Email Archive Page 80

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 20:59:08 +1000
From: Andy
Subject: btlist: Thankyou, with lots of hugs and kisses!!!!

Hi peeps,

I came home tonight feeling rather...well "ordinary" is a word that comes
to mind. That was until I fetched my mail out of my cedar letterbox. I saw
this letter postmarked "West London". Oh yeah, I thought. My long lost
pen-friend in London, Ontario has decided to write back after all these
years.

Nope. I was wrong.

It was a card from the gang in the midst of their Thamesmead pilgrimage and
"pub crawl"!!!... (well they where at the Anchor when they signed the card!)

What a surprise!!!!

My jaw dropped for several minutes while I scan over all the names on the
card. I can't get rid of this grin on my face (a cause of concern seeing I
can't afford the wrinkles !!!! :))

Thanks Kent, Joe, Sandra, Olga, Gavin, Gav K, Rich, Alex, Ian, Martijn,
David, Tory, Ralf, Olaf, Andre.....and all the others in the jumble of
names on the card!

Love Andy.xxx

*****************************************************

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 21:00:50 +1000
From: Andy
Subject: Re: btlist: Age of consent

Just closing off the 'thread' I started the other day and for those that
haven't heard yet...

"The age of consent for sex between male homosexuals has been lowered from
18 to 16 by Britain's Lower House of Commons, much to the delight of gay
rights activists. Members of the parliament backed the move by 366 votes to
129, in a free vote."

<snip>

"The vote will bring British age of consent legislation into line with many
other European Union countries. Only Austria will have different ages of
consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex."

(Source: AAP/Reuters)

Andy.
."". ."",
| | / /
| | / /
| | / /
| |/ ;-._
} ` _/ / ;
| /` ) / /
| / /_/\_/\
|/ / |
( ' \ '- |
\ `. /
| |
| |

(To view ascii art use a mono-spaced font.)

Yes that is a "v" for victory. :)

*****************************************************

From: Sven
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 07:08:18 EDT
Subject: Re: btlist: Age of consent

<"The age of consent for sex between male homosexuals has been lowered from>
<18 to 16 by Britain's Lower House of Commons, much to the delight of gay>
<rights activists. Members of the parliament backed the move by 366 votes to>
<129, in a free vote.">

A hearty hooray for all homosexuals of the world! This has been a wonderful
breakthrough. Now, if it were just easier for everyone to find a significant
other <G>.

the effervescent Steve

*****************************************************

From: "Neil
Subject: RE: btlist: Age of consent
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 13:08:59 +0100

Hi all,

I was lucky enough to be in G.a.y. (Britain's biggest gay club) last night
for the Stonewall Age of Consent party. Some of our gay Members of
Parliament were there dancing their tits of. Fab!

Also, on the huge screen, as well as showing the whole debate (no sound)
they showed some great clips from BT - in widescreen too!

Have any of the Brit BTers heard that Pride UK 98 has been postponed?

Love

Neil.

-----Original Message-----
Andy
Sent: 23 June 1998 12:01
Subject: Re: btlist: Age of consent

Just closing off the 'thread' I started the other day and for those that
haven't heard yet...

<snip>

"The vote will bring British age of consent legislation into line with many
other European Union countries. Only Austria will have different ages of
consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex."

(Source: AAP/Reuters)

Andy.
."". ."",
| | / /
| | / /
| | / /
| |/ ;-._
} ` _/ / ;
| /` ) / /
| / /_/\_/\
|/ / |
( ' \ '- |
\ `. /
| |
| |

(To view ascii art use a mono-spaced font.)

Yes that is a "v" for victory. :)

*****************************************************

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 14:12:29 +0100 (BST)
From: Stu
Subject: Re: btlist: Somebody please catch Sandra...

Cool, look forward to seing it.

