05/23/2006
British activist Peter Tatchell makes list of greatest living heroes by readers of The New Statesman.
This is America in 2006: "The Happy Harbor Inn, a popular dockside restaurant in the southern Maryland town of Deale, displayed the sign next to its main entrance as saying, "ATTENTION BIKERS: NO COLOREDS, FAGS, CLUB ATTIRE, (no) EXCEPTIONS," according to two people who visited the restaurant on May 3." Since then, the sign has been modified, but not much.
Scott Oak, Missoula, Montana's openly gay police officer whom I posted about last November, is receiving national attention and is becoming the "poster boy for rural communities looking to reach out to the gay community" according to The Missoulian. Police Chief: "It's certainly a different kind of publicity than our department is used to getting. But I honestly don't see it as a bold step for the department. We are here to ensure that police are available to everyone, that's our job, and that's what Scott is doing. On the other hand, Scott obviously extended himself by volunteering for this position, and I think that puts him in a somewhat vulnerable position. It's incredibly brave."
Posted 5:01 PM EST by Andy Towle in Elsewhere, Maryland, Montana, Peter Tatchell | Permalink
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Regarding your posting on the "Biker" sign...it sounds to me like the Washington Blade misunderstood the sign...kind of makes them look stupid...clearly the sign is meant as a dress code for "Bikers".
The term "colors" refers to biker club colors...the term "flags" (obviously some one vandalized it) refers the biker club insignias...they were trying to regulate biker clothing, not gay people or people of color...
Posted by: Craig | May 23, 2006 5:32:36 PM
That does make better sense...good eye, Craig!
Posted by: Michael W. | May 23, 2006 5:45:17 PM
FL wouldn't line up with the rest of the text letters, which are directly on top of each other. I don't know about the end of COLOR, but I would be surprised if that sign said "flags" to begin with.
Posted by: David | May 23, 2006 5:52:49 PM
"On May 20, nearly three weeks later, the sign had been changed. A visit to the restaurant by a Washington Blade reporter showed that the letters "eds" and "f" had been covered by white paint, with a faint outline of the letters still visible."
Posted by: David | May 23, 2006 5:53:59 PM
Good call Craig. It's hard to argue with that explanation...
Posted by: andy | May 23, 2006 5:54:27 PM
I am truly grateful that Craig would be generous enough to give someone the benefit of the doubt, but I believe both the article and the photograph contradict him.
/not being sarcastic
Posted by: David | May 23, 2006 6:01:13 PM
- I have to say, I grew up about 10 minutes away from Deale and I never witnessed any homophobia. If anything, this is the town where many gay men from DC moored their boats. I have been to that bar on numerous occasions and never felt ostricized as an openly gay male. I even went there with my two best friends who are African-American lesbians and we had a great time. I feel that this sign with "No Fags, and No Coloreds" is not wholey accurate of Deale and it's denziens. We have been nothing but welcomed at Happy Harbour. I think it is a holdover of the early 20th century lexicon, we( in Southern Maryland) still have bars that fly the confederate flag yet have African American bartenders. I feel there is no hate in Deale, only a stupid sign. Just my 2 cents.
- Cornelius
Posted by: Cornelius | May 23, 2006 8:02:21 PM
Instead of guessing what was going on I called the bar. I asked for the owner and she promptly gave me to a "loyal patron" - a man. He was VERY nice - Dave Chaney. He told me the sign actually reads "NO COLORED RAGS, NO CLUB ATTIRE, NO EXCEPTIONS". He explained that "rags" are what bikers wear on their heads and that the colors provoke a gang like atmosphere. He claims the sign has been up for four years and someone just recently painted over the letters for some kind of joke. He also claims that black people and "gays" come in all the time and there is no discrimination. He seemed very genuine. He also says that the sign was taken down right away.
Posted by: William | May 23, 2006 8:43:55 PM
"A friend of Edwards, who asked not to be identified because he is not openly gay in his profession, said he, too, saw the sign.
"I was astonished to see something like that in this day and age," he said."
I'm always puzzled when I read comments like that by closeted gays. Now I'm not suggesting that people have to be out, and I certainly don't promote outing people who want to stay in the closet, but...if a person won't come out and show the world that gays are your co-workers, family, friends, etc., and help change the attitudes of people, WHY is that person then astonished to see homophobia in this day and age?
Posted by: John | May 23, 2006 9:02:17 PM
Not that you're blaming closeted gays for homophobia. Nah.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | May 23, 2006 9:05:59 PM
You're right, Chad Hanging, I'm not blaming them for homophobia. I said nothing about blame, so don't create drama by reading more into it. A person can stay in the closet as long as they want for all I care. But the fact is, staying in the closet doesn't help change attitudes toward gays, so why be "astonished" when you witness homophobia?
Apparantly, the guy works in a climate of homophobia, they just don't have a sign like that bar does. Is he astonished to work for a company that's homophobic, or is it only shocking when you see it in writing?
Posted by: John | May 23, 2006 9:27:44 PM
"But the fact is, staying in the closet doesn't help change attitudes toward gays, so why be "astonished" when you witness homophobia?"
Again, making no correlation between their closeted status and homophobia. Got it.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | May 23, 2006 9:40:42 PM
Of course there's a correlation, but it isn't about blame. Why are you so intent on making it so?
I lived in a homophobic family for 27 years, completely in the closet...never saying anything when gay jokes were told, etc. When I finally came out to them, it changed their attitude toward gays. My one-time very homophobic, very religious mother is now president of her local PFLAG. I didn't blame myself for their attitude, but I know by coming out, I changed their attitude. The same is true for many of my friends. It's just a fact.
