Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, September 16, 2009
Homo Once Upon A Time In America...
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 8:25 AM
...the police could raid a gay bar with impunity—and rough up and abuse the patrons they found inside—and the police knew the fags they were brutalizing couldn't protest because their parents and co-workers might find out they were gay. Someone needs to let the police in Atlanta know that those days are long gone. The gay men at the Eagle—like most gay men in most gay bars in most cities—are out to their families and coworkers, are fearless, and are we're willing and able to stand up for themselves:
Protests Over Gay Bar Raid Reach City HallATLANTA—Days of protests over an Atlanta police raid on a gay bar continued Tuesday afternoon, this time reaching city hall. About 20 protestors showed up for the Atlanta City Council's Public Safety Committee meeting, claiming the raid was uncalled for and heavy handed.
And guess what? Our families are on our side:
"Patti Ellis, who has a gay son, was one of those protesting at Tuesday's public safety meeting. 'I want to have confidence in the police department again because what they do for us in fighting crime is just unbelievable,' she told 11 Alive News. 'But that was not fighting crime,' she added, 'that was going in there and harassing people who are gay.'"
Via Towleroad.
1
Should gay men engage in public promiscous sex?
Should gays be exempt from laws against public sex?
Is this how homosexual men rack up 53% of all new AIDS cases in America?
Should gays be exempt from laws against public sex?
Is this how homosexual men rack up 53% of all new AIDS cases in America?
2
I love how people are eating out of the APD's hands on this one, especially when there's a "culture of misconduct" in the force and corruption is "widespread".
Thank god there weren't any old black women at the Eagle that night, the cops would have shot them.
Thank god there weren't any old black women at the Eagle that night, the cops would have shot them.
3
“Mayor Franklin: The Atlanta Eagle, a bar that is situated next to one of your old campaign offices, continues to have sex parties on Thursday nights that spills out into the neighborhood. Witnesses (including myself) in the neighborhood have seen men in various stages of undress performing sexual acts on each other including oral and anal sex. Mayor Franklin, your assistance in this matter is desperately needed as people in this neighborhood are concerned about the neighborhood being turned into a brothel,” the complainant stated.
4
From the Southern Voice:
The APD released reports from undercover officers who visited the bar on May 21 and June 11 and said they witnessed oral and anal sex taking place in a back room of the bar, as well as dancers in their underwear and in g-strings who would pull their underwear down and accept tips from customers at the bar.
No one was arrested at that time because officers were gathering information for their investigation, Pennington said at the press conference.
A report of what happened Sept. 10 states that an undercover officer “observed two men in what appeared to be a sexual act. Both of the males had their pants lowered and one gentleman was moving his body back and forth toward the other gentleman.”
The APD released reports from undercover officers who visited the bar on May 21 and June 11 and said they witnessed oral and anal sex taking place in a back room of the bar, as well as dancers in their underwear and in g-strings who would pull their underwear down and accept tips from customers at the bar.
No one was arrested at that time because officers were gathering information for their investigation, Pennington said at the press conference.
A report of what happened Sept. 10 states that an undercover officer “observed two men in what appeared to be a sexual act. Both of the males had their pants lowered and one gentleman was moving his body back and forth toward the other gentleman.”
5
Post on the Southern Voice blog:
I've been to the Eagle on Thursday nights, and there most definitely is sex there. For the owner to say otherwise is absurd. The police being out of control is an entirely different matter and should be investigated. But sadly, the Eagle brought this on themselves by allowing what they do on Thursday nights.
Posted 9/16/09 - 10:33 AM
I've been to the Eagle on Thursday nights, and there most definitely is sex there. For the owner to say otherwise is absurd. The police being out of control is an entirely different matter and should be investigated. But sadly, the Eagle brought this on themselves by allowing what they do on Thursday nights.
Posted 9/16/09 - 10:33 AM
6
From the Southern Voice:
The tips that triggered the investigation seem to come from someone familiar with the Atlanta Eagle.
