Vermont lost a champion of gay rights Friday, a Williston woman who became an unlikely face of the push for civil unions in the state more than a decade ago. Helena Anderson Blair, 89, died Friday at Fletcher Allen Health Care. The Burlington Free Press reports that Blair became a face of the gay rights movement in Vermont in 2000, during the fierce debate over legalizing civil unions in the state. She wrote a letter to her state senator, James Leddy, explaining her support of gay rights."I can only say that God blessed us with eight children," wrote Blair, who was 78 at the time. "God made no mistake when he created homosexuals when he gave us our son." Leddy was so impressed that at a town meeting in Jericho, where tensions ran high between supporters and detractors of the law, he read Blair's letter to the crowd. To his surprise, Blair was present that day. "There was complete silence after I read the letter," Leddy said. "Then this little woman with white hair stood up and said, 'I'm Helena Blair.' The place went crazy." Leddy said that he chose to read the letter because it was so moving."What Helena Blair did was humanize an issue that had been demonized," Leddy said in an interview Friday night. "She put a human face on it, that of a son and a brother." Blair's letter was widely circulated, and she would go on to become a spokesperson for organizations like Vermont Freedom to Marry and Vermonters for Civil Unions. Her letter to Leddy has subsequently been cited in two different academic works involving studies of acceptance of gay marriage. The son, to whom Blair referred, Lawrence Blair, said Friday that his mother's support of gay rights began decades earlier. "Ever since I came out when I was a UVM student back in 1974, my mother has been a supporter of gays and lesbians," Lawrence Blair said. "Even back then, when the gay rights movement hadn't taken off yet." Even after Vermont became the first state to legislate civil unions 11 years ago, Helena Blair remained a staunch advocate of gay rights. In a 2006 My Turn Column published by the Burlington Free Press, Blair praised Williston schools for their anti-bullying program and highlighted the need to support gay teens. "My fervent hope and prayer is that we'll stop bullying or trying to force our personal beliefs on each other and instead fill our hearts with love and peace," Blair wrote in the column. Blair, a Catholic, was distraught that her church didn't support gay rights but reconciled her religious beliefs with what she thought was so clearly right, her son said. "This is not about statistics or Biblical interpretation," Blair wrote in her letter 11 years ago to Leddy. "This is about a Williston family with a son who 26 years ago said he was gay." Leddy said Friday night that "She spoke so simply and eloquently -- a woman who showed love and support for her gay son without contradicting her faith."
Police in Seattle are investigating a possible hate crime in the Genesee Hill area of the city. West Seattle Blog reports a gay couple had rocks thrown the car’s windows and all four tires were slashed. One of the rocks’ held a typed message that read: God Hates Fags! Get the fuck out of our neighbourhood. The bible says God forbids men committing indecent act with other men. Pack up your shit and get you gay shit out. - KKK “
Holding up picket signs and handing out fliers, about 30 protesters showed up early Saturday afternoon at the new Hollywood, California Chick-fil-A to demonstrate against what they call the restaurant’s support of anti-gay policies. The Hollywood Patch reports that the protesters say Chick-fil-A donates money to groups, including Focus on the Family and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which oppose gay rights. “It’s about civil rights,” said Ken Howard, one of the organizers. “It’s not anti-Christian. It is pro-civil rights and against hate groups.” Although some passers-by blew horns in support of the protesters, others did not allow the picketers to stand in the way of their chicken meals. A drive-thru line that wrapped around Highland Avenue was proof. Abbi Hamilton, who ate at the new Chick-fil-A for the first time today, wasn’t sure how she felt about the protest. “I want to go home and do my own research,” Hamilton said. “You can find something wrong with anything.” Jenn Schilling, with a Chick-fil-A bag in hand, is a transplant from Atlanta, Chick-fil-A’s home base. She said she applauds the efforts of the protesters. “I think they’re right, and I’m proud of them for showing up and bringing awareness,” Schilling said. Reynold Watkins, another organizer, helped distribute fliers that read in part, say no to homophobia. “We hope to get the word out that Chick-fil-A has been funding gay groups especially the lie that there are no gay people just people who make immoral lifestyle choices,” Watkins said. Chick-fil-A representatives would not publicly comment on today’s protest, instead referring to a prepared statement that reads: “At Chick-fil-A, we have a genuine commitment to hospitality for all of our guests. We are not anti-anybody and have no agenda, policy or position against anyone as some continue to confuse with misleading reports. We have a 65-year history of providing hospitality for all people and, as a dedicated family business, serving and valuing everyone regardless of their beliefs or opinions. We support a number of organizations that enrich the communities where we serve daily. Some of these organizations are faith-based and marriage focused and others are not. These donations have not been given to support an anti-gay political agenda.”
In Los Angeles, California, The Eastsider reports that the original location of A Different Light Bookstore’s, located in Silver Lake, was demolished Saturday. Opened in 1979 by Norman Laurila and George Leigh, the book shop eventually opened locations in West Hollywood, San Francisco, and New York. The Silver Lake location closed in 1992.
Thursday, an oblivious Justin Bieber on set of a video shoot in Los Angeles flashes his perky purple briefs, and then heads to the aforementioned Chick-fil-A.
Early Saturday, a sexy, sweaty Prince Harry exits the Public Nightclub sporting a band-aid on his middle finger.
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