Date: Saturday, January 14, 2012
Time: 10:00pm – 11:30pm
Location: Crossroads (corner of Jefferson and Claybrook)
$5.00 cover beginning at 9:30pm

Prepared to be entertained with performances by some of the best drag entertainers in the Mid-South – all performing musical numbers from your favorite Broadway shows!

The best performer will receive two tickets to the March 2012 Broadway production of La Cage Aux Folles at The Orpheum Theater.

This is the first fundraiser for the 2012 Mid-South Pride.

$5.00 Cover
$1.00 Jello Shooters
Door Prizes

On March 29, 2010, nationally renowned anti-gay activists Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council (FRC), and Harry Jackson, Bishop of Hope Christian Church in Washington, D. C., were guest speakers at a rally hosted by the Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee.

The event, dubbed “Stand for the Family: A Rally to Celebrate & Promote the Traditional Family”, was sponsored by the Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT) and held in the expansive Fellowship Hall of the 7,000-seat Memphis-area mega-church.

For this blog posting, I will not spend an inordinate amount of time quoting the words of Perkins and Jackson (plug: they co-authored a book you could buy at the rally for $20). What I will mention, however, is the local dynamics of the rally.

The first thing that caught my attention was evidence of political campaigning in the lobby of the church. I was surrounded by people wearing stickers from several candidates including:

Charlotte Bergman – Congress TN-09

Paul Boyd – Probate Court Clerk

Dale Lane – Shelby County Sherriff

Bobby Simmons – Shelby County Sherriff

Terry Roland – Shelby County Commission

Mike Carpenter – Shelby County Commission

Chris Thomas – Shelby County Commission

A couple of the campaigns were passing out literature. Isn’t this illegal?

Also in the lobby, booths from FACT, FRC, and Bott Radio Network were chock full of eager staff and slick propaganda. Brochures that caught my eye were: “Homosexuality Is Not A Civil Right” and “Homosexuality in Your Child’s School”. One of my favorite quotes of the evening came from an elderly man telling one of the staff at the FRC booth, “There can’t be a ton of homosexuals running around, can there?”

The Rally

My guesstimate is that 500 attended the Monday evening event. Regarding the demographics of the crowd, about 95% were white, with the vast majority between the ages of 50 and 70. There was an even split between male and female.

After prayers and patriotic hymns, a welcome by the host pastor Dr. Steve Gaines and statements from Kyle Rote, Jr. (who you may remember as host of the local TV show “Knowledge Bowl”), David Fowler, President of FACT, took the stage.

David Fowler

Long story, short, the former Tennessee General Assembly Senator lacked inspiration – a constant throughout the 2-hour rally. Of note, however, Fowler mentioned that 65 local ministers attended a Memphis FRC luncheon earlier in the day. He also said A. R. Williams, pastor of the local, notoriously anti-gay mega-church, World Overcomers, could not make the rally. However, over 30 ministers were present.

Those 30 ministers were welcomed to the front where the congregations prayed for their success. Note, all but 2 or 3 were white. Also, all elected officials were asked to the front where, like the ministers, the congregation prayed for their souls. Like the ministers, too, almost all of the elected officials (approximately 10) were white.

After Fowler mercifully ended his speech, he introduced Bishop Harry Jackson. Now, finally, I thought the fireworks would begin.

Bishop Harry Jackson

Like I said earlier, I will not take up space on this page quoting much of the speeches of Jackson or Perkins. So, I think this sums up Jackson’s speech:

Racism, bad. Homosexuals, bad. Thus, racism is the reason we are losing the war against the homosexuals.

Jackson did give a shout out to the “rally across town” (the pro-equality rally at Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church sponsored by the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center). He asked the crowd if they knew such a counter rally was taking place. A few in the crowd nodded with acknowledgement.

His point of mentioning the MGLCC rally was the standard “love the sinner, hate the sin” drivel. He said participants at the other rally would be “calling you hypocrites”, but we at Bellevue “have to show people we don’t hate” and, like the billboard says, “Bellevue Loves Memphis”. Yeah, I know.

Ok. So, Bishop Jackson didn’t knock it out of the park. Surely, Tony Perkins would.