According to the July 1 anonymous Crime Stoppers tip sent via the web, the complainant said the club was closing July 5 at 3 a.m. and would reopen at 3:15 a.m. for an after hours party to benefit the Southern Bears.
“They have hired nude dancers to dance on the bars; sex will be permitted as at most circuit parties, drugs will be sold freely. They plan on using the back entrance for admission that is located off the rear patio. They will be running a shuttle bus to and from the host hotel which is the Courtyard Marriott Northlake on Lavista Road in Tucker, GA,” the tipster states. Included in the tip is co-owner Robby Kelley’s alleged profile on Bear411.com.
The tips that triggered the investigation seem to come from someone familiar with the Atlanta Eagle.
According to the July 1 anonymous Crime Stoppers tip sent via the web, the complainant said the club was closing July 5 at 3 a.m. and would reopen at 3:15 a.m. for an after hours party to benefit the Southern Bears.
“They have hired nude dancers to dance on the bars; sex will be permitted as at most circuit parties, drugs will be sold freely. They plan on using the back entrance for admission that is located off the rear patio. They will be running a shuttle bus to and from the host hotel which is the Courtyard Marriott Northlake on Lavista Road in Tucker, GA,” the tipster states. Included in the tip is co-owner Robby Kelley’s alleged profile on Bear411.com.
7
@6
Post on the Southern Voice blog, in response to an earlier post:
rptrcub:” I wonder if some bitter queen was involved in this.”
I have to agree with this in regards to the July report regarding Southern Bears and Atlanta Bear Fest. What straight person would have this information and know that an email was sent by Atlanta Eagle to promote this event? This particular report is definitely from the gay community and most likely someone that used to patron the Eagle or was a part of Southern Bears. Shame on this person.
Posted 9/15/09 - 11:04 PM
Post on the Southern Voice blog, in response to an earlier post:
rptrcub:” I wonder if some bitter queen was involved in this.”
I have to agree with this in regards to the July report regarding Southern Bears and Atlanta Bear Fest. What straight person would have this information and know that an email was sent by Atlanta Eagle to promote this event? This particular report is definitely from the gay community and most likely someone that used to patron the Eagle or was a part of Southern Bears. Shame on this person.
Posted 9/15/09 - 11:04 PM
8
Oh, citation required: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/27/us/27a…
Also, a quote from Pennington: "I've worked in corrupt police departments before."
You don't sayyyyy.
Also, a quote from Pennington: "I've worked in corrupt police departments before."
You don't sayyyyy.
9
Dan,
Tawana Brawley was raped on the nasty floor of the Eagle by Atlanta Police Swat team thugs.
That's right, Tawana Brawley.
That poor girl can't catch a break.
Can you please look into this?
kthnx
Tawana Brawley was raped on the nasty floor of the Eagle by Atlanta Police Swat team thugs.
That's right, Tawana Brawley.
That poor girl can't catch a break.
Can you please look into this?
kthnx
11
"20 protestors showed up for the Atlanta City Council's Public Safety Committee meeting"
twenty.
a likely story.
arial photos show no more than 17 protestors...
twenty.
a likely story.
arial photos show no more than 17 protestors...
12
11
there would have been more but many folks are still stuck butt naked on their backs on that Nasty Sticky floor at the Eagle.
there would have been more but many folks are still stuck butt naked on their backs on that Nasty Sticky floor at the Eagle.
13
Gay people are never going to go away. We've always existed. We are not going to go back into hiding, and pretending. We're never going to stop demanding equal rights. For gay haters, it's a scary time. They're getting more and more hysterical. They better get used to that panicked feeling in the pit of their stomachs.
14
Did you ever notice who the bullies are? If you don't stand up for yourself, it's not long before you deserve to be bullied. That goes for standing up to religious bullies as well. And why is sex between consenting adults a big concern for the police? Isn't there enough sexual assault for them to investigate? You have to wonder how much money they waste with this kind of bullshit.
15
@10: http://www.ajc.com/ajccars/content/metro…
At Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Bill McKenney, the attorney for one of the convicted officers, talked about misconduct inside the Atlanta department being more pervasive and not isolated to the narcotics unit that was responsible for the shooting death of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston in November 2006.
