Attn: DUers. . .Please look at this Meade KS story and consider donation

[kevinbgoode]

A couple of days ago I posted a story about a bed and breakfast in Meade, Kansas (pop.about 1,675 or so). The owners opened this bed and breakfast and restaurant and seem to love it there. .. well, until their 12 year old son went to visit the Wizard of Oz museum (Dorothy's "home")and bought a rainbow flag as a souvenir gift for his father because the flag reminded him of the song "Over the Rainbow."

His father put the flag up on the flagpole, under the American flag, and things seemed fine until the local newspaper decided to run a story about the rainbow flag being the gay pride symbol..and all hell broke loose. According to the owners, one local "minister" dropped by demanding the flag be removed, comparing it to flying a pair of women's panties...when the owner joked that maybe he should fly those, the minister told him he would have him "arrested."

Another local resident said he couldn't go into a place like that with the flag flying because it was a slap in the face to con-servatives (and we all know that wingnuts are more devoted to symbols anything else). He said flying the rainbow flag was like the Nazis raising a flag over a Jewish community. . .(ok - you KNOW he's a wingnut). Anyway, these people are losing money and locals are boycotting the business. I noticed over on Towleroad

http://www.towleroad.com/towleroad/2006/07/rainbow_flag_br.html

- some people have actually called and made reservations, paid for them and donated them back to the B/B. Someone else suggested just paying for a meal and asking them to donate it to someone else in town. I think this is an excellent idea.

The B/B's location is at: http://www.lakewayhotel.com/

You can look at video of the local news report of this situation at:

http://www.kbsd6.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=KBSD/MGArticle/BSD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149189283448&path=

or:

http://www.kwch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=KWCH%2FMGArticle%2FWCH_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149189283448&path=!news!local

I know some of you have sent emails of support - and that is just as great - they posted a comment at towleroad.com thanking people for the kind thoughts.

[DURHAM D]

1. Wow - Meade, Kansas - location of the Dalton Gang hideout.

Visited that town as a small child in the late 40s. Loved the tunnel to the hideout. Thanks for posting - I will do something.

Kansas is a tough place for gay folks and people who support them

[kevinbgoode]

2. Thank you...and to me, this isn't even really about the gay thang

as much as it is these wingnuts trying to stop a family from honoring the gift from their own son. How "family" values is that? It's just horrible small-town gossipmongering at it's worst. . .and I feel badly for the owners and proud they are sticking up for their family and..in doing so...for America.

[MADem]

3. To say nothing of the fact that the only thing KS is known for is

The Wizard of Oz and Ike Eisenhower. And Ike wasn't even BORN there, just raised there.

Intolerant assholes. Maybe we oughta all send that preacher a pair of panties for HIS flagpole???