Anyway, you're too stuck on "blame" to see my point, so there's no use in continuing this.
Posted by: John | May 23, 2006 10:07:51 PM
Thanks for the Lifetime story but I think you're being curiously defensive. Only you knows what's in your own heart.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | May 23, 2006 10:21:23 PM
And I think you're being overly accusatory. You say only I knows (sic) what's in my own heart, yet you seem to think you do, too.
And you're welcome for the Lifetime story. Thanks for making light of it...Nice to see what's in YOUR heart.
Posted by: John | May 23, 2006 10:35:48 PM
Accusatory? Blame mentioned once and you can't let it go? My goodness. Again, it's up to each of us to decide when correlation ends and blame begins in our own minds.
I’m sorry you seem to feel so persecuted.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | May 23, 2006 10:40:34 PM
You're right. And you accused me of blame, which was not the case. Anyway, this has become silly. We each obvioulsy have our point to make and I think they have been made. Goodnight, Chad.
Posted by: John | May 23, 2006 10:52:49 PM
Adieu for now my sweet prince for this simple misunderstanding too shall pass. But may you rest in your slumber knowing that I defend you to the last against any suggestion that you in your preceding posts have in any way, shape, form or fashion held closeted gays culpable or responsible for homophobia in our society. Let it not be said that Chad Hanging did not defend John against some random cads’ heinous inference that within this innocent gesture….
“I'm always puzzled when I read comments like that by closeted gays. Now I'm not suggesting that people have to be out, and I certainly don't promote outing people who want to stay in the closet, but...if a person won't come out and show the world that gays are your co-workers, family, friends, etc., and help change the attitudes of people, WHY is that person then astonished to see homophobia in this day and age? A person can stay in the closet as long as they want for all I care. But the fact is, staying in the closet doesn't help change attitudes toward gays, so why be "astonished" when you witness homophobia? I lived in a homophobic family for 27 years, completely in the closet...never saying anything when gay jokes were told, etc. When I finally came out to them, it changed their attitude toward gays. My one-time very homophobic, very religious mother is now president of her local PFLAG. I didn't blame myself for their attitude, but I know by coming out, I changed their attitude. The same is true for many of my friends. It's just a fact.”
….one might find otherwise.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | May 23, 2006 11:08:01 PM
What the hell is up your ass, Chad? Jesus Fuck.
Posted by: Butters | May 24, 2006 1:58:20 AM
The woman who owns the place was on local news in DC last night and seemed very sincere. She said she had been "crying for hours" over this incident and I believed her... she was shaky as she spoke. They need to just totally tear down that sign and start over with something that cannot be vandalized.
She reminded me of my mother! I think this is a big misunderstanding. I hope the BLade does a followup where they talk to her. Crain must be frothing for attention.
Posted by: xolondon | May 24, 2006 9:35:34 AM
The sign originally said "Attention Bikers...No Colors, No Rags, No Club Attire, No Exceptions". The sign was obviously altered by a vandal to appear to say “Coloreds” and “Fags”. However anyone with half a brain would realize that there was something odd about the altered sign. As written above, it makes sense and has context. "Coloreds” and “Fags" obviously didn't fit the context of the sign "Attention Bikers". “Colors” refers to Biker Club (gang) Colors, like gangs have red for Bloods and Blue for Cripts, bikers have color codes. "Rags" refers to head rags, also known as do-rags or bandanas, which are also indications of Biker gang affiliation. The bar owner was obviously trying to avoid Biker gang violence in her business after having an incident in her parking lot earlier. The sign has been there for years so she didn’t notice the alteration immediately. That is completely reasonable.
Sadly, once again, many gay people and the gay press have jumped to conclusions before getting all the facts. Not only does this unfairly target and attack an innocent person, who by all accounts is very gay positive but it also makes us all look bad and diminishes the credibility of real incidents of homophobia. Has anyone ever heard of the boy who cried wolf?
Come on guys. Let's stop feeding negative stereotypes by overreacting and getting hysterical before we know the full story. It doesn't do us any good and actually causes harm to gay rights progress.
Posted by: Zeke | May 24, 2006 12:15:50 PM
And John, I'm with you 100% on this one. Chad, for whom I have a great deal of respect, is trying to put words in your mouth. Don't get drawn into a flame war over semantics and misinterpretation and/or misunderstanding of your intended point. For what it's worth, I thought your point was clear and reasonable.
Posted by: Zeke | May 24, 2006 12:50:38 PM
All these words. And so vitriolic, too. Words & words & words and not a single one of you get it.
No progress has been made in this country. None at all. I’m mortified to even admit I live here. What kind of world do we live in where signs like this are posted??!!
I can't believe that in this day and age people still think that just because a biker shows up somewhere with a colored fag on his head he’s automatically a gang member. It’s appalling! Some bikers with colored fags on their heads have absolutely nothing to do with gangs. In fact, many of them do charity work for kids ‘n stuff.
Now excuse me, I have to go wash my ‘If you can read this the bitch fell off’ t-shirt.
Posted by: basis4insanity | May 24, 2006 10:10:31 PM
Arguing on the Internet is like being in the Special Olympics -- even if you win, you're still a retard.
Posted by: Charles | May 26, 2006 8:22:09 AM
*in my best peppermint patty voice*: um, chuck? i hope you know i was joking. doing a little gilda radner/emily litella thing there, looking back & making light of all that was said while the victim of the story shifted from one group to another to the owner.
but if you weren't speaking specifically about me, i agree with you...in an internet sort-of way.
Posted by: basis4insanity | May 26, 2006 11:28:38 AM