Rev. Fred Phelps as Gay Fundraiser?
Turning swords into plowshares (and banknotes) in Ann Arbor
by John Stiles

When the Reverend Fred Phelps came to town, the gay community in Ann Arbor decided not to get mad. They decided to get rich. Among the Ann Arbor locales the Kansas-based Phelps and his band elected to picket was the /aut/ BAR, a gay-owned restaurant, bar, and community gathering place. When co-owner Keith Orr heard that his establishment was being targeted, he wanted to respond constructively. He and his partner, Martin Contreras, did not want to promote a counterdemonstration, feeling that Phelps gains the most attention–and hence is most effective–when he provokes anger and outrage from his opponents. Rather, Orr decided to use his Phelps visit to the community’s advantage.

Phelps’s plans to picket the bar came to light only two days prior to his scheduled February 17 demonstration. With little time, Orr used the Internet to organize a unique fundraising scheme. In an e-mail message to customers, supporters, and friends, he proposed that people pledge money to the Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project (WRAP), a local gay advocacy group and community center, for every minute that Phelps picketed the bar. In this way, Orr explained, the longer Phelps stayed to spew hate, the more money he would raise for WRAP. He and Contreras kicked off the drive by pledging $1 per minute.

Contreras explained why he felt it was important to organize a response to Phelps.

"When I was first coming out 15 years ago, people told me, ‘You’ve got to watch out for this so-called reverend from Kansas named Phelps. He’s out to wage war against the gay community.’ He had been showing up at funerals of people who had died of AIDS with signs claiming that gay people would burn in hell. At the time he was just a blip on the radar screen. But when he protested at Matthew Shepard’s funeral he became a national menace."

At the same time, Orr continued, "I didn’t want to give Phelps what he wanted," meaning a counterdemonstration. "But just ignoring him seemed wrong."

Only two minutes after Orr sent out his e-mail message, pledges began to pour in, not only from Ann Arbor, but from as far away as New Hampshire, Texas, and California. The pledge drive gained such momentum that by the day of Phelps’s demonstration–only 48 hours after Orr and Contreras kicked off the drive–friends and supporters of Ann Arbor’s gay community had promised to contribute a total of $107 for every minute Phelps picketed the bar.

"When I began the pledge drive I wasn’t necessarily expecting anything big," Orr said. "I just wanted to give people an opportunity to turn Phelps’s message of hate into something positive for our community."

Even so, the size and speed of the response surprised him. "Normally a fundraising event of this magnitude takes months of planning and a lot of upfront costs. In 48 hours we raised over $6,000 without spending a dime. I was astonished."

Pledges arrived in diverse amounts and from a wide range of sources. They varied in amounts from as little as 10 cents per minute to as much as $5 per minute. "The great thing about this kind of fundraiser is that no one is excluded. People can participate at any economic level," said Orr.

The range of contributors included neighboring business owners, a high school Gay/Straight Alliance, and individual members of the Ann Arbor police force. On February 17, the day of the protest, Phelps’s band numbered only four adults and two small children. Instead of confronting the hate- mongers and giving them the attention they craved, over 100 community members and supporters gathered in the bar on a Saturday afternoon, celebrating while they counted the minutes that Phelps’s cronies stood outside in the bitter cold raising money for Ann Arbor’s gay community.

"We view this as a form of economic containment," Orr said. "Phelps is free to spread his message, however perverse we find it, wherever he wants. The First Amendment protects his right to do that. But we turned what could have been a negative into a positive. This has been an incredible community-building experience for us. We hope that cities and towns across the country will do this everywhere he goes. I get a charge thinking that every time he hits the road he will help us build our communities and fund our organizations."

Become an HIV Advocate

The People With AIDS Coalition-Houston announces the start of Project L.E.A.P, an intensive training program for HIV positive individuals and others who want to advocate for HIV/AIDS related services and funding. Standing for Learning, Empowerment, Advocacy and Participation, participants in Project L.E.A.P intensive 100-hour, six-month-long program will learn about the different funding sources for HIV/AIDS programs, providing all of the knowledge necessary to serve on committees and councils that prioritize and allocate money for HIV/AIDS, such as the Ryan White Planning Council, the Texas Department of Health Care Consortium, the Community Prevention and Planning Group as well as various boards of directors of area HIV/AIDS agencies. Classes for Project L.E.A.P begin in mid April, with a limited number of spaces are available. If interested please contact Rich Arenschieldt, project coordinator at 713/522-5428 ext. 28 or 1-800-999-0325. Applications are also available online at projectleap-houston.org.

