Eureka Springs, AR: Simply, The Place To Be...Really!
The Eureka Gras - Mardi Gras Extravaganza is without a doubt the most outrageous event in Eureka Springs, second only to Diversity!
Eureka Gras has requested the Gay Community be part of this Wild and Krazy celebration!
The Eureka Springs City Council seems to have been afflicted with collective amnesia regarding the Domestic Partnership Registry.
Despite deliberately setting aside time during a January 14 meeting to review its 2007 accomplishments, the council made nary a
mention of last year's historic enactment of the only Domestic Partnership Registry in the state. Having approved the measure unanimously on three separate occasions, the council was more than happy to take credit for it at the time.
Although Gay News Bureau gently reminded the council of its oversight immediately after the January 14 meeting, no mention of the DPR was made at the January 28 meeting, either.
The silence on the subject has become deafening. And disappointing.
The dedicated corps of bedroom police at the Arkansas Family Council have announced their petition drive to put the Arkansas Adoption and Foster Care Act on the ballot. If passed, the initiative will prevent Arkansas adoptive and foster children from being placed with unmarried couples. As the act puts it:
... a minor may not be adopted or placed in a foster home if the individual seeking to adopt or to serve as a foster parent is cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of a marriage...the foregoing prohibition applies equally to cohabiting opposite-sex and same-sex individuals.
That's right, all you «One Man/One Woman» folk. The Arkansas Family Council means you. Just when you thought choosing heterosexuality would keep you safe from the prying eyes of Dr. James Dobson, here comes the Arkansas Family Council. «They're coming to your bedroom,» straight people... with a pair of binoculars and a clipboard. And we don't care what you're doing in there but, whatever it is, you'd better have a license to practice.
If you've spent your life as a member of the heterosexual majority, it may take you a while to get used to the idea that your personal life requires supervision. You may think that maturity, a stable relationship, a responsible job and a 700+ credit score are sufficient evidence of good character. No. Sorry. The Arkansas Family Council (AFC) knows better.
According to the AFC, the only criteria for successful parenthood is marriage... unless you're single. Married couples can adopt. Single people can adopt. The only people who are too incompetent to raise a child are the folks who cohabit «with a sexual partner outside of a marriage.»
After ranting last week like a banshee gone wild, this week I will rave concerning the promise of co-operative efforts by all segments of the community to promote the arts of Eureka Springs.
Don't get me wrong, as I do not apologize for speaking out against the blatant discrimination that has reared its ugly head in our town. However, I am encouraged any time all fractions of Eureka work together in a positive manner.
A fine example of «working together» occurred last Tuesday night when approximately 150 guests attended the art reception at the Bank of Eureka Springs. The purpose of the event was to present the quality and diversity of the art and artists of our community to the executive staff of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and an associate editor of American Style Magazine.
More than 30 artists had work beautifully showcased in the bank. From the remarks of the esteemed guests, it was evident that they were very impressed. The selection of art was outstanding and made me proud to be part of one of the most vibrant art scenes in the nation.
My spirits were lifted as representatives from the chamber of commerce, the artists registry, and the honored guests took turns at the mike lauding the importance of the arts of Eureka and the contributions artists have made to enhance the image of the city. The chamber «did it up right» with a lavish food presentation, wine from Keels Creek, and a fine mix of invited guests.
Every day Eureka Springs neglects to market its off-beat charms to gay travelers--as well as its traditional demographic--it falls farther behind in its quest for a thriving tourist economy.
Why? Because competition for the rainbow dollar is becoming downright intense. Now, Pittsburgh, of all places, has launched a campaign to get a piece of the $65 BILLION gay and lesbian travel pie.
«Statistics tell us there is a lot of money to be had . . . ,» Beverly Morrow-Jones of Visit Pittsburgh told WTAE TV news yesterday. « . . . Just like everybody else, the gay and lesbian community wants to be welcomed,» she said.
Well, duh. Eureka Springs has been a welcoming gay and lesbian destination for decades. And we have at least two advantages Pittsburgh doesn't--a Domestic Partnership Registry (with no residency requirement) that has already drawn visitors from 11 states and four Diversity Weekends a year. Not to mention a superior climate.
And, apparently, Pittsburgh's Best Western motels think it's just fabulous that the city is actively marketing itself as «this friendly or that friendly . . .»
(EUREKA SPRINGS, AR) – Members of The Royal Barony of All Oklahoma will venture from their own realm to make multiple appearances on Friday, February 1 and Saturday, February 2 at the Eureka Gras Extravaganza weekend events.
Friday, Her Regal Highness Czarina I Kris Kohl and her royal court will be delivered by Eureka Springs Limousine to the Grand Kostume Masque Ball at the Basin Park Hotel. Eureka Springs TV will be on hand to record for later broadcast the 7:45 p.m. arrival of the royal procession, including Grand Marquis Roger Francis, Grand Marquesa Dominique LaRue, Lord Knight Protector Marc Acuff and First Lady in Waiting Miranda Ray.
