Media Round-Up of the Tabby's Event

Update: Apparently the video players that Local 12 and WCPO use are the same and I can't post two videos on the same page with that same player? So... I believe you're seeing the Local12 video below, but I could be wrong, click on the links to go to the actual websites.

I heard it was a great time had by all, and there was a hugely positive response, but I'll let the people that were there tell the story.

From WCPO Channel 9, video:
Local 12, video:

Update: I hear there have been some crazy things popping up on y'all's screens with these videos. They're awesome. Click on the links above.

Story by WLWT, Channel 5, which has some amazing comments from highly educated and informed people like this one below:

DUH Go to a bar where you can be yourself then. Does that sound like a simple solution or is it that these people want everything and not expect people to tell them no. Go be yourself where you can openly express that not somewhere you're not wanted or accepted because otherwise all you're doing is opening up a can of Wh**p A** on yourself. You can't force people to accept this lifestyle so stop it!

So, "Come to our bar and we'll beat the shit out of you." Thanks. You're awesome.

And, of course, the Cincinnati Enquirer, which focused on the Guerrilla Queer Bar aspect of the invasion... which also has some amazing comments, like this:

I don't mind if you're gay, and I don't mind if you go to a "straight" bar because really you're just segregating it yourself. It's not the 60's and 70's anymore, anyplace is open to anyone. It's just when you get 200 or so people together in a small bar such as Tabby's, tempers are going to flair even if you're all straight or all gay. Now I'm sure something was said or done to spark this, and I'm sure even the gays were involved in it as well. I've seen this group out before, and trust me, the way they conduct themselves isn't normal. You don't have to round up a bunch of gays and lesbians to go have a good time at a "straight" bar, just go out with a smaller group and hang out, no one is going to bother you. If I have 200 gays sitting around me staring and talking about me, then of course I'm either going to say something or leave the bar...

To give you an idea of how heated this particular story, I would say a good 70% of the comments are being removed for violation of terms of service, which I believe include the threatening of violence against people. EEP!

*Sigh* So much education to do, so little time.

Former Mayors Discuss Cincinnati, including LGBT Cincy

In a meeting between former mayors of Cincinnati on the city's problems, the discussion turned towards LGBT folks, much thanks to former mayor Jerry Springer, from WLWT:

Jerry Springer said the riots and votes against gay rights have left Cincinnati with reputation of intolerance, and the city has to be more welcoming.

"Come on in. Come on in with your color, come on in with your religion, come on in with your sexual orientation, come on in with your lifestyle, obey the law, but come on in," Springer said....

But Dwight Tillery seemed to agree with Springers assessment, telling the audience that new buildings downtown don't matter unless all groups fell welcome there.

It's a beautiful thing, though that term "lifestyle" raises my hackles. Details, though. Also included were former mayors Ken Blackwell (via video), Arn Bortz, and current Councilmember Roxanne Qualls (whose on her way to a quick endorsement from this blogger in the coming election!).

How valid is Springer's point? Well, I think his and Blackwell's opinions may be a little more telling, as they are the ones who get to experience Cincinnati's reputation from outside of the tri-state area. Blackwell's opinion was not featured in the article, except to say that he suggests to keep tax rates low.

He is, after all, a Republican.

Thanks to @WLWT.

WCPO Coverage of Hate Crime

This is a continuation of the ongoing coverage of the UC Hate Crime that, apparently, was going to be swept quietly under the rug in the city. Let's keep this going shall we. (Protest Post 3/18, Follow Up 3/17, Original Post 3/16). And we will have a twitter feed of the event as it happens including TwitPics as we can get them going from various people -- follow me on Twitter for tomorrow's protest live coverage.

Finally! A news source has picked up the story, here on WCPO:

Police at the University of Cincinnati believe a recent attack near the campus happened because one of the victims is gay.

Police say two people were attacked on March 6 along Clifton Avenue.

Police say one of the victims knew one of the suspects, who attacked both of them when he found out one of them is gay.

Police are still looking for three suspects.

...which is strange, because we don't know who these three suspects are. Anyways, here's the (brief) news story on video, I hope it works this time :-):

As yet, no other news.

My bad, this is the text from WLWT that appeared on the news on 3/11 on the 5:30pm news that never had any online follow up:

A 19 YEAR OLD MAN...
IN COURT TODAY...
ACCUSED OF ATTACKING A MAN BECAUSE HE'S GAY.
ETHAN
KIRKWOOD...
IS FACING TWO COUNTS OF FELONY ASSAULT FOR THE BEATING THAT HAPPENED ON CLIFTON AVENUE LAST WEEK.
POLICE SAY
KIRKWOOD ALSO BEAT UP A FRIEND OF THE VICTIM WHO TRIED TO DEFEND HIM.

So two news stories so far? I'll be curious to see if we hear anything today about the protests.

Ranking Cincinnati

Thanks to @WLWT for the heads up on these:

According to a BusinessWeek article, Cincinnati is ranked as the 9th unhappiest city in the country, trailing behind such notables as Nashville, Cleveland and Portland.

In related news, Cincinnati was ranked as the 4th manliest city, following, you get this, Nashville at number one. Apparently our "tool popularity" helped bump up our score. And they said with absolutely no sense of irony.

From an unnamed source via Fark: Statistics from the Institute of Pulling Numbers Out of Your Ass.

Catholics are sexy

From @WLWT (the full story here):

The most powerful Catholic in Cincinnati is outraged over sex education at the University of Cincinnati.

Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk publicly criticized UC for a week-long program known as Sexploration.

The program features speakers and events, as well as condom giveaways and a “Pizza and Porn” night.

Sponsors include the university's Wellness Center and Pure Pleasure Inc., which sells lotions and sex toys.

People connected with the program say it’s a great educational experience for students and can help them make healthy decisions about sex.

Pilarczyk called the week of activities "profoundly disturbing." He issued a statement Wednesday criticizing the university for allowing what he calls "the gross disregard of the moral sensibilities of many in the university community."

A university spokesman said the program responds to student interest in sexual wellness and health. He said the Wellness Center is supported by student fees, not tuition, and that programs focus on issues of interest to students.

A public relations director for Pure Romance released a statement saying that a major component of the event “is to help students understand all the aspects that are important in maintaining healthy relationships.”

UC students have sex? I would never have guessed. 

[meanspirited]To the Archbishop of Cincinnati: get a clue.[/meanspirited]

When Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come on to unto me" he didn't mean that... Sorry, that was really really really anti-Catholic. But, seriously, fresh out of their child abuse scandal, I'm amazed that the Catholic church has much street cred left on the issue of sex. Let them eat cock, IMHO. 

The UC students, that is, not the abused children or the priests...

SnOMG!!!!!

After yesterday's craptastic day, Christ College canceled classes today!!! Watching WLWT because they are my friend on Twitter. Seriously.

This is fun too: this is live streaming video of one of their reporters driving around so you can see what the roads look like. Quality is questionable based on the signal, but it's neat when it works. 

Update: I've been debating this this morning. The nurses are at work, they have to go in. Sure, some people will not be able to make it in, but pt census will be down, especially in the ED. What does it tell us, as nursing students, about snow? Maybe they shouldn't have cancelled classes... especially clinicals. Nurses go in regardless of weather. The administration, though, wants to sit inside at home. I guess that's what matters.