(Eureka Springs, AR) -- One hundred seventy three days after four ordinary civilians armed with laptop computers hunkered down in a Eureka Springs living room to Google the subject, the first Domestic Partnership Registry in Arkansas became a reality today.

Even before the doors of Eureka City hall opened this morning, eleven couples--10 gay or lesbian and one straight--had lined up to be among the first Eurekans and the first Arkansans to have their relationships officially recognized by the city. Each couple paid the $35 fee, showed their ID, swore they were in a «relationship of mutual support, caring and commitment» and received a certificate signed by Mayor Dani Wilson and City Clerk MJ Sell.

What had begun on New Years Day 2007 had, six and a half months later, become law. Ordinance 2052 to be exact. It survived three votes by the city council and two ferocious attempts by an anti-gay minister to block it.

And the world did not come to an abrupt and catclysmic end, the eccentric resort town was not inundated with a flood of biblical proportions, marriage-as-we-know-it was not rendered null and void, and our seven-story concrete Jesus statue did not crumble (though some swear they saw it grin and wink).

Seismic sensors noted a slight temblor under the Victorian-era village, thought to be caused by all the fundamentalists shaking their heads and wringing their hands at the same time because democracy, not theocracy, had triumphed. Even here--especially here--on the buckle of the Bible Belt.

Keep reading →

(Eureka Springs, AR) For the second time in two days, an anti-gay minister's eleventh-hour attempt to halt enactment of the state's first Domestic Partnership Registry failed Thursday.

As a result, the Eureka Springs Registry will go into effect as scheduled today (June 22).

Fundamentalist preacher Philip «Flip» Wilson yesterday submitted a fundamentally flawed petition seeking a referendum election to block the Registry, unanimously approved by the city council May 14.

His failure means gay and straight couples will be waiting outside city hall this morning to get the first official partnership certificates signed by Mayor Dani Wilson or City Clerk M.J. Sell.

Television news crews and regional newspaper reporters will be on hand to record the historic event.

Keep reading →

When you last heard from us about the Eureka Springs Domestic Partnership Registry, we thought the registry had been blocked by a successful referendum petition. Turns out, that's not so.

The petition was declared to be «insufficient» today by MJ Sell, City Clerk/Treasurer of Eureka Springs. Yes, opponent Rev. Phillip Wilson and his merry band of canvassers did manage to collect enough signatures to bring the issue to a vote. But the petition itself was improperly prepared--a legal fact that renders all signatures moot.

Sell presented her decision, with supporting code annotations, to the Carroll County Election Commission. In part, Sell's decision reads, «I declare that the petition is not sufficient for placement on a special election ballot because the ballot title is not presented, copies of Ordinance 2052 were not attached to the petitions for signers to review prior to signing, and a special election is not requested by the petition.»

Election Commission Chairman Levi Phillips read Sell's decision aloud. «We'll put it into the record,» he said, «But the Carroll County Election Commission has no dog in this fight. When the city directs us to put issues on the ballot, that's what we've got an obligation to do and that's what we're going to do. But Eureka Springs has not directed us to have an election.»

Keep reading →

What's with the brimstone preachers that every time they get a microphone, a TV camera or a group of 3 ants at a picnic they use the worn out terms of gay mecca and sex destination to tell their tale of woe?

Of course Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a gay mecca. Always has been. You don't put a 7 story concrete boy in a dress on the hillside and then not expect other boys in dresses to move to mecca. Then add a couple of thousand rooms, B&B's, cabins, cottages, luxury suites all complete with lipstick red heart shaped Jacuzzis, dimmer switches, twin wine glasses and then holler when heart-a-pumping love struck lesbians show up in town. Sex destination? Yes. Hell yes.

And just as comical is the highway motels with that Fish symbol dripping off everything. They proudly announce «family owned» or «family friendly» and then act shocked when Adam and Steve and the triplets arrive or Mary and Ruth come dragging in with 3 boys under 10 and Grandpa, who has been an added appendage for several years now. Whew! A Family (translate - GLBT) owned motel with a friggin' pool and a first floor room.