McKenney also said an FBI report, now in the custody of the Atlanta Police Department, found officers in some units were expected to get nine arrests and two search warrants each month.
16
@1-6 (minus baconcat),
You seem rather pre-occupied with homosexual men.
Perhaps instead of posting multiple, feverish, anonymous comments about gay sex, you could go experience your secret desires yourself, instead of writing about them vicariously?
You seem rather pre-occupied with homosexual men.
Perhaps instead of posting multiple, feverish, anonymous comments about gay sex, you could go experience your secret desires yourself, instead of writing about them vicariously?
17
"The gay men at the Eagle—like most gay men in most gay bars in most cities— are fearless, and are we're willing and able to STAND UP for themselves:...."
...just as soon as we get up from this nasty sticky floor we're stuck to...
...just as soon as we get up from this nasty sticky floor we're stuck to...
18
16
that always works...
someone disagrees with you you can accuse them of being GAY!!
yuck!
that'll get rid of them...
that always works...
someone disagrees with you you can accuse them of being GAY!!
yuck!
that'll get rid of them...
19
14
translation:
So what if we have sex in bars and on the sidewalk?
We're Here!
We're Queer!
We're Having Sex on the Sidewalk!!
translation:
So what if we have sex in bars and on the sidewalk?
We're Here!
We're Queer!
We're Having Sex on the Sidewalk!!
22
A reminder to regular Sloggers (Slogulars): whenever you tire of feeding trolls and rubbing your own nose in their poo, simply select "unregistered OFF" and remove the temptation.
23
21, Not at all. You spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about gay sex, just sayin'. It's quite entertaining to watch you desperately trying to prove your heterosexuality to yourself. You're like a guy who brags about having a big dick. The more a guy talks about his penis, the more inadequate he feels.
24
From the Southern Voice:
According to APD Deputy Chief Carlos Banda six other clubs — none of them gay — in the past three months have been raided in similar manners to the Atlanta Eagle, including people being forced to lie on the ground, searched and arrested.
Those clubs were exotic dancing clubs Pleasers on Cleveland Avenue, Goldrush on Metropolitan Parkway, Foxy Lady on Moreland Avenue, Candy Shop on Empire Boulevard and the Playground, which has no listed address on the internet. The Masquerade, a popular music and dance venue located on North Avenue, was also raided.
According to APD Deputy Chief Carlos Banda six other clubs — none of them gay — in the past three months have been raided in similar manners to the Atlanta Eagle, including people being forced to lie on the ground, searched and arrested.
Those clubs were exotic dancing clubs Pleasers on Cleveland Avenue, Goldrush on Metropolitan Parkway, Foxy Lady on Moreland Avenue, Candy Shop on Empire Boulevard and the Playground, which has no listed address on the internet. The Masquerade, a popular music and dance venue located on North Avenue, was also raided.
25
23
"The more a guy talks about his penis, the more inadequate he feels."
I'm sorry to hear that, Bob.
Maybe if you date midgets your dick won't seem so inadequate.
"The more a guy talks about his penis, the more inadequate he feels."
I'm sorry to hear that, Bob.
Maybe if you date midgets your dick won't seem so inadequate.
26
25, Yeah, we get it, your straight, your straight...now if only you could stop having those feelings. I hear spending all day, day after day after day on gay blogs cures homosexuality. Let me know how that works out for you.
27
26
" I hear spending all day, day after day after day on gay blogs cures homosexuality."
You're pretty good proof that theory is BS.
" I hear spending all day, day after day after day on gay blogs cures homosexuality."
You're pretty good proof that theory is BS.
32
Srsly, Rob - I have unregistered comments off, so reading your stuff is like watching Bert Lahr's shadowboxing in Oz - "put 'em up, put em' muuup..."
34
29, So you spend all day, everyday of your life, imagining gay sex acts, and hanging out on a gay (okay, mostly gay, Barconcat) blog, and we're supposed to think what? Do you watch the gay porn on X-tube, just because you're so appalled by it...sure you jerk off, but you feel totally disgusted with yourself afterwords, right?
