Tag Archives: anti-gay

Was Manti Te’o pretending to be straight so he’d get to play in the NFL?

Posted on

Why would a star college football player make up a story about a relationship with an out-of-town girlfriend?

If you have a girlfriend, no one is trying to set you up. You don’t have to go on embarrassing dates and pretend to be straight. You don’t have to deal with the woman falling in love with you and end up hurting her.

Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o came in second in Heisman Trophy voting this year and is expected to be a first-round NFL draft pick. That is, unless he has to have real girlfriends to play football.

Te’o “met” Lennay Kukua in 2011. Last fall, she had a terrible car accident and then was diagnosed with leukemia. She was a student at Stanford.

Apparently, Te’o’s relationship with her was entirely on Twitter. He made up the stories about actually meeting her. The Twitter account is gone, but Te’o claims he knew nothing about the hoax.

But stories of the relationship and how he went on to play to make her proud after she “died” were part of most Notre Dame games last fall.

And now, OutSports is asking the question: Is Manti Te’o gay?

Continue reading “Was Manti Te’o pretending to be straight so he’d get to play in the NFL?” »

—  David Taffet

UPDATE: Main Event concludes investigation, calls gay couple’s claims ‘blatantly false’

Posted on

Alberto Lesmes, right, and his partner Chad Hemp.

ANNA WAUGH  |  Staff Writer

Main Event has finished its investigation into a gay Plano couple’s claims that they were told they were not a family and asked to leave the entertainment complex, concluding that their accounts are “blatantly false.”

A press release emailed to Dallas Voice on Friday explains that the investigation found the “couple’s claims of discrimination and the subsequent one-sided media accounts of the guests’ claims to be blatantly false.”

“We are disheartened by the inaccurate media accounts of what occurred while we were conducting our investigation,” Amy Johnson, Main Event marketing director, said in the release. “We are most disappointed in the false, unsubstantiated attacks that were allowed to be made against our employees who were professional, courteous, and did everything they could to ensure that every one of our guests at Main Event is completely satisfied.”

In a note above the press release, the vice president of the PR firm representing Main Event, Open Channels Group, requested that Dallas Voice remove previous stories about the incident.

“Main Event Entertainment management would appreciate your review of their investigation and respectfully requests that stories be updated and that inaccurate previous versions be removed in lieu of these facts,” Open Channel’s Anthony Spangler wrote. “After reviewing this release, we believe you will agree that the previous one-sided coverage does not reflect your publication’s standard of fairness, balance, and journalistic integrity.”

After interviewing the couple about their allegations, Dallas Voice immediately contacted Main Event in Plano and the company’s corporate office for our initial story Tuesday. Johnson said she didn’t want to comment until she had spoken to the couple.

Alberto Lesmes said he and his partner, Chad Hemp, were told they were not family and asked to leave after a manager at the Plano Main Event told them they were a problem when they wanted to switch bowling lanes. They switched once because of technical difficulties with the lane and wanted to switch again after a child from a group next to them kept using their lane.

Video footage, register transactions and employee interviews were reviewed during the investigation and “facts refute the derogatory claims made by the guests,” according to the company’s latest press release. The release states that the couple were told the venue was a family place to indicate that children would be present and were not told to leave. It also alleges the couple used profanity and racial slurs when speaking to management.

Johnson did not return calls or emails Friday inquiring whether Dallas Voice could review the video footage.

Hemp admitted to using profanity when he asked management to switch lanes the second time. He said he told the manager, “This is fucking ridiculous” after their conversation became heated.

Lesmes then came over to speak to the manager and Hemp stepped away. Lesmes said he apologized for Hemp’s language and was calm with the manager. He explained they wanted to be in a lane that was not next to an overcrowded one because the one next to them had about 15 people bowling in it and a child kept using their lane.

That was when the manager explained that Main Event is a family environment. Lesmes said he understands the manager meant kids would be there, but he took offense when the manager told him  he and Hemp were not a family after Lesmes told the manager that he was also there with his family and pointed to his partner. He asked the manager several times to clarify why he and his partner were not considered family, but the manager did not respond, he said.

Lesmes said they were asked to leave, but a server who walked up during the conversation jumped in and said he and Hemp could come over to the bar to finish their drinks since they hadn’t been there very long.