Yes, Eureka has it all. Except one thing. Aside from the 3-4 scheduled Diversity Pride events that occur each year in which thousands of GLBT descend into our Victorian Village, the dating pool is pretty shallow. No. Shallow is too deep a term. Make it dating mirage. Being the love capitol of the South, most GLBT are coupled. Most long term loves.

So it's BYO B(oy) or G(irl) for the fantasy vacation here in Gay Mecca. Or come alone. Many who travel here or move here, do it solo. And that's just fine too. There are more than enough friends to keep you in invitations day after night. You won't be lonely and never excluded. Point being, Eureka isn't a cruise spot for the locals who live here nor for the single looking to score for just the weekend. Well, Ok Diversity Weekends might provide some cruisin in the theme of so many boys and girls, so little time.

Keep reading →

OMC - Which these days stands for «Oh My Cod!»

Seems the fundies are still fishing for signatures for a referendum petition to put the Domestic Partnership Registry on hold. Again.

Last week, they turned in their names to the Eureka Springs City Clerk for certification. The next step of the process would have been to have the said City Clerk give the petitions to the Election Commission. then a date for the election would be set after the commission certified a valid petition.

But as we beam the news, it would seem that someone is still teaching someone to fish and all that seems to be at the market is Flounder. Want chips with that?

This story will evolve as the fishermen continue to flounder their way through the village looking for a redux. You can spot them at Subway as there is no time for that round-the-table-family-values-thing or maybe they are just there picking up their loaves to go with the catch of the day.

Keep reading →

Eureka! The «I found it»

The slogan has been attached to Eureka Springs, Arkansas travel and relocation information for well over a hundred years now.

Evolving, welcoming, inviting, Eureka Springs has drawn an eclectic assortment of travelers and those seeking to make this «I found it» their perfect home since 1879.

Finding this tiny hamlet in Northwest Arkansas is as shocking as finding the ketchup in your sock drawer. Eureka Springs has been touted as «Little Switzerland,» a picturesque place carved into the Ozark mountains with all the culture of a metro city: fabulous dining, one-of-a-kind art galleries, and musicians galore make Eureka the hidden Gem of the Mid-South.

But Little Switzerland? More like the Swish Alps.

Keep reading →

Citizen activists in Eureka Springs, AR have announced the formation of a new project, «Com3,» which is dedicated to ensuring a win for civil rights in the upcoming referendum vote on Eureka Springs Ordinance 2052, the Domestic Partnership Registry.

Organizers Marie Howard, Trella Laughlin and Barbara Lightner plan voter registration and education activities, plus an effort to get out the vote. Citizen and supporter input and participation are sought. See the announcement of Com3's purpose for details on how you can help.

Popularity: 10% [?]

(Eureka Springs, AR) Blockage of the state's first Domestic Partnership Registry--scheduled to take effect June 22--has left advocates more determined than ever to see the measure implemented later this summer.

The ordinance creating the registry was unanimously approved May 14 by the Eureka Springs City Council, after two months of deliberation and citizen input. But anti-gay minister Philip Wilson halted the effective date late last week by submitting to the city clerk 147 signatures from opponents, three more than the minimum required to force a referendum on the issue August 14.

Though disappointed by the delay, proponents are confident a majority of the resort town's voters will ratify the measure. Early broad-based support from hundreds of residents, tourists, church groups and dozens of local businesses, suggest the effort to circumvent the city council's approval will fail at the polls.

Unless the referendum can be tied to a pending sewer bond election, Wilson's maneuver could cost the city--already cash-strapped--between $6,000 and $9,000, the price tag for a special election. Until then, the city will also be deprived of revenue--$35 per couple--from tourists and residents wishing to register. Hotel, restaurant, nightclub and gift shops will see no profit from Arkansas and out-of-state tourists who were holding off on vacation plans until the domestic partnership registry went into effect.

Ironically, Wilson has asserted the Domestic Partnership Registry--available to same-sex and opposite-sex couples--would negatively impact the town's economy, transforming it into a «homosexual mecca» incompatible with such «faith-based» tourist attractions such as the Great Passion Play.

Keep reading →