Two Men Attempt to Burn Rainbow Flag at Memphis Gay Center

Memphis police arrested 23-year-old Ross Burton early Wednesday morning as he and another man attempted to set fire to the rainbow flag (see singed rope in photo, above) at the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center, the Memphis Flyer reports:

"Plainclothes officers observed Burton and another man — who fled the scene and remains at large — attempting to set fire to the rope that runs up the flag pole in front of the MGLCC. When police officers approached the men, an altercation ensued, and one suspect attempted to disarm an officer. Additional police were dispatched and some reportedly received lacerations and abrasions from the struggle. The suspects fled, but Burton was located and arrested. Burton is being charged with aggravated assault and vandalism under $500."

Burton's face is bruised because he fought with the officer, Russell Woolley: "Woolley says after Burton 'swung his fist at him,' the other guy jumped on his back and tried to take his 'service pistol from the holster.' After Woolley hit the unidentified man with his radio, he took off. But Burton never gave up the fight. It took a good samaritan and some pepper spray to get him to comply."

In late September a "Coming Out Day" billboard featuring a gay Marine that was sponsored by the Center was destroyed in an act of vandalism. Police have not determined whether the two crimes are related.

That crime inspired hundreds to rally in response.

Gilbert Baker on Pride Month 2009: Take it to the Streets

 

GILBERT BAKER

Activist and designer Gilbert Baker is best known for creating the rainbow flag in 1978 as a symbol of LGBT pride, liberation and diversity. Since then he has designed many flags and banners, including the ones recently used in New York's marriage equality march in response to Proposition 8 (above). Baker shares his thoughts on the occasion of Pride Month 2009.

We celebrate Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender pride, but are mindful our struggle for Civil Rights is only beginning. In the 40 short years since Stonewall we have changed the world with our visibility, we have organized and moved governments, but most of all we have fought back in our personal lives to be free and live true.

It is the great spirit of liberation that connects us through all generations. It is the moment we all share of coming out, first and foremost to our selves, knowing who we are.

There are many places in the world today where our brothers and sisters are forbidden to join together openly, who live alone with a secret they fear to share. Think of them when you see the Rainbow Flag. When you march, you march for those who cannot. When you sing the songs of freedom, your voice gives those censored and silent hope.

I call on everyone who has pride to rise up and take action. We must push our politicians to make the change they have promised. In America we will not wait any longer for full equality, we will not be bullied with conventional political wisdom. We will take it to the streets.

Continued, AFTER THE JUMP...

Gay Couple Mocked, Slurred, Told to Remove Rainbow Flag

A gay couple in Mesa, Arizona are involved in a dispute with the Cambria Ocotillo Home Owners Association over their rainbow flag:

"The Vanderrans, who are gay, argue that their request to fly the gay pride flag was approved in 2003 by a previous management company. They took the flag down in August 2008 after receiving a complaint from the association. They still display several holiday-themed gay pride flags. A letter to the couple from Olcott said the association’s design guidelines permit holiday flags. 'The board interprets the term ’holiday’ as the recognized national holidays. Those are New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Veteran’s Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day,' the letter said. 'A day celebrating Gay Pride is not yet a nationally recognized holiday.' Steven Vanderran said that argument doesn’t jibe, pointing out that Easter isn’t a nationally recognized holiday either, even though the board permits Easter decor. ...The couple says it has been the subject of slurs and mockery since the dispute began. In a May 11 posting on a local blog, a writer said the decorations were offensive and 'If they want to flaunt their preferences in sex partners like that, they need to move into a gay community.' Olcott said the association’s intention is only to prevent clutter and it’s not singling the couple out."

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Lambda Literary Awards handed out in New York.

Quincy, Massachusetts Church of the Presidents has its rainbow flag stolen for the fourth time in nine months: "The flag was stolen last August, and again last September. Two months later it was burned, and this week it was stolen yet again. It’s a symbol of the congregation’s support for equal rights for [GLBT] persons."

Candy Spelling: Tori Spelling killed my husband.

Mixner: On becoming a civil rights movement.