By the way, hello guy's !

stu
x

On Mon, 22 Jun 1998, Eric wrote:

> ...before she hits the floor with a *thud*!
>
> Thanks to Jeffo, there's a new Scott Neal picture up, this one with Tameka,
> that I've never seen before. The top of Scott's pix page.
>
>
>
> and, oh yes!, there's much more to come! :-)
>
> -Eric
>
>

*****************************************************

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 14:17:49 +0100 (BST)
From: Stu
Subject: btlist: Pride '98 - Date to be accepted/changed

Hello you sex gods out there !

Sorry about being over the top, but you did hear on the news last night,
that the government acted in favour of dropping the age consent of gays to
16, and I'm over the moon !!!!!

To all those 16 year old babes out there, now that something has been done
to allow you to have consent at 16, why not explor life a little, because
you came come out of the closet and live how you want, and not hide !

Also, following the article on the news today about Pride '98 being
changed, has anyone else heard more, or is it still in discussion and
being sorted out?

I know it's late, but I didn't get my ticket, haven't had the time, so if
they change the date to something later on, I should be ok.

Does anyone know of any news about this ?

stu
x

*****************************************************

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 14:21:58 +0100 (BST)
From: Stu
Subject: Re: btlist: Age of consent

Hi steve, andy, and all

I just wrote a message about this, I still can't believe it's real, that
society is accepting us for once, I mean I'm so lost for words.

with love

stu
X

On Tue, 23 Jun 1998 Sven wrote:

> <"The age of consent for sex between male homosexuals has been lowered from>
> <18 to 16 by Britain's Lower House of Commons, much to the delight of gay>
> <rights activists. Members of the parliament backed the move by 366 votes to>
> <129, in a free vote.">
>
>
> A hearty hooray for all homosexuals of the world! This has been a wonderful
> breakthrough. Now, if it were just easier for everyone to find a significant
> other <G>.
>
> the effervescent Steve
>
> This message was brought to you by the Beautiful Thing mailing list (btlist)
>

*****************************************************

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 14:24:04 +0100 (BST)
From: Stu
Subject: RE: btlist: Age of consent

Hi Neil, stu here (again)

I heard about the matter, and am wondering what's going on, I guess if you
read the ITN website, (www.itn.co.uk) details may be enclosed, not sure
though, hope it's
not too late until Pride '98.

reguards

stu.
x

On Tue, 23 Jun 1998, Neil wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I was lucky enough to be in G.a.y. (Britain's biggest gay club) last night
> for the Stonewall Age of Consent party. Some of our gay Members of
> Parliament were there dancing their tits of. Fab!
>
> Also, on the huge screen, as well as showing the whole debate (no sound)
> they showed some great clips from BT - in widescreen too!
>
> Have any of the Brit BTers heard that Pride UK 98 has been postponed?
>
> Love
>
> Neil.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Andy
> Sent: 23 June 1998 12:01
> Subject: Re: btlist: Age of consent
>
>
> Just closing off the 'thread' I started the other day and for those that
> haven't heard yet...
>
>
> "The age of consent for sex between male homosexuals has been lowered from
> 18 to 16 by Britain's Lower House of Commons, much to the delight of gay
> rights activists. Members of the parliament backed the move by 366 votes to
> 129, in a free vote."
>
> <snip>
>
> "The vote will bring British age of consent legislation into line with many
> other European Union countries. Only Austria will have different ages of
> consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex."
>
> (Source: AAP/Reuters)
>
>
> Andy.
> ."". ."",

*****************************************************

From: jmcs
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 13:41:49 +0000
Subject: Re: btlist: Somebody please catch Sandra...

HIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!

> ...before she hits the floor with a *thud*!

No prob, Eric, I padded it after several severe concussions. It was very
useful this time, though!!!!!

> Thanks to Jeffo, there's a new Scott Neal picture up, this one with Tameka,
> that I've never seen before. The top of Scott's pix page.

