Yes, our toe-tapping bride with the wide stance is a graduate of the Larry Craig School of Dance and Social Graces (we knew you'd ask.) She's jitterbugging with joy because Fall Diversity Weekend is almost here!

November 1-4, 2007, GLBTi and PFLAG visitors of all ages will journey to our little village for a weekend of friendship and fun. This is the biggest and most beloved Diversity Weekend of the year with so many things to do and people to see (or should that be so many things to see and people to do?) Either way, there's plenty of activities to choose from. (Yes, Virginia. In this case--it's a choice.)

NEW! Surrender to your inner Diva and avoid the DUI. Affordable and elegant transportation is available from Eureka Springs Limousine. Just $15 bucks (plus tips) will get you everywhere you want to go on Friday & Saturday.

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The 5th annual Mad Hatter's Ball will take place October 26, in the Crystal Ballroom of the Crescent Hotel. Check-in is from 6:30 to 7:30. The silent auction will get underway at the same time. There will be Hors d'oeuvres served and a cash bar will be open.

Hats required!

«After the ball is over» a War Eagle Mill breakfast buffet will be offered from 10:30 to midnight in the Crystal dining room.

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A two-thirds majority of the Gay News staff was recently stricken by flu. We know America counts on the GLBT community to keep our less fortunately endowed brothers and sisters ahead of the cultural curve. So we're pleased to report that, by the time the first flu clinic in Arkansas opened, Gay News staffers were already rolling their eyes and flipping their wrists in a dismissive gesture. «Flu? Puh-leeze. That's so last week!»

We did our best to remain limply vigilant throughout the ordeal and, at first we thought it was the fever but no--now that the medication has worn off--we believe we're seeing the first signs of an unmistakable trend.

It started with a flurry of correspondence, blogs and posts on local bulletin boards. The message from new citizens and visitors: «Hey, where is the circuit? We've been looking high and low in Eureka Springs, and all we find is boring gay couples shopping for tchotchkes together and mixed groups of couples and singles, gay and straight, all hanging out together in the same places. Where are the wild, debauched, gay recruitment parties the religious right have been telling us so much about?»

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Visitors and new residents often ask, «How can I meet people in Eureka's GLBT community?» It's so easy that we forgot explain it. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Attend what is informally (and jokingly) known as the, «Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting.»Wednesday night, starting about 6:30 p.m., is nominally gay night at Eureka Live. The turnout varies from 20 to 35. The music is kept at a low volume and we--singles, couples, triples and straight friends--pull the tables together as the crowd grows and actually talk to each other.It's a very good way to get to know people and socialize in a low-pressure, non-cruisy atmosphere.We're often joined by gay and lesbian (and straight) tourists who happen to be in town. The drinks are half price and there's a buffet for $3 or $4. It's a very good way to meet and get to know people.

   So, as a starting point, think about coming to a Wednesday night gathering at Eureka Live. Just walk up to the string of tables and introduce yourself to one person. He or she will then introduce you to everyone else and you'll feel conspicuous and self-conscious for all of five minutes.

   Eureka Live is located at 35 1/2 North Main Street (lower level). Phone: 479-253-7020.

2. If you're looking for a real prayer meeting, check out the Metropolitan Community Church of the Living Spring. The loving, diverse and welcoming communion of Eureka's MCC is now celebrating its 20th year.Worship time is Sunday evening, 6:00 p.m., 17 Elk Street in Eureka Springs. Contact information for Pastor Steve Urie, the church, and the praise and prayer request group is available on the MCC's web site.
3. Get to know us from a distance. Let your fingers do the walking... so to speak.Eureka's literal and virtual community (gay, straight and friendly to all) meets and greets at Eureka Pride. Join the conversation, make new friends, and invite them to join you at the prayer meeting of your choice.

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Metropolitan Community Church of the Living Spring is celebrating twenty years of Christian service to the greater Eureka Springs, AR area.

Join us at 4:30 PM for a reception and Hors D'oeuvre

6:00 PM Worship Service

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Eureka Springs City Clerk MJ Sell issued the 100th Domestic Partnership Registry (DPR) certificate on Friday, August 24th. The happy 100th couple from North Little Rock, AR joined partners from 11 states* who have added their names to the DPR since the registry opened on June 22.

We've been waiting to report this milestone because we wanted to see if the total collapse of civilization predicted by DPR opponents would materialize.

Sure enough, a judge in Iowa suddenly decided that gays and lesbians are American citizens who are equally deserving of civil rights. Americans belatedly realized that loudly-homophobic politicians solicit gay sex in public restrooms. (Right. We know. Surprise, surprise.)

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Tentatively, gay businesses launch effort to form gay (or not) business guild

By the time Eureka Springs Mayor Dani Wilson arrived, a few minutes into the first meeting of what may turn out to be an association of gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses, the only seat remaining for Her Honor was a commodious windowsill.

Wednesday night's inaugural meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd of more than 30 individuals representing at least 20 of the city's approximately 50 gay-owned businesses--and at least one gay-friendly enterprise.

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The propagandist never asks «Why?» He needs no justification, but rather only this granite faith. -- August Eigruber

In tonight's episode of Al Watch, we discover that the American Family Association, the radical, right wing organization that, called for a nationwide boycott of Eureka Springs, is making a documentary about our fair city.

As Disciple Jean Merritt explains in the Patriots' Herald,

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Henry David Thoreau (an enduring question mark in gay history) had his Walden Pond and Eureka Springs has its Lake Lucerne, a modest crescent-shaped lake cradled by forested mountains with a Victorian-era dam of hand-hewn native limestone at one end. And on the north side of the lake, barely visible through the oaks, cedars, redbuds and dogwoods lining the shore, stands a Hansel & Gretel cottage known as Autumn Moon.

«I have, as it were, my own sun and moon and stars,» wrote Thoreau of Walden, «and a little world all to myself.» For seekers of solitude and lovers of nature, Autumn Moon Cottage offers many of the same amenities--a placid lake to fish in, wooded trails to wander, wildlife--including deer, waterfowl and the occasional fox--and soul-soothing peace and tranquility.

And all of it a mere two miles from downtown Eureka Springs.

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We've been asked to comment on the local press coverage of last weekend's PDA in the Park and, yes we'll admit we've been stalling, but here goes:

The only mention of the event comes from our old friends at the Patriots' Herald. It's short. It's to the point. Here it is, reproduced in its entirety:

«....gays passed out pink hats and posed for a picture in the park.»

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