #02-F72-00007 Mark Tewksbury & a PFLAG Mum help launch Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras; Poland prepares for partner equality, an Italian priest is purged for performing lesbian & gay unions, Finland’s Church won’t commit to blessing same-gender couples, Valentine vows are exchanged at a Mexico City demonstration, an abusive dad trumps an “inherently evil” lesbian mom in Alabama’s highest court, and other global GLBT news * In NewsWrap: On Valentine’s Day, Poland’s government announces its draft bill to grant lesbian & gay domestic partners the same legal standing as unmarried heterosexual cohabitants, while a Roman Catholic priest in Italy is defrocked and excommunicated for celebrating gay & lesbian unions, and more than 100 same-gender couples exchange vows in Mexico City in a demonstration for partnership rights… Finland’s state Lutheran Church decides against blessing same-gender couples, but the World Bank extends full spousal benefits to the domestic partners of its gay & lesbian employees… the Alabama state Supreme Court rules that homosexuality alone makes gays & lesbians “unfit” parents… plus other GLBT news from around the world [written by CINDY FRIEDMAN and anchored by CHRISTOPHER GAAL & CINDY FRIEDMAN].(about 9:30) * Openly-gay multi-medal-winning Canadian Olympics swimming champ MARK TEWKSBURY is one of the entertaining and inspiring speakers at the Launch of the 2002 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS. On-scene coverage of the February 8th event Down Under also includes the poignant comments of NAN McGREGOR, a P-FLAG, “Rainbow Sash”-wearing mom who describes defying her Archbishop, and the comedy of GRETEL KILEEN, host of Australian TV’s “Big Brother” [produced by MICHAEL SCHEMBRI/2SER-FM Sydney’s “Gaywaves”].(about 16:00)