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St. Petersburg, Florida vetoes unmessaged rainbow flag: "They say the flag does not meet St. Petersburg's street banner policy, which states all banners must carry a written message."

Orlando Bloom celebrates Burberry Day!

New Yorkers plan weekend rally to pressure state senator George Onorato, who continues to refuse to meet with his constitutents on same-sex marriage.

T.R. Knight done with Grey's Anatomy? Looks that way.

Mom saves the day.

British soap EastEnders to feature gay Muslim storyline.

Gay Times: Cristiano Ronaldo is the sexiest man alive.

Pennsylvania court rules in favor of an accountant whose license was revoked following a hate crime conviction: "The panel, in a 2-1 ruling, ordered the board to impose a lessor punishment on Kevin Allen Ake, who was convicted of a felony in Chicago for leaving messages on the answering machine of a lesbian he believed had him kicked out of the YMCA for trying to start a Bible program."

Fred Hochberg sworn in as 23rd president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Porn actors Damien Crosse and Francesco D'Macho get married.

Senator David Vitter does not support the Uniting American Families Act.

Once Upon a Time: A significant Keith Haring mural turned 20 this week.

7 unanswered questions in the Angie Zapata murder case.

Harrah's Casino hopes you don't boycott Nevada because of its Domestic Partner bill-vetoing governor.

Schwarzenegger parole board appointee rejected for anti-gay comments: "Douglas Drummond, a former Long Beach City Council member, had been censured by the council for voicing support of Fidel Castro's sequestering of gays in Cuba, applauding the fact that same-sex couples don't reproduce and saying about gay political activity: 'How do we deal with it short of killing them?'"

Lesbian Couple's Gay Pride Flag Returned: Slashed, X-ed, Pissed On

The rainbow flag of Mary Shafer, a Bucks County, Pennsylvania woman and her longtime partner Shelly Sickbert, was stolen a month ago. This week they got it back:

"The Nockamixon resident said her rainbow flag was returned to her home desecrated...A neighbor discovered it in Shafer's front yard Sunday, balled up, with a black X drawn from corner to corner, stab marks and the stench of urine."

PhillyBurbs.com adds: "The 3-by-5 foot flag had been prominently displayed, along with an American flag, on the front of the Civil War-era home she shares with her companion, Shelly Sickbert, since they moved in 10 years ago. Shafer is calling it a hate crime. She says she and Sickbert won't be intimidated by the act. 'This is clearly from someone who is very, very angry,' said Shafer. 'I am perceiving this as some kind of threat, as some kind of warning.' ... Sgt. Steven Stinsky said state police will investigate and he'd look to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office for a determination on whether the incident was a hate crime. 'I've only been here a couple weeks, but this is the first such incident that I've heard of,' he said."

Really, what's the difference between this and drawing a swastika on a Jewish home, or placing a burning cross on the lawn of an African-American home? None, except these women had the added insult of having the item they were threatened with stolen from them first.

Rainbow Flag Lowered at London Police Station

Last week, in a show of support for its gay and lesbian officers, the North Wales Police raised a rainbow flag to mark a series of internal staff activities aimed at celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual History Month.

Said Wales Assistant Chief Constable Ian Shannon: "Sexuality is a highly emotive and personal matter and I have great respect for those involved with The Gay Police Association who, over the years, have worked selflessly to promote equality within our organisation. I am immensely proud to support our gay officers and staff and I hope that this event sends out a clear message as we continue to strive for inclusivity and equality."

The East London Metropolitan police station made a similar move, but it outraged Sir Paul Stephenson (right), the new Met commissioner, who demanded the flag be taken down.

"Critics believe the London flag row is a legacy of Sir Ian Blair's stint as Met chief, when he was often accused of being obsessed with political correctness. At one stage he asked officers to declare whether they were homosexual - a first step to quotas for numbers of gay and lesbian officers in the Met. And officers at an exam for prospective chief superintendents were once asked how they would react if they realised a male colleague was a transvestite after seeing him dressed as a woman in a pub. Sir Paul, keen to portray himself as a more traditional leader, has said he has no intention of being a 'celebrity' commissioner and his main focus is to fight crime and not bow to a PC agenda."