Like the company, Lesmes alleges the incident has been misconstrued by some media outlets that have picked up the story.

“We were asked to leave because the manager said to my face that we are not family,” he said.

When asked if racial slurs were used, Lesmes said “absolutely not.”

“It had nothing to do with any kind of racial issue,” he said. “We’re an interracial couple.”

Main Event staff called Lesmes to talk about the incident earlier this week, but he was dealing with a death in the family, so he couldn’t speak at the time. He said the company releasing a statement about the investigation being closed without speaking to him and his partner shows “that they don’t care.”

Hemp said he initially wanted something more than just an apology, but he said Friday that’s the only thing the couple wants, adding that they don’t expect to receive one.

Read Main Event’s full statement below.

Main Event Investigation

—  Anna Waugh

Main Event says there was ‘no effort to discriminate’ against gay Plano couple

Posted on

Alberto Lesmes, right, and his partner Chad Hemp.

After a preliminary investigation into a gay couple’s claims they were told they weren’t family and asked to leave Main Event’s Plano location Sunday, the company says there was “no effort to discriminate.”

Main Event spokeswoman Amy Johnson emailed a statement to Dallas Voice Wednesday afternoon, explaining that the company was investigating the incident by talking to staff and reviewing video footage from Sunday.

“We employ and cater to guests from all walks of life, including the LGBT community,” the statement reads in part. “We are very protective of any family’s experience at Main Event and take every complaint and the resolution of such — very seriously. Our preliminary investigation reveals that there was no effort to discriminate. We want to ensure all of our guests get to enjoy the full experience of ‘Eat, Bowl, Play.’”

Alberto Lesmes and partner Chad Hemp went bowling Sunday night and asked to switch lanes twice after technical difficulties and a child from a large group next them to kept bowling in their lane. The manager on duty allegedly told them they were just being difficult and that it was a family environment. Lesmes said they understood it was a family venue and that he was there with his family, pointing to his partner.

Lesmes said the manager told them they “were not family,” before refunding them and asking them to leave. He then called to speak to the manager Tuesday but was treated rudely and was referred to their corporate office. He said he was unable to get through to anyone at corporate.

Lesmes said Wednesday that someone from corporate did call him to speak about the incident, but he told them he would call back because he was dealing with a family matter at the time. He said he hoped to speak to them soon.

While Lesmes said he wanted the company to apologize, Hemp said he wanted something more concrete from the company.

“I don’t want him to apologize. I want something more done,” he said. “Maybe I’m reaching for something, but I am not second class. I am the same as everyone else and as for him to apologize that is not OK with me.”

Read Main Event’s full statement below.

Continue reading “Main Event says there was ‘no effort to discriminate’ against gay Plano couple” »

—  Anna Waugh

Friends start Facebook page to support gay-friendly businesses in Denton

Posted on

Kat Ralph

After an anti-gay encounter at a local bar where Kat Ralph and her friends often hang out, she turned to Facebook for support and launched a page as an online forum.

Ralph and about 10 friends were at Abbey Underground bar in Denton Saturday, Dec. 29, when a group of about 15 middle-aged adults started giving her and friends dirty looks, making them feel uncomfortable.

The looks went on for about an hour until one woman walked up to Ralph after she kissed her girlfriend. The woman put her hand in her mouth, gesturing as though she was going to vomit, and told Ralph she made her sick.

“She got in our faces and called us sick individuals,” she said.

Ralph’s friends approached management about intervening because they felt uncomfortable and wanted to have fun in the bar. Management refused to talk to the woman or the group she was with because it was a “he said, she said” situation, Ralph said, but they did offer to pay two of their tabs. So Ralph and her friends left.

“They [management] didn’t do anything,” she said, adding that she’d never had a bad experience there. “It was super disappointing.”

Continue reading “Friends start Facebook page to support gay-friendly businesses in Denton” »

—  Anna Waugh

WATCH: Fort Worth teen suspended for anti-gay comments films NOM video

Posted on

Dakota Ary

Dakota Ary, the Fort Worth teen who was suspended last year after he made anti-gay comments in class, is featured in a new video from the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage.

Ary was suspended after gay teacher Kris Franks sent him to the principal’s office for making anti-gay comments, which Franks said were part of ongoing anti-gay bullying from Ary.