Tony Perkins

Perkin’s message focused on the perils of the recently enacted Federal Hate Crimes legislation, ENDA, and the DADT Repeal. In summary:

>Federal Hate Crimes legislation is bad and will result in the arrest of preachers. Arrests have occurred in other countries and, in time, will happen here. Lie.

>The DADT Repeal will imperil national security. Only 25 countries, and none of the 10 largest militaries, allow gays and lesbians to serve openly. Lie.

>ENDA – the “cross dresser’s bill” (his words). Churches are not exempt and will be “forced to hire cross dressers and homosexuals”. Lie.

Out of Perkins’ ramble came this interesting quote: “The opposition thinks we are defeated and we will pack up and leave – run up the white flag.” I think this is a telling quote. Based on the lack of crowd enthusiasm, the older age of those at the rally, negligible African American attendance, and Perkins desperate lies, I came away with the following sentiment:

Is this the best they can throw at us?

Blatant lies, the tired “love the sinner, hate the sin” mantra, low voter turnout, and blaming racism for why the religious fringe is losing the battle against LGBT equality. That’s it?

If this is all they have left, we will beat them hands down. They know they are defeated. They know the better team won. They know they are on the wrong side of history.

After Perkins’ speech, Fowler returned to the stage for a mercifully quick closer. He urged people to register to vote and sign up for his action alerts. He quickly mentioned the Nashville and Memphis Non-Discrimination legislation, but mentioned no other local or statewide issue.

Overall, from someone who was expecting a Fred Phelps-type of batshit crazy theatrics and vitriol, this rally was a big disappointment. However, maybe that was the way it needed to be played in front of this white, conservative crowd – boring, safe, and with the occasional “cross-dresser” phrase thrown in just when the speaker sees people falling asleep.

However, like I said, they know they are on the wrong side of history and, if this is all they have left to throw at us, they may win some battles, but we will soon win the war.

“We put ourselves in the way until full equality exists.”  Jacob Flowers, Director of the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center (MSPJC), March 23, 2010.

This was one of many powerful statements made by those who attended the first ever training session, at the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC), on the topic of Non-Violent Direct Action.

Hosted by MGLCC, with training provided by MSPJC, the 2-hour session explored such topics as the history of the LGBT Movement, the Six Steps to Social Change, and the different “quadrants” in which people fit within the spectrum of non-violence.

Flowers, and MSPJC Education Coordinator, Allison Glass, also stressed the importance of listening to the other side and learning why they believe as they believe.  They reminded the overflow crowd of thirty activists that “it is the issues we are fighting against / for, not the person”.

Over the next several months, MGLCC will host a series of trainings (provided by MSPJC) on the topic of Non-Violent Direct Action.  The series will kick off with sessions covering the basics of non-violence training.  Look for announcements soon regarding dates and times.

Granted, I do know a little (just a little) about the inner workings of a computer  (my home computer is a Commodore 64 running Windows 95) and the tubes that make up the internets, but even if I did not, I probably could have figured out how to set up a YouTube account and upload a simple video.

Below, I present proof.   This video was shot today as Felipe and I rode to Shelby Farms with our dog, Yeva for a Labor Day outing.  Once I downloaded and edited the video, it took maybe 10 minutes before Yeva was on the web, via YouTube.  Pretty simple. You can do it, too!

While in line at the Camera/Camcorder register to purchase almost $500 in video camera equipment, an employee (talking to a fellow employee ringing up my sale) said “we don’t play that damn homo music here!”.  Note:  He was referring to another employee’s comments about the musical tastes of that department.  I guess each department plays their own music?

Needless to say, I took offense.  Instead of acquiescing and demurely standing in line to talk to probably an already frazzled store manager, I made a snap decision to voice my displeasure directly at the offending employee (and others in earshot).

First I said “Hey, I’m one of those damn homos.  You better watch what you say!”  I followed that up with “We ain’t putting up with shit like that anymore and we can kick your ass!”