Top Scott!!!!! WWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>
> and, oh yes!, there's much more to come! :-)

You know how I call what you're doing, Eric?? T-O-R-T-U-R-E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, we all know Eric the Teaser, right??? (Love ya!!)

Take care.

Sandra.

*****************************************************

From: "Gray"
Subject: btlist: RE: Gay Pride
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 14:59:45 +0100

Hi Stu! and anyone else out there

Just heard it on the radio, it seems the reason it's been postponed is
because they've run into financial difficulties.

Later

Gray

*****************************************************

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 15:32:31 +0100 (BST)
From: Stu
Subject: Re: btlist: RE: Gay Pride

Hi Gray, and thanks for giving us the info from the grapevine, aka radio !

I'm sure there were many other reasons, i.e. not enough tickets to sell
out, and overcrowding of our kind, right across london, wiping out the
str8 guys.

Keep listening.

stu,
x

On Tue, 23 Jun 1998, Gray wrote:

> Hi Stu! and anyone else out there
>
> Just heard it on the radio, it seems the reason it's been postponed is because they've run into financial difficulties.
>
> Later
>
> Gray
>

*****************************************************

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 15:33:16 +0100 (BST)
From: Stu
Subject: Re: btlist: RE: Gay Pride

Sorry i also feel that the event may have been counciled, as an act
against us, from the voting session in the house of commons yesterday.

any views. ?

On Tue, 23 Jun 1998, Gray wrote:

> Hi Stu! and anyone else out there
>
> Just heard it on the radio, it seems the reason it's been postponed is because they've run into financial difficulties.
>
> Later
>
> Gray
>

*****************************************************

From: "David
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 17:35:39 +0000
Subject: Re: btlist: RE: Gay Pride

> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 15:33:16 +0100 (BST)
> From: Stu
> Subject: Re: btlist: RE: Gay Pride
> Reply-to: btlist@tenr.com

> Sorry i also feel that the event may have been counciled, as an act
> against us, from the voting session in the house of commons yesterday.
>
>
> any views. ?

I think it's more likely that Pride has just become far too
commercial :( And even worse, it's not the Gay Businesses who are
really benefiting.

As for yesterday... good news, (although how much difference it
really would have made to some of us ... ;)

David

*****************************************************

From: "David
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 17:35:39 +0000
Subject: Re: btlist: Age of consent

> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 14:21:58 +0100 (BST)
> From: Stu
> Subject: Re: btlist: Age of consent
> Hi steve, andy, and all
>
> I just wrote a message about this, I still can't believe it's real, that
> society is accepting us for once, I mean I'm so lost for words.

Well... all we need is a few more bits of equality.. :(

But it's a start!

*****************************************************

From: Tea1cup
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 15:12:32 EDT
Subject: Re: btlist: Got it!!!

Hey All,

I just got my hands on my own copy of The Movie at its affordable price!!!!!
Can't wait to sit and enjoy it whenever I want!

Ta, Bert

*****************************************************

From: Tea1cup
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 15:16:16 EDT
Subject: Re: btlist: Age of consent

Congrats to all the UK boys out there on the Age of Consnt legislation. Now if
we could only knock some sense into the U.S. Congress on gay issues, things
will be moving along swimmingly.

-Bert

*****************************************************

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 18:33:39 -0400
From: MGB
Subject: btlist: movie

I know several people have been looking for the video. You might check
out wolfevideo.com as they have it advertised for $19.95 us. Ive never
ordered anything from them so cant give them a thumbs up, but thought id
pass along the info!
MGB

*****************************************************

From: "Kent ."
Subject: btlist: BT weekend: Many More Goodbyes (Monday and Tuesday, June
15-16)
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 18:15:18 PDT

Monday June 15

We started our day later than usual, which was just as well.