Ary’s mom later hired Liberty Counsel lawyer Matt Krause — now the Republican nominee for Texas House District 93 — and the suspension was lifted. Franks was suspended for unrelated behavior, but the charges were later dropped.

Ary speaks about the incident in a NOM Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance video, where he talks about how his freedom of speech was violated and he encourages other people to speak up for what they believe in.

Ary’s mom is also in the video and talks about how parents should empower their children to stand up for their beliefs. She said Ary was targeted and called hateful names after his story made national headlines.

“Dakota is not a bigot. He is not someone who hates gay people,” she says in the video. “He’s not a hater in any way. And of all these organizations and companies that promote gay marriage and so on and so forth, for them to come back at him as a child is just ridiculous. I’m extremely proud of the fact that he did stand up for himself.”

Watch the video below.

Continue reading “WATCH: Fort Worth teen suspended for anti-gay comments films NOM video” »

—  Anna Waugh

Hate crime victims find home, hope from LGBT community’s support

Posted on

Joshua Harrison and Jeremy Jeffers

The Clarendon gay couple who found a death threat on their front porch Oct. 1 have now found a home with the help of the LGBT community.

Jeremy Jeffers and Joshua Harrison told Dallas Voice two weeks ago they planned to move to Amarillo, which is 60 miles north of Clarendon, as soon as they could get their finances in order.

The couple was struggling financially because they had lost their jobs and were facing discrimination from locals who had heard their story.

Harrison said that over the last few weeks, the LGBT blog Owldolatrous Press set up donations to help the couple move, raising about $2,700 from donors around the country.

He said Whitney Kelly, Equality Texas Foundation board chairman from Amarillo, has helped the couple find a home where they could keep their two dogs and two cats. Kelly gave them the check today. The couple will be moving Sunday.

“The gay community really came together and helped us out,” Harrison said. “I’m really grateful they helped us.”

Harrison’s partner Jeremy Jeffers was offered a job in Amarillo Friday and starts work next week, so Harrison said things have begun to look up for them.

“Things have been getting better,” he said. “People have really gone the extra mile to help us and we really appreciate it.”

Harrison said he and Jeffers hope to stay in Amarillo if the community is safe and accepting during the next year as they adjust to their new home.

—  Anna Waugh

Baylor gym ends family memberships, but gay discrimination case still open

Posted on
lead-01

WE ARE FAMILY | Alan Rodriguez, right, and his partner were denied a family membership at the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center, a popular gym in East Dallas. Rodriguez alleges Baylor is violating the city’s ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodations. (Anna Waugh/Dallas Voice)

The Tom Landry Fitness Center in East Dallas recently stopped offering family memberships, but the discrimination case filed last year after the gym refused to sell a family membership to a gay couple is still open.

The gym owned by Baylor Health Care System refused to sell Alan Rodriguez and his partner of 10 years a family membership in February 2011.

Phil Tyne, director of Baylor’s Tom Landry Fitness Center, told Instant Tea that the gym stopped offering family memberships three months ago because it lowered overall costs and now only offers individual memberships.

“We decided to lower all rates across the board,” he said.

Tyne said he was aware that the gym was involved in a discrimination case but said he did not know if the decision to change the membership structure was related to the case.

Rodriguez said he thought the problem had been resolved, though he had not heard that the memberships were no longer offered.

“Sounds like they both increased revenue and avoided providing discriminatory and potentially illegal services,” he told Instant Tea.

Beverly Davis, assistant director of Dallas’ Fair Housing Office, said the case is still waiting for a determination from the city attorney’s office, which is the same status it had back in June when it was featured in a Dallas Voice cover story about the 10-year anniversary of the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance.

Davis said she was unaware of any attempt at a settlement with Baylor regarding the case and said the membership decision appeared to be separate.

—  Anna Waugh

WATCH: Surveillance video of Austin hate crime during Pride weekend

Posted on

The man pictured in the center with a baseball cap and glasses is the attacker Austin police are still trying to identify.

Austin police released surveillance footage this morning of an assault on two gay men during Austin Pride weekend on Sept. 21.

The video shows Nick Soret ordering pizza when a man speaks to him, then knocks his pizza out of his hands. His friend, Andrew Oppleman, intervene and the suspect begins punching Oppleman. Oppleman lost six teeth and suffered a fractured jaw in the attack.