32, The trolls entertain me, thank you.
32, The trolls entertain me, thank you.
36
@18, well, if the shoe fits...
People who can't stop talking about football, probably like football.
People who can't stop talking about cars, probably like cars.
People who can't stop talking about gay men... well... ?
@gloomy gus, I know I shouldn't feed the trolls, but I can't help it (like watching a train wreck).
People who can't stop talking about football, probably like football.
People who can't stop talking about cars, probably like cars.
People who can't stop talking about gay men... well... ?
@gloomy gus, I know I shouldn't feed the trolls, but I can't help it (like watching a train wreck).
37
36
Anything to avoid the topic at hand, which is why does Dan think the law shouldn't apply to gays?
Because it makes our mommies sad?
Because the floor is nasty?
Al Sharpton is seriously getting nervous that Dan is eating his lunch.
Anything to avoid the topic at hand, which is why does Dan think the law shouldn't apply to gays?
Because it makes our mommies sad?
Because the floor is nasty?
Al Sharpton is seriously getting nervous that Dan is eating his lunch.
38
37, The raid revealed absolutely no drugs, no adult entertainment going on, no sex either inside, or outside the club. Hmmm. What laws do we think shouldn't be applied to gay people?
40
@38: And let's not forget that the APD has been found to have quotas for arrests and a history of "widespread corruption" and a "culture of misconduct" and they refuse to release or address a report from the FBI on the same.
It's hard to believe the APD would EVER raid bars indiscriminately and use stereotypes against certain types of clubs (gay bars are full of sex and drugs, strip clubs are full of prostitution, dance clubs are full of gang members) to meet their quota! Impossible! Never!
It's hard to believe the APD would EVER raid bars indiscriminately and use stereotypes against certain types of clubs (gay bars are full of sex and drugs, strip clubs are full of prostitution, dance clubs are full of gang members) to meet their quota! Impossible! Never!
42
DEAR TROLLZY, I WUV U ALL.
I HATES THE POLICE. NO FUNZ.
BUT STICKY GAYS? IDK. MAYBE BROUGHT IT ON THEMSELVES. SOUNDS LIKE PUBLICK SECKS AND GETTING CAUGHT TO ME = RAID/REST.
MORAL OF STUPID BITCHES: REEL GANGSTAS NEVAH GIT CAUGHT.
I HATES THE POLICE. NO FUNZ.
BUT STICKY GAYS? IDK. MAYBE BROUGHT IT ON THEMSELVES. SOUNDS LIKE PUBLICK SECKS AND GETTING CAUGHT TO ME = RAID/REST.
MORAL OF STUPID BITCHES: REEL GANGSTAS NEVAH GIT CAUGHT.
43
All those who keep insisting that the police raid was justified are obviously not interested in facts, but, in response to all those copied-and-pasted (or possibly even completely fabricated) here's a little message from Steve Gower of the Midtown Ponce Security Alliance, who's worked with Peggy Denby, the current executive director of Keep Atlanta Beautiful.
"In the six and a half years of my core role in the MPSA, alongside with Peggy Denby, I have a bird’s eye view of what the community is telling us. I know every square inch of the MPSA service area, in which the Eagle is prominently located. I have never once received any reports or made any observations even remotely suggesting that crime and disorder in the neighborhood would be attributed to the Eagle. Peggy feels the same way."
So, all of you (or maybe one of you) who insist on quoting from The Southern Voice, take that. Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't, but it's a first-hand statement from someone who's willing to give his name--not some anonymous cops who claim they saw something in May that necessitated raiding The Eagle in September.
"In the six and a half years of my core role in the MPSA, alongside with Peggy Denby, I have a bird’s eye view of what the community is telling us. I know every square inch of the MPSA service area, in which the Eagle is prominently located. I have never once received any reports or made any observations even remotely suggesting that crime and disorder in the neighborhood would be attributed to the Eagle. Peggy feels the same way."