I neglected to mention that starting Sunday evening there was a partial
strike of the Underground system; at its worst, that meant that a
couple lines weren't operating at all, and services were reduced on some
other lines. But as the trains came so frequently (so it seemed),
there was only one time the cars were too packed with riders for us to
get on the first train arriving in the station. What I thought
interesting was the meticulousness of the updates the Transport System
gave to the public-- this line was operating at 57% normal, that one was
32% normal, this other one, 96% normal service-- so precise, these
British! They even announced, before the strike had even begun,
precisely when it would end-- I guess that is what they mean by (very)
Organized Labor!

We were at Waterloo at the appointed time, between 1:00 and 1:30 PM.
Gav sampled a complimentary cup of espresso, foam and all, while we
loitered at the pre-determined meeting spot. Martijn came over for a
typically warm Martijn hello. We followed him down a ramp to a lower
level waiting area, where half his group was assembled. I noted their
boombox was in the small basket part of the luggage trolley. After a
time, the rest of Holland's Nicest Guys arrived. Andre said that they
got a bit of a London tour in the cab on the way over. At some point,
the BT CD started playing and we had an impromptu singalong to the words
we all knew and loved so well. We stood in a circle, arms around each
other in camaraderie. We had a group hug. Then suddenly Martijn and
Robert were coming at me, relieving me of my umbrella and removing my
jacket. I knew what these young men wanted (I didn't come down with
the last shower, either! More like the Great Flood, maybe! :)) Wait!
Not *that*! It was time for-- aerobics again! So there we were, the
three of us, going through the routine, as the dance music played. I
didn't throw them off-tempo-- well, not too much, anyway. But you see
why I felt just being around the Dutch guys was a guarantee of having a
good time? They always *did* have one, it seemed. Now the departure
time for their Eurostar train approached. We had to bid our goodbyes
and it was just as hard to do as you can imagine. Even more so,
really. Gav, Joe, and I stood and watched them go through the doors to
their train platform, and I felt diminished.

It was still early afternoon and we maneuvered our way back and forth
through the Underground as we first did the typically touristy thing of
visiting the Tower of London (*loved* the Crown Jewels, even if one or
two of the sparklers were too understated for my taste! <G>) and then
the less-touristy thing of visiting a Gay bookstore called "Gay is the
Word", which the guidebook Rich had given Gavin (I've been waiting to be
able to write that! :)) said was near Russell Square. It reminded me
of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop in Greenwich Village. Smallish,
but with an extensive selection-- although the BT Stagescript was not
currently in stock, unfortunately.
We made it to the steps of St. Martin-in-the-Fields for our "dinner
date" with Wolfgang at-- you guessed it!-- just about 10 minutes past
our rendezvous time of 7:00. From there, we walked a short way looking
for a Pizza Hut, of which Joe had remembered seeing several the previous
day. (I should add here that although I have no problems navigating
with maps, when it comes to reading street names in small print... at
night... under dim lights-- *then* I have problems! So it is thanks--
and thanks again-- to Joe that we were able to find our way more or less
directly to our destinations in an unfamiliar City.) However, I
purposely kidded Gavin, whenever our way was in doubt, or some other
fact eluded us, "Just ask the 'local'. " But London was just as
familiar to him as it was to us. Meaning NOT. Well, we'll be more
confident the next time.

So, back to Pizza Hut. It was after we'd had our garlic bread and
sampled from the ample salad bar, and been talking a few minutes that I
said "Well, it's definitely not a Pizza Hut Express!" (Not that I
minded, really, we were all enjoying chatting away-- yes, I said "we"!)
Gav had no sooner replied that yes, they usually do serve more quickly,
than a manager-type approached our table, with an order slip in hand.
He said there'd been a problem with the printer and our order for two
pies had just started being worked on. He offered us another round of
drinks, more from the salad bar, and more garlic bread "on the house".
So, not wanting to pass up a good thing (OK, a *free* thing!), we
re-saladed ourselves and dove into a plate of twice as much
mozzarella-topped garlic bread as before. Thankfully, we weren't
completely stuffed when the pizzas arrived. Gav politely offered a pie
wedge to Wolfgang and served it-- but it went <flip!> and landed upside
down on the plate. Only a small silly thing, but the next time
Wolfgang accepted Gav's offer of another slice, he told him, "You have
to do it the same." <G> And deft Gav did just that. I asked him how
he managed, expecting the stock answer "It's all in the wrists", but he
said, "From making omelettes". Dutch guys take note! Maybe next time
you'll have 2 Gavin's (K. and L.) to cook you breakfast!

