Compared to the Diversity Weekend dance parties, pool parties and the non-confrontational showdown with the motorcycle evangelists in Basin Spring Park on Saturday, the Cake n' Cocktails reception for Domestic Partners was low-key, high-calorie affair.

Several out-of-town couples who arrived early enough on Friday to get their Domestic Partnership certificates at city hall were in attendance at the soiree, along with local couples who swarmed city hall June 22 when the DPR went into effect. Hosted by Henri's, 19 1/2 Spring St., the event drew enough of a crowd to fill the bar, the dining room and the outdoor deck.

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In a show of civic and civil solidarity, town residents and tourists turned out en masse to celebrate Diversity at noon in Basin Spring Park on Saturday, August 4th.

There were singles, couples, entire families with kids, dogs and even a pig. They stood shoulder to shoulder to mug for the camera with big, genuine grins. And somewhere on the fringes were the very dour faces of the Jericho Riders and some of their local supporters. They had come to «witness,» but what they witnessed was joy, not shame, inclusiveness not discrimination.

To give the Riders credit, they were not disruptive, intrusive nor belligerent--though they did look a bit stunned to see a couple of hundred residents and tourists--gay and straight--having such a good time. The Riders behaved and thus were treated with dignity and respect by everyone else.

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Because GLBT travelers can't get enough of the place our favorite preacher calls «the most homosexual city in the South,» Eureka Springs cannot content itself with just one Gay Pride Day nor even a single Southern Decadence meltdown per year.

Nooooooooo, we got to have ourselves four--count 'em four--Diversity Weekends scattered throughout the 12-month calendar.

So, make your hotel or B&B reservations now for August 3-5. Here's the low-down on the high points of our annual summer sizzler:

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On the heels of a successful campaign to have the first municipal Domestic Partnership Registry in Arkansas, gay and lesbian business owners in Eureka Springs are now joining forces to create the first gay business association in the state. The goal, advocates say, is to bring more gay tourists to a resort town that has had a long history of being a gay-friendly travel destination.

According to the Associated Press, gay tourism is a $55 billion a year industry, representing about 10 percent of the American tourist market. Each dollar spent by gay travelers generates more than $150 for a local economy. At least 75 cities around the world now have marketing campaigns aimed specifically at gay and lesbian travelers, as do travel companies like Orbitz, Travelocity, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

This week alone, at least nine gay/lesbian businesses expressed interest in joining a new Eureka Springs Gay Business Guild. The first meeting of the group is scheduled for 6 p.m. August 15 at the Harken Building at 50 N. Main St.

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On the level you're a little devil (but I'll soon make an angel of you.)--Ragtime ditty, 1918

The Hells Angels left Eureka Springs on Sunday morning in a cloud of exhaust and badass attitude. Curtain call. Set change.

Enter stage left: Simmering Summer Diversity revelers and their faithful, helpful saviors-- the Jericho Riders-- who will not be here to protest anything, no not anything at all, you understand. The Jericho Riders simply intend to «storm the gates of Hell» (as they put it), serve the Lord, and game our «sinful» souls, with a full courtier press.

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We knew it was bound to happen.

Choppers in the air, FBI with 12» telephoto lenses cleverly concealed in black sedans and tall grass plus more State Police than flies at a July picnic. They were poised, ready, alert and on-guard en masse.

For weeks they have been working with local law enforcement in surrounding states, going over list after list of known trouble makers: Other gangs. Other gang wannabees. Renegade bad boys.

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We found Noah on Highway 62 yesterday hauling beasts off the Ark one by one.

We're not sure if the animals pictured at right were destined for the burnt offering or if they're busily replenishing the world's stock of pink elephants by now. (We didn't want to ask.)

But Noah was last seen headed west and, as we know, when the animals head out, the rainbow isn't far behind.

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This sign at Caribe Restaurante y Cantina says it all: The Hells Angels are here with their faithful companions and the town is excited--the vast majority of the town anyway.

Regional TV stations did manage to dig deep enough to find somebody to complain on camera. But, when you actually drive down the highways in Eureka Springs, marquee after marquee welcomes the angelic hellions to town.

Local service personnel are delighted to have them because MC's, especially 1%ers, are generally good tippers... except the Christian MC's, who tend to leave religious tracts on the table and give their money to the church.

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The missionary disciples of the Gay News Independent Mini Cooper Ministry went out to cruise the multitudes today-- where we observed a curious phenomenon: nearly every motel marquee on our official E/W village arterial (US Hwy 62) says, «Welcome Hells Angels.»

That's right. The Hells Angels are coming to town. They're expected to rumble over the enchanted borders of our quaint little Victorian motorcycle village on Wednesday. Clearly, the staunch defenders of righteousness --the ones who keep business hours on Highway 62-- are mighty excited.

Is it just us? Or is there something deliciously ironic about good, Christian, family-values-promoting motels, hosts of our new «tear down the sinful deviant strongholds» friends the Jericho Riders, posting a «Welcome Hells Angels» message on their street-side marquees?

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NOAH? YOU CAN RETIRE NOW

Sinner: «We don't believe that a Rainbow is a symbol of perversion or an alternative lifestyle. We do believe it is our promise from God that the world will never be flooded again.»--Jericho Riders motorcycle ministry.

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