From: rjh1@quads.uchicago.edu (robert j hinde)
Subject: Help defeat proposed Nicaraguan law against sodomy
Keywords: lesbian, gay, bisexual, homosexual
Reply-To: rjh1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago -- Department of Chemistry
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 00:48:20 GMT

In article <3972@novavax.UUCP> mitch@novavax.nova.edu (Mitch Silverman) writes:

>Oh--could someone email me the info from the original post, about
>where to write to the Chamorro government (or the Nicaraguan 
>legislature) about this bill?

A repost of some information about the Nicaraguan sodomy
law follows.  Note that although the post says that the
deadline for President Chamorro to act on the law is
July 11, it appears that the law has not yet been sent
to her to be either signed or vetoed.  So there is still
time to lobby against the law.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
reports that Nicaragua's National Assembly recessed
shortly after passing the sodomy law and without sending
it to Chamorro.  The Assembly reconvenes on August 3,
at which time they will probably forward the law to
Chamorro.

For continuous updates on this situation, call the
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission at
415-255-8689 or the Nicaraquan Lesbian and Gay Rights
Information Line at 212-475-7159.

=============================================================
Action Alert from the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Commission of the
Democratic Socialists of America.  Reported via the mailing
list DSA-LGB-request@midway.uchicago.edu

You may reproduce this information freely provided you credit
the source.
=============================================================

July 2, 1992

NICARAGUAN PARLIAMENT PASSES ANTI-GAY SODOMY LAW

On June 11th, Nicaragua's National Assembly approved a repressive
law against sodomy by a vote of 43 to 39.  The new law will become
Article 205 of the national penal code if Nicaraguan President Violeta
Chamorro ratifies it by July 11.

The law defines the crime of sodomy as "inducing, promoting, propa-
gandizing, or practicing cohabitation between individuals of the same
sex", even in private; it is punishable by a prison sentence of 1 to
3 years.  In addition, people in a position that "implicates the
influence of authority or moral direction" who are found guilty of
sodomy may receive an additional 2 to 4 years in jail for "illegitimate
seduction".

The proposed Nicaraguan law violates the Inter-American Convention on
Human Rights, which Nicaragua acceded to in 1979.  Only two other
countries in Central and South America have laws against sodomy:
Ecuador and Chile.

Although President Chamorro is closely linked with conservative forces
in the Nicaraguan Catholic Church, and has been outspoken in her
opposition to the aims of the country's feminist and les/bi/gay move-
ments, she is also very sensitive to international opinion.  The Inter-
national Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission is calling on
activists to write or fax President Chamorro immediately and ask her
to veto the new Article 205.  The deadline for Chamorro to ratify the
new law is July 11.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

You can write to the following members of the Nicaraguan government:

President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro
Casa de Gobierno
Apartado No. 2398
Managua
NICARAGUA

fax from United States: 011-5052-627911

Dr. Alfredo Cesar
President of the National Assembly
Asemblea Nacional
Managua
NICARAGUA

fax from United States: 011-5052-622924

Because the Nicaraguan government must hear from activists before July
11, be sure to send a copy of your letter to the Nicaraguan Ambassador
to the United States:

Ambassador Ernesto Palazio
Embassy of Nicaragua
1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009

voice: 202-939-6570
fax:   202-939-6542

Air mail letters to Nicaragua require a 50-cent stamp for each half
ounce.

Please send copies of any letters you send or receive during this
campaign to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission,
which is coordinating this action, at 540 Castro St., San Francisco,
CA 94114.
Newsgroups: alt.politics.homosexuality