After dinner we walked to Old Compton Street, with a number of gay
establishments. There, we stopped in at the bar called, simply,
Compton's. I was doing my best to keep the square box of Pizza Hut
leftovers (yeah, we ate too much salad! :)) unobtrusive. Thankfully,
with our jackets and an oversize bag holding a book I'd bought at the
Tower as camouflage (as well as the dim lights) we didn't look too
silly. I hope. The bar played typically gay dance music to which
(typically) no one was dancing (at least on the ground floor; there
was an upper level which seemed to have some kind of dance floor
lighting from the glimpses I caught looking up the stairs. Where we
were, we just sat and enjoyed a drink, watched the customers (at least
one pair of whom did a passable imitation of the guys Ste saw kissing
passionately when he entered the Gloucester). It was uamzinglt
UNsmoky, which was nice. The d�cor over the bar was kinda SoBeach
Miami-- flourescent orange and electric blue and oversize hanging
tropical fish. It was a nice bar. It was also another example of the
early closing policy in London, for by 11:00 everybody was being
directed to finish their drinks and go out. The four of us walked to
Wolfgang's Underground Station, and said a affectionate goodbye before
going through the gates. Then we were on the platform where Wolfgnag
boarded his train, and it arrived very quickly. Too quickly. We
watched this adorable man, face at the window and waving to us, leave
the station. Now we went "home", too. Wec rode the train in silence.

Tuesday June 16: Our Last Full Day in London

Gav checked out of his room and kept his bags in ours. His train
didn't leave until 7:30 and we weren't leaving until the next day. I
had previously confirmed with him that he'd be bringing a copy of at
least part of the BT-Story he'd written (called "The Saga Continues")
with him. I'd been asking more than once if it might be possible to
hear his Jamie and Ste (whose dialogue he wrote so well) speak with
authentic accents. I think he thought I might've forgotten about that
by now. Uh-uh! When I repeated my request for a reading, there in
the Hotel room, he kindly acquiesced. Joe and I listened, rapt, as he
read the first part of his story. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the
beautiful images his words wove, and heard a very real Jamie and Ste
speak when he read their dialogue. It was extra-special to me, to hear
such a sincere and moving exchange spoken by the Author himself. Those
7 or 8 minutes are one of my most treasured memories of my time in
London. Gavin was reading what his heart had written and it was read
just for us.

We spent much of our afternoon together, Joe, Gav, and I, in a similarly
casual way to the walkabout of the preceding Friday. Once more through
Hyde Park-- past the Italian Garden, past the Peter Pan statue, along
the Serpentine-- South and then West to Harrod's (marvelously lavish
interior, fun to browse). We stopped in a big church along the way (it
hardly feels like Europe without going inside at least *one*
lavish-with-marble Cathedral), then walked past the Victoria and Albert,
and the Natural Science Museum, along the South edge of Kensington
Gardens (we relaxed on a bench there for an alfresco sandwich-and-snack
stop), then to Marks and Spencer (a friend asked me to pick him up a
shirt there-- I got it on sale, too!) We even finally got to the Post
Office to send our cards to the Four Corners of the Globe (which is only
the slightest of exaggerations <G>). That explains your "West London"
postmark, Andy! Then we went back to our Hotel.