No More Sexual Assault

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Houston Area Women’s Center is planning several community events. There will be a community health fair at the Kashmere Multi-Service Center, 4802 Lockwood Dr., on Fri., April 27, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. They have also commissioned a mural, "Imagining a World Without Sexual Violence," designed by local artist Krista Guss and painted by sexual assault advocates and survivors; it will be displayed at various locations throughout Houston. Finally, they are providing an extensive system-wide training to physicians and nurses throughout the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System on sensitivity issues surrounding sexual assault and violence against women. For more information on any of the events, call 713/528-6798.

Basic Brothers New Owner

After 19 years under the expert hand of Richard Wiederholt, Basic Brothers came under new ownership in February, when Cody Holt bought the Montrose landmark from Richard’s sister Patricia O’Connor and his daughter Karie Kelly, after Richard passed away April 28 last year.

The BB tradition will continue under Cody, who has been part of the operation since it opened, and was general manager under Richard, according to news sales manager Bryan Icard.

"It’s not like an outsider has come in and taken over," says Bryan. "He’s been here and knows what the needs are."

Bryan says that Basic Brothers will continue to be a community mainstay, both supporting gay organizations and supplying tight-fitting and skimpy Pride outfits.

"The store’s doing great," Bryan says. "Cody’s brough all kinds of new lines: tripled the underwear selection, expanded the swim line and club wear, brought in more shoes. . . . But we’ll never forget our roots."

Center for AIDS New Publication

The Center for AIDS has just started a new publication: HIV Treatment ALERTS!, intended specifically for HIV patients. Published three times a year, the newsletter contains reports and highlights from various conferences, important anti-HIV drug updates and warnings, a patient/doctor question and answer section, information on Internet and community resources, and much more. ALERTS! is edited by Thomas Gegeny (who is on staff at the Center for AIDS, and is a periodic OutSmart columnist), who also edits the CFA’s other publication Research Initiative/Treatment Action! (RITA!), which focuses more on HIV research and policy. Both publications are available online from The CFA website (www.centerforaids.org) at no charge.

Remembering Richard S. Wiederholt

We at Riva’s Italian Restaurant wish to honor the memory of Richard S. Wiederholt and to help carry out his wishes as far as we can.

"I call it my tragic gift," he said of his HIV. "It’s tragic because of all the devastation it has caused. But it’s a gift because I’ve really grown to know who I am and have been allowed to meet so many wonderful people. What I’m doing now is probably one of the most productive times in my life. I have an excellent grasp of people. I’m working on a lot of boards. I’m working to eliminate homophobia. We are normal people."

On Monday, April 30, 6—9 p.m., a free buffet with soft drinks will be held in Richard’s memory at Riva’s Italian Restuarant, 1117 Missouri Street. For those desiring, please bring a check (no credit cards or cash, please) payable to the Montrose Wellness Blinic. One hundred percent of your check will go to the clinic to help people with HIV.–Michael Siboyeh, owner Riva’s

Jungle Lust

The Bayou City Boys Club announced that Jungle Lust IX dance party and funraiser will be Saturday, April 14. Music will be provided by recording artist and circuit DJ Warren Gluck, who they claim "will bring to Houston the unique high energy style that keeps the boys in New York City and Fire Island dancing past dawn." Gluck most recently spun at the White Party 2000, Hotlanta 2000, Black Party NYC, Winter Party 2001, and Cherry 5.0.

The BCBC pays for all the costs of the party, so the entire ticket price goes to the beneficiaries, which this year will be: The Arrow Project, the WAM Foundation, the Kolbe Foundation, the Assistance Fund, the Houston Buyers Club, and the Center for AIDS. Jungle Lust moves into a new, larger venue this year, the Space City Entertainment Center in the warehouse district.

Jungle Lust IX is Sunday, April 14, 10 p.m.—the wee hours of Easter morning, 3301 Polk (at Roberts). Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door, and $25 for students over 21 with a valid student ID. Advance tickets are available at Basic Brothers, and may be purchased the day of the event at Lobo Bookstore; or order tickets online at www.bayoucityboysclub.org.

Bunnies on the Bayou–The Bunnies Story

Easter Sunday, 1979. A few friends are sitting around their apartments, bored. They decided to call a few friends, and have a little party. The party was a success.

Easter Sunday 1980: The same group of people decided to have another Easter party at their apartment complex. They called a few friends, who called a few more of their friends–another great party!

1981: planning started a little earlier. The hosts called on Bill Bridges to wire for sound. Invitations went out. Larger crowd this time, and more fun.

Mid-1980s: HIV had become a social buzz word. There were many friends sick and in need. Idea: An Easter party where the guests brought food for those who were sick and could not afford it. One new problem: Too many guests, not enough room. Thinking caps went on, and "Bunnies on the Bayou" was born. The hosts found a new location–the brand new Wortham Plaza, downtown.

