People crowded at the corners of 17th and L streets in Washington, DC to see protesters virtually blocking the intersection. Southbound traffic on 17th Street NW was blocked from M Street to K Street; traffic was allowed to flow north from Desales Street, which is between L and M. (map)
Last night I, along with approximately 30 other people, participated in a Hug-In at the Rite Aid at 13th and U streets in D.C. Michael at the New Gay organized the event in response to a Metro Weekly article about a local gay couple who was kicked out of the store after the manager saw them hugging. It was a largely peaceful event, save for one Rite Aid customer who decided to let all of us know we were “going to burn in hell.”
I’ll see Mr. Judgmental there once I move into my summer home. We can do lunch, it’ll be fabulous! <⁄sarcasm>
Everyone gathered at Nellie’s Sports Bar for libations (”liquid courage”) and instructions. We were all to trickle in and browse the aisles as if we were legitimately shopping there. Once in the store, we were to wait for the catalyst couple to hug before the rest of us could. Most of us were in twos, some in threes, and there was even a four- or fivesome. (I lost count of arms.)
The hugs lasted for about 2 minutes, and we slowly trickled out of the store. A TV news reporter I didn’t recognize Fox 5’s Wisdom Martin was outside with a cameraman in tow and he spoke to Michael Eichler, the hug-in organizer, for a few minutes. He also spoke with Michael Browne, one half of the couple who was kicked out of the store October 12. The hug-in even attracted the attention of D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham, who attended and also got a hug.
As people started dissipating, Mr. Judgemental returned, I suppose to finish shopping and taunt us some more. We welcomed him back, but I imagine not with open arms.
More:
This will be news to a few of you, but I recently started writing for DCist, the local arm of the Gothamist family; I signed on as their LGBT news blogger last month. In their 2007 Best of Gay DC survey, the Washington Blade recently named DCist as the Best Local Blog… with a plaque and everything!
Over the last few weeks, I have so far written about seven posts for DCist on local gay issues (2 are not listed on my author page) ranging from the fluffy to the serious. My most recent entry, about a gay couple who was recently kicked out of a local Rite Aid pharmacy for hugging, seems to be generating a good amount of buzz. As of right now, the post has 39 comments; 21 recommendations; and a couple other weblogs that picked up the story.
The New Gay is organizing a Hug-In at the Rite Aid on 13th and U — where the couple was kicked out — for tomorrow night before the annual 17th Street High Heel Race. It’s an open invite, but don’t tell Rite Aid.
These are my links for 22 Jun through 25 Jun:
These are my links for 29 May:
Within the circle of blogs and journals I keep up with, a lot of people are lately getting themselves lathered up over two things: Bear411 and Snickergate.
Bear411
For my readers (all three of you) outside the bear contingent, Bear411 — 411 for short — is arguably the most widely used site for chat/hookups/whatever among husky, hirsute gay men and (a few of) those that admire them. For some time, rumours circulated about the owner’s tendency to censor or even delete messages and profiles, and about people being denied access outright because they’re not “bear enough.” Things finally came to a head last week and now there are organized efforts to show the man how much his service sucks.
I’m all for fighting for your right to party, but really, why wait? If you hate 411 that much, just dump it from your bookmarks and be done with it already. This isn’t a city street where you need a permit to march — it’s a frickin’ web site!
Snickergate
At the outset, I wasn’t outright offended by the unfortunate Snickers ad. Truth be told, I kinda rolled my eyes at it, and winced when it came to ripping out chest hair. (A natural reaction as the owner of a hairy chest.) Yes, it used an old, lame ass joke at the expense of gay guys everywhere to promote itself, but a lot of the reaction I’ve seen — to the ad and to others reacting to the ad — is really quite overreaching.
Say what you will, but that campaign was probably worth every penny to Snickers and its parent company, even if they quietly removed the ads from their site. There’s big bucks in controversy.
Doth we protest too much?
Apparently, God hates more than just us fags, eh? A small gathering of people from the Westboro Baptist Church are actually protesting against the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist at his funeral, which just happens to be a block from my office. According to their signs, Rehnquist is in Hell and Hurricane Katrina was a good thing. America is still doomed, blah blah blah.
A motorcade of busses is arriving as I post this.
This is going to be a fun day!
See the full photo set, “Rehnquist Funeral Circus,” at flickr!