On Saturday at 2 p.m., members of the Barony will «dress-out» in royal garb and crown jewels and join the Krewe of Wobniar («rainbow» spelled backward) for the Eureka Gras Parade at 2 p.m.
At 9 p.m. on Saturday, members of the Barony will entertain the gentry with music at song at Jack's Place, 37 Spring St.
The Royal Barony of Oklahoma is a not-for-profit social and community service organization which each year raises thousands of dollars for local, national and international charitable organizations. «Our membership,» says a spokesperson, «is made up of every aspect of society--lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and heterosexual» individuals.
Nursing homes unprepared to nurture lesbian and gay elders
Thanks to radio journalist Jacqueline Froelich, KAUF National Public Radio has been the only mainstream media outlet in Arkansas to report on the American Family Association's anti-gay video about Eureka Springs, «They're Coming to Your Town.» Here's a link to her KUAF podcast on the subject:
Ozarks at Large: The American Family Association's take on Eureka Springs
This week on her Ozarks at Large program, she breaks more new ground, reporting on the dilemma of elder gays and lesbians facing the prospect of residing in assisted-living facilities and nursing homes. Here's the podcast link:
Ozarks at Large: The Final Installment of our Elder Mental Health Series
Too damn bad that the entire populace of Eureka Springs can't be as accepting of all people as is the town's art community.
Recent animosity towards gays in Eureka Springs has come from some of its most prominent business and church leaders. This is especially true in reference to the sorry ass «They're coming to your town» film. I am shocked and very disappointed to find out how some of those «smiling, how are you» folks feel about their homosexual neighbors. Almost made me want to move after more than twenty years of living, loving, creating, and enjoying being here. But HELL NO, I am not budging. It is my town too!
To you sons-of-bitches who think that I am hurting your poorly run businesses, and that I am going to hell, a pariah, should stay in my closet, type of guy, you've got another think coming. My heels are dug in. And no, those heels are not spiked. They are New Balance.
I now know who my friends are and I am even more appreciative of my brothers and sisters in art. I have NEVER felt hateful animosity from them. I naively felt that was true concerning the community at large. Little did I know.
And to you bigots, I reiterate that I will not take blame for YOUR shortcomings and succumb to your efforts to push me down or push me away. I will take my rightful place in the community and I will support all who seek to do the same. Hate destroys. Loving hearts win in the end.
Sometimes on my way home from work I see a young man walking. I would guess him to be somewhere around 19 or 20 years old.
He always walks very fast, like he's exercising. He's painfully skinny and quite feminine acting. He has a definite swish in his hips, his hands are always bent up at the wrist. If one didn't look closely, he would appear to be an ordinary teenage girl. A girly girl at that.
He always has headphones on, singing to whatever song he's listening to. Singing loudly, swishing his way down the sidewalk. I call him Boy George, because he kind of reminds me of the washed-up singer. But this kid has a lot more class – and courage – than George.
There's a high school about 2 blocks from my office. One day not long ago on my way back to Hell's Half Acre, I pull up to a traffic light behind a carload of teenagers who just left the high school. (Detention, no doubt.)
We're waiting for the light to change. Here comes Boy, walking swiftly across the street in front of us, singing along to his music. He gets about halfway across the street in front of the high school guys, when the driver pokes his head out the window and shouts, «You go girl!» Another one lets out a loud wolf whistle. There's a lot of laughter in the car. «Swing it, cutie pie! Swing it!» «I got somethin' for you to drool on, sweetheart!»
Yes, those cutting edge arty types are coming to Eureka!
The directorial staff of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the chief editor of American Style magazine will visit local galleries and tour Eureka Springs this month. A reception will be held in their honor at the Bank of Eureka Springs. Steve Schmidt of the Eureka Springs Artists Registry has selected art to be exhibited at the event that will show the quality and diversity of artwork available in Eureka Springs.
Featured artists are: Drew Gentle, James Yale, Larry Mansker, Denise Ryan, David Pettit, Cynthia Dupps, Zoi Young, Ron Lutz, Jody Stephenson, Karin Boudet, David Hussey, Jack Miller, Mike Butler, Zeek Taylor, Mark Rademacher, Carol Sarri, John Rankine, Al Hooks, John Wiley, John Willer, Mary Springer, Ken Concar, Carol Peacock, Wendi Beauford, Fran Carlson, Jim Nelson, Max Elbo, Cynthia Kresse, Ralph Wilson, John Stalling, and Valerie Damon.
Crystal Bridges is scheduled to open in 2010. The museum is the pet project of Alice Walton of Walmart. She has spent over twenty years collecting major pieces of American art. According to the New York Times, Ms. Walton is much more than a benefactress of the museum but is a knowledgeable hands-on part of purchasing for the collection. The project came to light a couple of years ago when Alice outbid the National Gallery and the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a Durand painting. The final bid was $35 million. She has since paid more than that for a prime work, successfully purchasing an Eakin's for approximately $65 million.
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