We went nearby for a quick bite... and then it was time for Gavin to be
on his way. We hugged goodbye in the room, but the moment I'd been
putting off thinking about was now here. We walked to Paddington
Station. There was a large crowd of people waiting; one of the
trains was late in departing. Eventually we found the announcement for
Gav's train and walked with him to the platform. At the door to his
car we said goodbye again. Gav had said he didn't like long goodbye's
(nor do I) but of course we stood outside his car window until the train
left. He sat at a table of four, closest to the window, facing
forward. But the goodbye did turn out to be a long one because
BritRail punctuality was still being stymied by some problem down the
line, and the train sat there. And sat. This was very difficult for
me-- a combination of wanting to be light and cheery and yet I was
barely able to meet his eyes, because my own were so close to welling
up. It was like all the Weekend's "Goodbye's" rolled into one
extra-painful Big Goodbye. At one point I had to turn and walk to the
other side of the platform; it was hitting me too hard. I also
didn't want to embarrass him, riding there with strangers, to see these
two guys standing there, visibly upset and in fact near to blubbering on
the platform. For Joe was only a bit more in control of himself than
I, I think. Eventually we saw the signalman give the "all clear" sign,
saw the puffs of smoke from the end of the train, and he was off, with
one last wave and a (brave?) smile. I felt an ache, and for once I
couldn't really speak. I let myself feel the sadness because that was
what the true emotion was for me-- why deny it?

I was grateful that we had a lot then to keep us busy, packing for our
flight the next day, and then, on Wednesday, busy with getting out and
getting to the airport and that day's flying. Being on the move was a
good way to occupy my mind, because if I stopped to think about all
those wonderful feelings (which were becoming part of my past, no longer
part of my "present"), I got choked up at all these absences I now had
to adjust myself to. Only one thing eased the melancholy. I resolved
to come back in October, only four short months away.

For those of you who have now shared this vacation with me, thanks for
taking the time to read these posts.

Kent

P.S. Although I can't imagine anyone wanting to re-read them (certainly
not *in toto*!), if anyone wants to include them on a WebPage, be my
guest!

*****************************************************

Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 01:36:57 -0400
From: "Carlos
Subject: btlist: Pilgrimage to Chicago

OK, you all have inspired me to make the trek from Washington, D.C. to
Chicago to see the play. Here's the hitch: I need to find a relatively
inexpensive place to stay not too far from the theatre or the airport.

I'll be travelling on July 11th or 12th. Depending on airline connections
I'll either see it on that Friday or Saturday night.

If any of you who are from Chicago or visited recently can make
recommendations, I'd be much appreciative.

Best regards,
/carlos

*****************************************************

From: "Neil
Subject: RE: btlist: RE: Gay Pride
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 08:03:47 +0100

For a full account of the UK Gay Pride saga visit the London Evening
Standard's web page (www.thisislondon.com) at:

http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=52820&in_re
view_text_id=39828

Be quick as I'm not sure if the article will stay there long.

Its very sad :(

Neil.

-----Original Message-----
David Ledbury at
Sent: 23 June 1998 18:36
Subject: Re: btlist: RE: Gay Pride

> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 15:33:16 +0100 (BST)
> From: Stu
> Subject: Re: btlist: RE: Gay Pride
> Reply-to: btlist@tenr.com

> Sorry i also feel that the event may have been counciled, as an act
> against us, from the voting session in the house of commons yesterday.
>
>
> any views. ?

I think it's more likely that Pride has just become far too
commercial :( And even worse, it's not the Gay Businesses who are
really benefiting.

As for yesterday... good news, (although how much difference it
really would have made to some of us ... ;)

David

*****************************************************

Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 18:19:23 +1000
From: William
Subject: Re: btlist: Age of consent

Hi out there - I have just joined the list. Congratulations on having a
government in the UK that is prepared to change some laws - albeit only a little.

