This was my initiation to gay bashing. It didn't happen to me, but to an acquaintance of mine named Lester. I was merely a bystander who tried to help. This was back in the summer of 1969, before I was old enough to go to the gay bars, and while I was still ignorant of the abuse gay people are subjected to on a regular basis. It wasn't called gay bashing back then. It was usually referred to as

(drum roll please)

Rolling Queers.

Just like today's bashings, it was done by pea-brained young men who have more in their closets than clothes. They seem to be of the opinion that if they promote themselves as being hyper-masculine, nobody would have reason to accuse them of being fruits. This hyper-masculinity plays itself out by the abuse of other people. Often verbally, and sometimes violently. Sometimes resulting in death. It's either a sick and twisted view of what it means to be a man, or more likely, over compensation. Maybe both.

Back in the late 60's there were a couple of «after-hours» places in Kansas City where the under-21 gay crowd went to dance, cruise, do the things that the folks do in regular gay bars, except drink alcohol. They only served soft drinks at these places. Since they didn't have liquor licenses, they were allowed to stay open very late.

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We knew it.

Here at Gay News, we weren't a bit surprised when J.K. Rowling outed an imaginary character from her popular, «Harry Potter» series. We always suspected the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry likes a bit of wand.

One imaginary gay icon reacted swiftly to the news.

«He had to wait until the series was over to come out,» said Tinky Winky with a rueful smile, all the while rummaging through his purse. «Gay cartoons and fictional, fantasy characters face workplace discrimination every day.

«Puh-leeze, girl!» Tinky went on, «Dumbledore was the headmaster of a fictitious school for imaginary children. The non-existent parents wouldn't have stood for it!»

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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.

NEW TOO! You don't have to be 21 to be as Diverse as you wanna be. This year's Fall Diversity features events for all ages.

Here's the lowdown on the highlights of Fall Diversity Weekend 2007. Click the lovely lavender links below to see all the details:

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After a harrowing taxi ride to the Hudson river, we board the boat for a dinner cruise of New York bay. This little excursion is sponsored by the gay parents group, so we know most of the people on board, at least by sight. We float up and down the Hudson river, then around to the East river, then out by Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Wow! What an incredible experience. New York is beautiful by night. All the lights and great big buildings were pretty intriguing for us small town Midwesterners. After sunset the night was getting a bit chilly. It was quite overcast, and began to drizzle. It didn't matter. We were seeing New York from a totally different perspective. We were wandering around the deck with a friend named Andre, from southern California, when we neared the Statue.

****Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt this mess for a sightseeing suggestion from Tour Guide Yip.*****

If you're ever in New York, a trip to the Statue of Liberty is a MUST. I had been there back in the 60's, when one could still climb to the top. I did. I was going to count the steps, but I've never been real good at focusing on a task. I quit at 28. Back then, when I was 15, I didn't fully grasp the meaning of Lady Liberty. I was more interested in looking at the other guys walking around Liberty Island.

This time, at night, there were lights all around her and she was amazing. It's hard not get all verklempt looking at her, knowing and appreciating what she stands for. It was hard for me, anyway.

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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.

Tickets for the gala are $50 and may be purchased by calling 479-253-5384. The ball is a benefit to raise funds for the Eureka Springs School of the Arts.

Visit www.esartschool.com for more details.

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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.

As expected most of the items in the silent auction are works of art donated by locals. Last year's selection was top-notch. I was lucky enough to walk away with a wonderful Jack Miller print and look forward to adding to my collection during this fun filled event.

The main festivities will begin at 7:30 and last until midnight with live music and dancing provided by the Big 'Uns (The Ed Nicholson Band). The silent auction will continue throughout the evening and there will be a «hat» contest.

Please note that hats are required. If you have been to the event in previous years, you know that the hats designed by the «go all out Eurekans» are creations to behold!

«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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For a couple of weeks in 1994 gay people were given New York. Actually, we TOOK New York.

When Fred and I were active in a gay parents group, we would attend their yearly conferences in different parts of the country. In 1994 the conference was in New York City, coinciding with the Gay Games and the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. Oh wow! This was going to be good! Gay people from all around the country – all around the WORLD – in the same place at the same time. We made our conference reservations and excitedly planned the things we would do in the city.

The parent's conference was held at a hotel in White Plains, just north of Manhattan. I arrived one day before Fred, and asked some other people about a good place to hook up with Fred when he arrived. The clock in the middle of Grand Central Station seemed to be the appropriate, easiest place for both of us to find. He could get there easily from the airport, and I could take a train from White Plains. I called Fred that night and told him where to meet me.

The train ride to Grand Central was the beginning of an ever so gay experience. There was a pack of lesbians on the train, laughing, talking and carrying on.

**Offstage Announcer**
Yip, my uneducated friend, lesbians do not travel in a pack. They travel in a PRIDE!
Ok, there was a PRIDE of lesbians, probably 8 or 9 of them, behind me on the train.

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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?»

Hmmm...come to think of it, here in Eureka Springs, the gay, straight and none-of-the-above contingents are fully integrated and equally mainstream. We felt warm and fuzzy thinking about that for a minute, but then we received a MySpace bulletin from an outraged lesbian musician that made us raise a single, excruciatingly well-manicured eyebrow:

I'm a lesbian artist, so naturally, I play a lot of lesbian venues. Now, not so recently I realized that once in a while another female musician or two would make it a habit of playing only lesbian venues, doing all but admitting they were gay to all of the adoring lesbian crowds...but in actuality, they are completely straight. Now they are all over the damned place! Playing lesbian bars, dishing lesbian dirt, reading lesbian magazines, chanting lesbian slogans and wearing rainbows...then going home to their men. WTF??? No really. What The FUCK.

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The third installation of art panels was unveiled this past Saturday in the parking lot on North Main known as the Artery. The four by eight foot painted and sculpted pieces are works rendered by Arkansas artists. The panels, 27 in number, cover an unsightly concrete wall turning the parking lot into an impressive outdoor gallery. The works will hang for one year, are available for purchase, and can be hung indoors or outside.

The theme for the third annual collaboration is «Icons from soup to saints.» Artists from as far away as Monticello, nearby Washington and Benton counties, and homeys from Eureka Springs interpreted the theme with vastly different views.

The images depict actual saints, pretend saints, favorite artists, pop icons, and the «I'll have to think about that one?» pieces.

Letting the artists loosely interpret the theme gave them creative flexibility while given to us an insight into the creative direction of each participant.

Local sculptor Eric Scheunemann created one of the few three dimensional works. His panel portrays hope for the future using icons that when viewed from top to bottom take us from images of oil dependency moving upward to finely crafted metal works depicting alternative fuel sources.

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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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