National news briefs

Iran talks exclude gays
Gay rights activists will not be part of a delegation of persecuted minorities set to meet former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami during his visit to Melbourne, hosted by Anglican Archbishop Philip Freier.
After outrage from the Jewish community, Freier extended an invitation to them and other religious minorities persecuted in Iran under Khatami’s regime from 1997 to 2005.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesman Rodney Croome said if Freier’s invitation was sincere he would extend it to GLBT groups.
The religious intolerance of the Iranian Government leads to the persecution of sexual as well as religious minorities, Croome said in a statement.
What’s particularly disappointing about the Archbishop’s decision is that he has defended the Khatami meeting by citing the importance of -˜mutual respect’ and -˜dialogue’.
Khatami was invited to Australia by La Trobe University’s Centre for Dialogue and will give a public lecture on 26 March. The Centre asked Freier to host a function at his Anglican Archdiocese residence for Khatami.
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria resigned from the Centre’s board of advisors in protest last week.

Domestic violence led to theft
A Tasmanian gay man stole more than $32,000 from his employer so he could flee his abusive partner, the Devonport Magistrate’s Court was told last week.
According to reports in local press, 38-year-old David Thomas Hutchinson was arrested in Melbourne last week and pleaded guilty to 64 counts of stealing from Federal Holdings.
His defence counsel said Hutchinson had left his partner on two previous occasions after assaults but was convinced to return each time.
His defence also claimed that his partner had probably knowingly infected him with HIV.
The thefts were essentially committed out of fear and panic, his counsel said. He regrets the result of his actions.
Sentencing will take place in April.

JOY loses music director
Melbourne’s queer radio station, JOY 94.9 FM, will farewell long-time volunteer music director Damian Nicholas after a surprise announcement last week that he will step down from the role.
JOY FM station manger Stephen Hahn said Nicholas was instrumental in developing the sound of the station and helping form the current music policy.
Nicholas, who has been involved with the station for over a decade, told Sydney Star Observer he was moving on to other things.
It is a real shame to see Damian go. His contribution to the station has been invaluable and he has worked really hard, Hahn said.
He said inquiries about the volunteer position started last week, however, the station will not be pushed into filling the role immediately.
We will look internally and externally for a replacement but things are in place to deal with the sudden announcement.
Hahn said while the station would retain its pop-centric sound he is looking to expand the role to include a more diverse line-up. This could include a committee to steer the station’s music content.
This gives us the chance to expand and explore other areas of music the station doesn’t normally tap into, he said.
Hahn said surveys taken at the recent Midsumma carnival indicated the community wanted to see the station reflect more diversity in its music output.