Granted, I should not have said the “…and we can kick your ass” part, but both employees were snickering and, in the heat of the moment, it felt really really good for me to add that last part.  Anyway…

The offending employee walked back towards me (separated by an aisle of cameras) and said “I didn’t mean it like that, you know what I mean”.  He was smiling.  By that time, I was smiling (incredulously), too, because I really could not believe this was happening to me.  Read on…

You see, two days earlier, in the same Best Buy (in the same department), I sought assistance.  After standing in this department, void of staff for over 5 minutes, I walked across the store and asked an employee (who was drinking a Diet Dr. Pepper on the floor) for help.  He said “there’s no one scheduled in Cameras, so no one really knows anything”.

So, what to do?  Well, I called (901-373-8787) the Best Buy-Cordova late today and had planned to speak with Jason Sampson, the General Manager.  However, at 5:45pm when I called the “to speak with a sales associated-press 3″ number, it rang and rang.  So, after around 30 rings, I hung up.  By the way, the store did not close until 7:00pm.  Tomorrow (Monday – Labor Day), I will try again.

If any of you reading this have Best Buy contacts (or similar stories), do share. Reply with comments below or email me directly tsimmons123456@mac.com.

UPDATE (Monday, September 7, 2009, 8:00pm)

Today, I sent an email to (and left a voicemail with) the General Manager of the store.  I also sent an email to the Best Buy LGBT ERG contact listed on the HRC website.    Another manager at the store called me (the General Manager was out of town).  She was very understanding (very!) and promised to speak with the person who made the comment ASAP.

Regarding rectifying the situation, besides her promise to meet with person who made the comment, I think a resolution may be in the works that could mean a new cooperation between the local Best Buy stores and the Memphis LGBT community.

I’ll know more in the coming days…

UPDATE (Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 6:00pm)

I talked to the Best Buy #165 General Manager today.  It was a very cordial conversation.  Steps the GM has undertaken in the last 48 hours (and/or immediately plans to undertake) include, but not limited to, addressing the situation with the employee and holding additional diversity training (enlisting corporate support) of all store employees. He said this was the first time in his twelve years at the store a situation like this had occurred and that it was a learning opportunity for the store.

There may be more positive community developments from this story.  I hope to provide such an update in the next week or so.

Here is the account of the incident from WREG. According to WREG, the usual vices associated with gay-bars-gone-wild were at play: illegal drugs and underage drinking. However, what struck me as odd was that illegal gambling was also mentioned as a reason for the sting.

Illegal gambling in a gay bar? I know I am old, but is gambling now a common pass time in gay bars? What…are drag shows not enough to keep you out of trouble anymore?  To me, something is fishy here.  Things just do not make sense.  I won’t pass judgement.  All sides of the story are not out.

UPDATE  (Sunday, September 6, 2009, 9:00pm)

Backstreet’s website HERE has a rebuttal of the incident as reported by the  Memphis Police Department and WREG.  Also, click HERE for the Commercial Appeal coverage.

The garish buildings (most reaching between 50 and 110 stories) had not mushroomed in the center city core.  The roll call of generic “big city” shopping experiences (Nike, Brooks Brothers, Gucci, Dolce & Gabanna, etc.) were still there, but not renovated.

What had changed was 1) a visible eradication of  people that beg on the streets (note, I do not call them “homeless” and 2) the disappearance of bicycles.  Both changes, disturbing.

For #1, I am sure the need for those to “panhandle” on the streets of Shanghai has not dissipated under Chinese President Hu Jintau.  Now, I am no behavior psychologist, but from what I observed on the streets and in the local media, the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for the majority of China’s 1,300,000,000 citizens rank somewhere between orange and red. So, I have no answer as to why the panhandling has seemingly ceased on the downtown streets of Shanghai, it is just an amateur observation.

For #2, China’s disposable income continues to rise.  It rose 8.4% (urban) and 8.0% (rural) in 2008.  In 2007, it rose 12.2% (urban) and 9.5% (rural) compared to 2006.  I cannot find similar comparison numbers (2007 versus 2008) for the US.  Add a comment to this posting, if you can locate such data.

If the rapid increase in disposable income in China is directly related to the replacement of bikes with cars on the streets of Shanghai over the past two years, we are all in trouble (unless you are a manufacturer of inexpensive, China-made vehicles).

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