In Brief

THE NAME OF EVERYBODY’S LIPS IS GOING TO BE ROXIE

Get ready to meet Roxanne deBris, the latest drag creation from performer Shane Jenek, who has been better known in recent years by his drag alter-ego, Courtney Act. Jenek is adding to his stable of characters with Roxanne, who is a musical theatre wannabe who keeps auditioning for the big-scale musicals like Priscilla and Titanic, without much luck. Roxanne’s new show, Between A Frock And A Hard Place, follows her tales of audition misadventures, and premieres at Yipiyiyo Restaurant on Crown Street on Wednesday 19 April. Bookings on 9332 3114.

BLACK DEAF LESBIAN CHAINSAW MURDER

A South Dakota court has been told a black deaf woman kidnapped and murdered a perceived love-rival for spending too much time with the accused’s girlfriend. Prosecutors alleged Daphne Wright dismembered heterosexual deaf Darlene VanderGiesen with a chainsaw and disposed of the body. The prosecution said threatening letters sent by the defendant to the victim calling her ugly, stupid, fat and a troublemaker indicated a jealousy motive, but they were dismissed by the defence as childish words. The defence questioned the fairness of the trial because no one in the pool of 150 prospective jurors was African-American.

TASSIE LIBERALS TO BE INVESTIGATED

The Tasmanian anti-discrimination commissioner, Sarah Bolt, has referred a complaint against the state Liberal Party to the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal. The complaint by transgender activist Martine Delaney alleged that the Liberal Party had colluded with the Exclusive Brethren’s Roger Unwin in election ads attacking transgender people. Delaney had previously made complaints against Unwin but was tipped off to the Liberal connection by documents billing the party for ads authorised by Unwin. Delaney said she was pushing the case because the Liberal Party needed to guarantee they would not covertly stir up hatred against sexual and gender minorities in future elections. Outsourcing prejudice and hate is not an honourable way to contest elections or win office, she said.

VICTORIAN AIDS LINE NOT CLOSING: MINISTER

The Victorian state government will establish a new phone service to replace the state’s AIDS, Hepatitis and Sexual Health Line, which runs out of government funding at the end of the financial year. A spokesperson from health minister Bronwyn Pike’s office told the Herald Sun there would be no dead time between the closure of the old number and the establishment of the new service.