LIFEBeat succumbed to outrage over plans to stage an AIDS benefit concert featuring openly homophobic dance hall performers Beenie Man and group TOK.  Concerns flew around the blogosphere this week as a large coalition of AIDS advocacy groups, LGBT organizations, members of the African-American community and countless others united in opposition to this incredibly stupid decision.

The concert was cancelled, but LIFEBeat had to take a few swipes at the protestors on the way out the door.  Cancelling the concert itself was like throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but LIFEBeat claims they feared violence at the concert. 

Uh huh. And there's no possibility that violence could be ignited by a performer singing ...

Hang the gay woman/lesbian with a long piece of rope

I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays.

Take a Bazooka and kill gay-fucker

All faggots must be killed (no translation needed here)

We burn the gay man and then we burn the sodomtie

And everybody cry out, say, that?s right!

(Click here for Jasmyne Cannick's wonderful post on anti-gay dancehall lyrics)

Why, it is obvious the violence would be fueled by protestors objecting to hanging lesbians with rope.  What are we thinking? 

Why couldn't LIFEBeat invite performers who weren't advocating the murder of well, anyone?  Is that really so much to ask?  Surely there must be Caribbean performers who aren't down at the level. 

There's a lot happening in the Queer 'burgh  -- gay political groups, queer art collectives, a lesbian chorus, comedy shows, art shows, movies, dinners, fundraisers ... the list goes on and on of all the cool groups and organizations making a difference for you and your family.

Often overlooked is the contribution of your average homo who takes it upon her or himself to do something proactive to build the kind of community in which s/he desires to live.  Both of these people, Bob and Sheila, are friends of mine who I believe put their money where their mouths are for the greater good of the entire community.  And they set examples for the rest of us who have a tendency to mouth off, but take no action.

Sheila thinks there isn't enough cool stuff for lesbians or, perhaps more precisely, that lesbians have trouble connecting with women with similar interests.  There are email list for biking lesbians, hiking lesbians, even kayaking lesbians.  Sheila liked to dance, go out to dinner, travel and hang out. So Sheila started her own group, Lesbos of Pittsburgh. 

This group is for lesbians only who are tired of staying at home. We want women from Ohio, West Virginia, and all around Pennsylvania. Do you like to go dance,go to comedy clubs,eat nice dinners,travel and go to gay events? Lets get together. Most activities will take place in the Pittsburgh area. There are lots of things to do and see here.

I've known Sheila for several years and she is one of the most straightforward people in my life.  She goes to all the events, including many fundraisers.  She tries all sorts of new activities from potlucks to mini golf to art shows.  And I really admire her for stepping up to create a sense of community for women who walk in her shoes.  I'm on several other local LGBT email lists and only one comes close to creating a sense of community (Pittsburgh Potluck Womyn for those of you who are curious).

Bob is an old friend of Ledcat's and a relatively new friend of mine.  He's interested in politics (like most of us), but he's made it a personal priority to help elect gay-positive candidates.  Unlike most of us, Bob puts his time and money where his mouth is.  He writes countless letters to the editor and letters to elected officials and letters to all the rest of us telling us that we should be writing, too.   He's even dedicated a portion of his website to promoting the candidates he think will best serve the needs of the LGBTQ community in his districts. 

Interestingly, both Sheila and Bob live outside of Pittsburgh, outside of Allegheny County even.  But they both still identify with our city and want good things for the entire LGBTQ community.  They aren't just focused on their neighborhood, card club or small group of likeminded friends  -- they put themselves out here for all of us. 

That's cool.    Wish more of us could pull that off. 

Looking for something to do on Sunday?  Head out to South Park for a tea dance featuring the reunion of the Shari Richards Band for this one time event only.  (Fusing Steely Dan with the Pointer Sisters according to one organizer).

A tea dance?  Apparently its a long standing gay tradition of afternoon parties featuring dancing, socializing and fun.  You bring your own refreshments and beverages, pay admission to cover the cost of the facility and entertainment and have a good time.  They've held these events at local firehalls because there are no "good" lesbian bars around Pittsburgh.

I heard about this via an email list and it took me a few days of digging to get some answers on what exactly a tea dance was, who the organizers were and who was welcome (they used a vague reference to "our community" in the original emails).  I've since ascertained that it does mean our entire community, but I'm just guessing that the event skews a bit older (based on the music). 

Tickets are $10.00 and available at the door.  Doors open at 1 PM.  Entertainment begins at 2 PM

Location is the South Park Museum Building at the South Park Fairgrounds.  Big clock on building so you cannot miss it.

If you check it out, let me know how it goes.

Here's a perfect example of why heterosexuals should be outraged about gay bashing.

Colin Finnerty, that upstanding young lacrosse player from Duke facing rape and kidnapping charges, was found guilty in an attack on two men in Washington D.C.

Finnerty and five college buddies, including Duke lacrosse captain William Gerrish, followed two men, taunting them with homophobic epithets and then punched and kicked the men. 

Here's the thing.  Finnerty and Gerrish are white, privileged thugs and if they were poor, black or brown men, they would be in jail for such behavior.  Finnerty beat up two men because he presumed they were gay.  Gerrish lied under oath about the circumstances and only recanted when confronted with his own statement to the arresting officer.  Finnerty got probation.

The Duke situation is filled with conflicting reports and he's innocent until proven guilty of course.  But he's not innocent of being a prick and its not a difficult leap to imagine a gay-bashing bigot treating women like trash.  Just the fact that these alleged pillars of society throw drunken brawls is disgusting.  It doesn't make them rapists.  It does make them elitist preppy pigs.

Back to my original point. The victims in the DC gay are not gay.  They were beaten up because Finnerty perceived them to be gay.  I don't know if they were mincing, pink shirted metrosexuals or just two average guys strolling through DC.  It doesn't really matter.  Finnerty has this tape in his head telling him that he has the right, the privilege, to beat the living hell out of someone b/c they seem gay.  And, apparently in US society, he's right.