The video was obtained from the pizza truck owner.

The video shows another man who walks up with the attacker. Police arrested Jin Yung Park, 31, that night for public intoxication, but since the incident, he has moved and hasn’t returned police phone calls, Austin’s KVUE reports.

The attacker is described as an Asian male in his late 20s or early 30s and is about 6 feet tall with a muscular build.

Police are still looking for witnesses and are investigating the incident as an anti-gay hate crime.

“It’s crucial. The high-quality security video shows the assault as plain as day,” APD Cpl. Anthony Hipolito told KVUE. “You can see it even though it is dark outside. The assault was clear. You can see who this guy is.”

GetEQUAL TX is planning a March Against Hate event tomorrow morning where participants will march to the state Capitol and hear from victims of hate crimes, including Oppleman.

Watch the video below.

Continue reading “WATCH: Surveillance video of Austin hate crime during Pride weekend” »

—  Anna Waugh

Rally for victim of anti-gay hate crime in Austin rescheduled for this weekend

Posted on

A forecast of heavy rain and flooding in Austin this past weekend forced GetEQUAL TX to postpone a March Against Hate event for a victim of an anti-gay hate crime.

The event has been moved to Saturday, Oct. 6. Those who attend will still meet at Austin City Hall at 11:45 a.m. and march to the Capitol at noon, followed by remarks by several speakers.

Among those speakers will be Andrew Oppleman, a gay man who attended Austin Pride with a friend and was beaten when he tried to protect his friend from the attacker.

Speakers may be added to the schedule because of the changed date. Check here for updates.

—  Anna Waugh

72-year-old woman faces hate crime enhancement for choking gay neighbor

Posted on

Wanda Derby

A Richland Hills woman has been indicted for the assault of her gay neighbor after she allegedly beat and choked him with her cane while screaming “faggot” back in March.

Wanda Jena Derby, 72, became upset when her adult son began moving in with neighbor Lloyd Guerrero and his family on March 28, Richland Hills police Detective Tye Bell said previously. She allegedly approached Guerrero and beat him with her cane, yelling “faggot” and trying to choke him.

Bell said Derby told police she was afraid Guerrero would give her son AIDS because he was gay.

Guerrero suffered bruises to his body and neck but was treated at the scene by police.

Derby was initially charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony, but was indicted Sept. 14 on a charge of assault causing bodily injury, a Class-A misdemeanor.

Christopher McGregor, the assistant district attorney assigned to the case, said Derby’s case was presented to the grand jury as a felony, but they returned it as a misdemeanor indictment.

McGregor said the language in the indictment was used to try to convince a jury that the assault was a hate crime, which could increase Derby’s sentence.

According to the indictment, Derby caused bodily injury to Guerrero “by hitting him with a cane or by hitting him with her hand, or by pinning his neck to a wall with a cane.”

The indictment also states that Derby “intentionally selected Lloyd Guerrero as the victim of the offense” because of her “bias or prejudice against a person or a group, namely: Homosexuals.”

Texas’ hate crimes statute doesn’t allow a misdemeanor to be enhanced to a felony, but would require a minimum of 180 days in jail. Punishment for a Class A misdemeanor is up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine, according to the Texas Penal Code.

Derby faces another misdemeanor assault charge for allegedly striking Guerrero’s mother when she tried to intervene in the attack. A pre-trial conference for both cases is scheduled for Oct. 31.

Guerrero told Instant Tea that he’s healed emotionally since the March assault and no longer harbors angry feelings toward Derby. He and his family moved out of the apartment complex within a week of the attack, he said.

He said 180 days in jail as a minimum punishment if Derby is convicted is a good thing, and he agrees that amount of time is enough for justice to be served and Derby to learn her lesson.

“Even though she did something terrible, people make mistakes. It’s not something she should ever be happy about,” he said. “I’m to the point where I can forgive her.”

Guerrero is focusing on getting his Project: Blue Voice organization classified as a nonprofit. He started the group after his hate crime attack to share the stories of others who have been attacked for being who they are. He said he’s already planning to visit schools in the coming months to start a dialogue about hate and bullying.

—  Anna Waugh