So, all of you (or maybe one of you) who insist on quoting from The Southern Voice, take that. Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't, but it's a first-hand statement from someone who's willing to give his name--not some anonymous cops who claim they saw something in May that necessitated raiding The Eagle in September.
44
Seems to me that law enforcement shouldn't ever look the other way when illicit acts are being committed. Just because they're being done in a gay bar or by gay patrons is no excuse for ignoring the laws. Be it here, in Fort Worth, Atlanta or any other place in our nation, it's that simple.
45
#41. Another option is userscripts: http://userscripts.org/scripts/search?q=…
With this, you also have the option of "hiding" registered commenters.
With this, you also have the option of "hiding" registered commenters.
46
If this is the same Patti Ellis who was quoted in the article I am thinking it is, I knew her son Adam Ellis in elementary school right outside of Atlanta. They were a very Southern, religious family who were rocked by his coming out and then very lovingly accepted his homosexuality. Adam and his mother Patti are real estate agents in Atlanta and his mother, Patti, put up a website (http://www.familyacceptance.org/) that attests that sometimes the bad guys can turn into the good guys.
47
fwiw @46 - Thanks for the link. If anybody is interested, I highly recommend viewing the website. It's a lot of information, but written with deep, heartfelt honesty. Well worth the time.
There are things I learn from SLOG posters. Things I wouldn't normally be exposed to, and make me a better person for knowing. This is one of them.
Again, thanks.
There are things I learn from SLOG posters. Things I wouldn't normally be exposed to, and make me a better person for knowing. This is one of them.
Again, thanks.
48
Loveschild, the police weren't "looking the other way while illicit acts occurred". They didn't find anything illegal going on so they harassed the bar's patrons and arrested its staff on trumped-up charges.
Please try to keep up.
Please try to keep up.
49
If the employees were allowing illegal/unlicensed activity at some point or not, the way the random patrons who happened to be there at the time were treated was disgusting at best, and unquestionably illegal. The slurs and force (even used on some 80 some year old guy) was also uncalled for.
50
so, not all police officers behave perfectly. so, some police don't like gays so much. was there really any harm in this case? i really think you gays need to wait for something more serious before you go all martyr like. i know how much yall like the victim thing, and i know there's precious little of it for you to cling to these days, but have patience. otherwise you just look silly.
51
@ 50 - "i really think you gays need to wait for something more serious before you go all martyr like."
Civil rights, and particularly the collection of civil rights that basically add up to, "you have the right to not be unnecessarily fucked with by the police", is pretty serious business. It's not a huge leap from my civil rights being violated to your civil rights being violated. The government is interested in controlling you & me &...everyone. It's just that minorities are at the sharp end of the wedge on this. It sucks, and I try to live my gay life as non-victim-y as I can, but it still sucks.
Civil rights, and particularly the collection of civil rights that basically add up to, "you have the right to not be unnecessarily fucked with by the police", is pretty serious business. It's not a huge leap from my civil rights being violated to your civil rights being violated. The government is interested in controlling you & me &...everyone. It's just that minorities are at the sharp end of the wedge on this. It sucks, and I try to live my gay life as non-victim-y as I can, but it still sucks.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
Hating People Doesn't Make Them Thinner by Jen Graves
-
Los Angeles Gay Bar Bans Bachelorette Parties Until Marriage Equality Is Attained by David Schmader
-
Fill in the Blank by Grant Brissey
-
This Reminds Me of the Great Calculator Scare of the Late '70s/Early '80s by David Schmader
-
Idiot Tries to Defend Bigoted Anti-Gay-Marriage Preacher on Anderson Cooper by Paul Constant
-
Six Moms with Too Much Time on Their Hands and a Shitty Website Decide to Fight Gay Superheroes by Paul Constant
-
Why Mayor McGinn's Wife Canceled Her Family's Seattle Times Subscription by Eli Sanders
-
What the Hell Is Wrong With Seattle's Pride Parade? by Dominic Holden
-
The Saturday Morning News by Unpaid Intern
-
NYC Man Ticketed for Not Riding in the Bike Lane by Jonathan Golob
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (51) RSS