Now, after two decades, Easter Sunday is a day that means party, fun, and great music. In the past three years alone, Bunnies has raised over $100,000 for local charities, and is one of Houston’s largest gay events, with attendance approaching (and sometimes exceeding) 2,000 guests per year. A great way to be with friends and meet new ones on Easter Sunday. (From the Bunnies on the Bayou website, www.bunnies.org, which is worth looking at, with a movie clip from 2001, and more.)

Bunnies on the Bayou is Easter Sunday, April 15, 2—7 p.m., Wortham Plaza. Admission is $25; bring your photo ID if you look young. Contact John Catalani at 713-630-0536 or email info@bunnies.org for information about volunteering orVIP admissions.

S.O.S.’s "Taste of the Nation"

Share Our Strength is throwing its annual "Taste of the Nation" food and wine tasting on Sunday, April 22, with a feast thrown by 40 of the city’s more sumptuous restaurants–occurring in more than 80 cities, it is the nation’s largest culinary benefit to fight hunger. One hundred percent of the funds raised will go hunger relief agencies, with the majority going to Houston agencies like the End Hunger Network and the Houston Food Bank.

For your good deed, you can feast on food from such places as Café Annie, Mark’s, Tasca, Tony Ruppe’s, benjy’s, Prego, the Redwood Grill, the Rainbow Lodge, the Daily Review, Brennan’s, and many more. Even our friends from Dacapo’s Pastry Deli will have their goodies available.

Share Our Strength is a national non-profit founded in 1984 that is working to distribute money to anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations.

The S.O.S. Taste of the Nation will be Sunday, April 22, 4—7 p.m., on the meadow at the Houstonian Hotel Club & Spa, 111 N. Post Oak Lane. Call 713/547-8624 for more information. Tickets are $65.

H.A.T.C.H. Prom

The Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals (H.A.T.C.H.) will hold its annual prom on Friday, May 4, at the Magnolia Ballroom. Since most Houston high schools still think of proms as being a boy-girl affair only, the H.A.T.C.H. prom gives our community youth their own prom night. Youth and sponsors receive free entry, while a $25 donation is requested from other adults who care to attend.

H.A.T.C.H. provides safe social environments for homosexual youth, offers role models and peer support, and sponsors educational and community outreach opportunities to empower homosexual youth to become positive contributors to society. For information about the prom, being a sponsor, or about H.A.T.C.H. in general, call 713/942-7002 or e-mail info@hatchyouth.org.

NATIONAL BRIEFS

HRC Includes TG

After six and a half years of protest and negotiation, the Human Rights Campaign announced they are amending their mission statement to include transgenders. Their new mission statement reads, in part: "HRC is a bipartisan organization that works to advance equality based on sexual orientation and gender expression and identity, to ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work, and in the community."

Lesbian Circuit Party?

We were interested to hear about the premiere of a Memorial weekend event put on by Wild Women Productions called the Santa Fe Women’s Weekend. The wild weekend involves several high-profile DJ parties (including a Latin dance party with Bocado’s Theresa Flores); literary salons with best-selling lesbian author Claire "Detective Inspector Carol Ashton" McNab and lesbian erotica writer Bett Williams; comedy with Karen Williams (didn’t get enough of her at the TLC?) and Mimi Gonzalez, pool parties, and a concert that may feature k.d. lang. Weekend packages with three-night hotel and VIP Events Pass start at $499/person. For more info call 505/466-6194 or e-mail sfwomensweekend@yahoo.com, or see the website at www.wildwomenproductions.com.

Great Gay and Lesbian CookOff

The Second Great Gay And Lesbian CookOff invites you to enter your favorite original recipes and be judged America’s best gay or lesbian cook. The national contest will take place in partnership with San Diego Lesbian and Gay Pride, July 28 and 29. Ten preliminary winners chosen in regional contests will be awarded trips to the national contest in San Diego, plus $300 in Calphalon cookware. The Grand Prize is an RSVP cruise for two. There is no cost to enter: submit your recipe by June 22 to The Great Gay and Lesbian CookOff, 3707 5th Ave., #354, San Diego, CA 92103 or e-mail to gaycookoff@aol.com. Complete rules are available at http://www.gaycookoff.com.

John Stiles is a doctoral student and bartender at the Ann Arbor /aut/BAR. (This is not the same John Stiles who lives in Houston and is a contributing writer for OutSmart.)

Editor’s note: After word of the /aut/BAR’s inspired response to Rev. Phelps started getting out, similar fundraisers have been instigated in Las Vegas, where Phelps was picketing the UNLV and the Liberace Museum, and in Madison, Wisconsin. Also, Keith Orr has been talking with folks in San Antonio, Portland, Maine, and San Francisco. Maybe we should invite the reverend to Houston....