By Bronwen Beechey
MELBOURNE — The lesbian and gay community now have a new paper. Called Brother Sister, it hit the streets on May 1, combining local and international news, reviews, information on health and other issues, humour and social news in a very slick and professional format.
The editorial in the first issue sums up the spirit of the paper. "For too long" it says, "the lesbian and gay media have been willing to be marginalised ... Lesbians and gay men in the 90s have a lot to be interested in, to celebrate, and much to be angry about. There is more in our lives than dancing, sex and warehouse parties. Brother Sister reflects that."
Associate editor Geoffrey Williams told Green Left Weekly that the response to the first issue had been "colossal", proving the need for a new paper which covered lesbian and gay issues on an equal footing.
He sees Brother Sister as a paper that reflects the diversity of the lesbian and gay community. "The people who work on the paper are drawn from a very broad base — we have radical activist, cosmopolitan, even very conservative views represented."
News editor Tracy Cooper agrees, noting that the response from the lesbian community has been very positive. "It's time they had a centralised, focused news service telling them what's happening in their community."
Brother Sister reflects the new emphasis on coalition work and cooperation between lesbians and gay men. Cooper comments that the HIV/AIDS issue has been an important factor, with many lesbians becoming involved in ACT UP and other pressure groups.
Williams says, "The gay community has become so marginalised and stigmatised that there's a feeling that it's really important that lesbians and gay men cooperate. We still need to acknowledge that there are political and cultural divisions in the community, and that lesbians and gay men do have their own issues. Also the feminist angle always needs to be addressed."
Brother Sister is published weekly, and is available free from cafes, shops and venues, or for $1 from newsagents. Subscriptions are $30 per year. For more information, phone (03) 650 3174.