The House of Commons vote was reported in the morning papers here in OZ (Sydney
Morning Herald) under the headline

"MPs stand firm on gay age law"

"The main NSW political parties have resisted pressure for gay law
reform after Britain's House of Commons voted to lower the age of
consent for homosexuals from 18 to 16.

"The Premier, Mr Carr, and the Liberal Leader, Mr Collins, reaffirmed
their positions on a similar bill before the NSW Parliament which aims
to mirror the British reforms.

"Mr Carr has permitted Labor MPs a conscience vote on the age of
consent provisions of the Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences) Bill but
Mr Collins has committed Liberal MPs to oppose it. National Party
members will also oppose it. After the vote in Britain, the offices of
Mr Carr and Mr Collins said their views had not changed."

Well of course their views haven't changed. There is an State election coming up
and with 12% of the masses backing the bigots in Pauline Hanson's "One Nation
Party" we can hardly expect our illustrious Premier to honour his promises can
we?

[Age of Consent is a state issue in Australia and only Victoria and the ACT have
an age of consent of 16!}

On the other hand we had one step forward - depending on the results of the vote
- also in the Herald was:

"Today [Elisabeth Kirkby], the longest-serving Australian Democrat
member of Parliament and leader of the NSW Democrats since 1981 ends
her 17-year term in the NSW Legislative Council, with a parting gift to
the gay and lesbian community.

"She will introduce legislative reforms promised by the Premier, Mr
Carr, as Opposition Leader in February 1994.

"The Defacto Relationships Amendment Bill aims to extend rights enjoyed
by defacto heterosexual couples to same sex partnerships."

On a brighter note - today is the 20th anniversary of the first Sydney Gay &
Lesbian Mardi Gras. The first Mardi Gras was street march which was attacked by
the police and resulted in 56 arrests. Twenty years later it is the biggest
street parade it the country. I wonder what would have happened if the police
has left us alone back in 1978?

Once again congratulations to everyone in the UK aged 16 & 17. But I suspect you
all knew how to consent before a bunch of politicians told you you could!!!!

William

Sven wrote:

> <"The age of consent for sex between male homosexuals has been lowered from>
> <18 to 16 by Britain's Lower House of Commons, much to the delight of gay>
> <rights activists. Members of the parliament backed the move by 366 votes to>
> <129, in a free vote.">
>
> A hearty hooray for all homosexuals of the world! This has been a wonderful
> breakthrough. Now, if it were just easier for everyone to find a significant
> other <G>.
>
> the effervescent Steve
>
> This message was brought to you by the Beautiful Thing mailing list (btlist)

*****************************************************

From: "Neil
Subject: RE: btlist: Age of consent
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 09:29:01 +0100

Hi William,

Thanks for the input from Australia. Have a look at the Real Audio stream
at

http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/115000/video/_118210_max_cotton_vi.ram

(I'm somewhere on this!)

and the article at

http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk%5Fpolitics/newsid%5F118000/118129.st
m

Neil.

-----Original Message-----
William Good
Sent: 24 June 1998 09:19
Subject: Re: btlist: Age of consent

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From: "Alex
Subject: btlist: Content-Type: text/plain
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 02:19:04 PDT

Hi all of you out there!

I'm Alex and I'm quite new to the list. For those of you I didn't meet
during our great weekend in London, I think I've got to say something
about me ....

Well, my name is Alex (that's obvious!) and I'm 35 (oh, come on Alex, be
honest! You're going to be 36 next August!). I'm from Milan, Italy, but
I was born in Florence.

I know that you heard a lot of experiences about BT .... but here is
mine...

I came across the video in a Virgin Megastore down in Oxford Street,
London, last April. It was a rainy day, nothing to do, so I decided to
buy it. When I saw the movie for the first time (when it was at cinemas
all over Italy, 2 years ago I believe) I found it a nice movie and a
nice love romance. Nothing more, nothing less.

Back from London I played the video and it was as seeing it for the
first time! I coundn't stop playing it over and over again. Then I went
to a Virgin Megastore here in Milan and got the italian version ... Soon
after I had a look on the Internet and discovered that I'm not the only
one feeling like this about the movie ...

Then I knew about the meeting in London chatting on the BT Chat Line and
I had the pleasure to meet some of you .....

Maybe something has changed forever inside me ....

Love

Alex XXX :-)

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Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 21:13:00 +1000
From: William
Subject: btlist: New Member

Hello to everyone.

I am a new member of this list. I had meant this to be my first message
but due to the vagaries of the universe and politicians it has become my
second.

I discovered Beautiful Thing by accident. About a month ago I was lent
the video by a work colleague who raved about it. It sat around at home
for about two weeks before I got a chance to look at it. When I did I
was entranced. I have now watched it three or four times and every time
I see it I love it more.

I have been trying to work out what it is about this film that I find so
captivating. Perhaps I am just an incurable romantic. I love a good
love story with a happy ending.

On a personal level Jamie and Ste bring back memories. When I was their
age I too was a schoolboy learning to cope with being gay, with
accepting myself and rejecting the bigotry around me. I also had a very
dear friend, Paul, who went through it with me. Although we did not
become lovers we did explore our sexuality together and later on I met
my first lover through him. Across the years Paul and I lost touch and
only a little while before I first saw Beautiful Thing I learned that he
had died. It felt like part of me had died.

This wonderful film brings the memories flooding back. I can understand
everything Jamie and Ste are going through. I know the problems that
time will bring them and I hope that their love will bring them through
it.

Perhaps that is the best thing about this story. The play ends but the
story does not. Like life it goes on into an uncharted future and our
imagination goes with it.

I was right I am an incurable romantic.

Love to all of you

William

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From: Sven
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 07:22:01 EDT
Subject: Re: btlist: New Member

Welcome on board William! Your presence will surely add a new point of view
to our discussions and we all look forward to hopefully meeting you in the
future at our get togethers.
luvs,
Steve

*****************************************************

From: Gavin
Subject: btlist: !!!***WHOOPS***!!!
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 11:26:22 +0000

Sorry Everyone, I made a mistake with my last message it was meant for
Kent only, the one titled "sorry to be so cold" if you haven't read it
yet please don't delete it quick. If you have read it the please
forget it and forgive me for wasting your time. Also sorry Kent for
airing are personal messages in public like this.

Sorry again people.

Gav XXX.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who made such nice comments about my coming out
piece it was so nice to see that it touched a nerve.

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From: Hannes
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 98 12:48:48 MET
Subject: RE: btlist: Content-Type: text/plain

Cool!

Hi Alex, (and all!)

Great to hear such a nice story! I'm sorry I didn't get to meet you guys on the
weekend, but soon, as they say...

Hannes

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 1998 11:21 AM
Subject: btlist: Content-Type: text/plain

Hi all of you out there!

I'm Alex and I'm quite new to the list. For those of you I didn't meet
during our great weekend in London, I think I've got to say something
about me ....

Well, my name is Alex (that's obvious!) and I'm 35 (oh, come on Alex, be
honest! You're going to be 36 next August!). I'm from Milan, Italy, but
I was born in Florence.

I know that you heard a lot of experiences about BT .... but here is
mine...

Then I knew about the meeting in London chatting on the BT Chat Line and
I had the pleasure to meet some of you .....

Maybe something has changed forever inside me ....

Love

Alex XXX :-)

*****************************************************

Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 05:51:22 -0700
From: Jean
Subject: Re: btlist: BT weekend: Many More Goodbyes (Monday and Tuesday,June
15-16)

Dearest Kent, a very sincere thank you for sharing your experiences in
London. Yours and the others' accounts brought the rest of us into the
"glow" of friendship, excitement and joy that all of you felt and y'all came
back home and got it all over us!!!! Thanks.

A very enthusiastic welcome to the list, William and Alex!

Jean.

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