Tennessee Restaurant Throws Out Anti-Gay Lawmaker

[highplainsdem]

From ThinkProgress:

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/01/30/414125/tennessee-restaurant-throws-out-anti-gay-lawmaker/

A restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee refused to serve state Sen. Stacey Campfield, the man who sponsored the state’s “don’t say gay” bill, compared homosexuality to bestiality, and most recently told Michelangelo Signorile that it’s virtually impossible to spread HIV/AIDS through heterosexual sex. “I hope that Stacy Campfield now knows what if feels like to be unfairly discriminated against,” the Bistro at the Bijou wrote on its Facebook wall on Sunday.

-snip-

That TP article links to this blog:

http://seanbraisted.blogspot.com/2012/01/customer-isnt-always-right.html

There is nothing inconsistent or incoherent about discriminating against those with power who actively discriminate against those without power. There is no difference between refusing to serve David Duke than there is Stacey Campfield. While Campfield's views may currently have more resonance among the American populace, it doesn't change the fact that he wishes discrimination against people based on who they are.

I hope Campfield was refused service for his advocacy of abhorrent beliefs, and I would hope that Nashville establishments would do the same to Stacey and the many other advocates of discrimination within the legislature. As long as the enemies of tolerance and compassion are given aid and comfort by the society at large, they will continue their evil deeds.

An update on that blog links to another blog with this post:

http://blogs.metropulse.com/the_daily_pulse/2012/01/campfield-kicked-out-of-gay-st.html

You might think, given his "Don't Say Gay" legislation, that state Sen. Stacey Campfield might stay away from eateries on Gay Street, but no, yesterday he tried to have brunch at Bistro at the Bijou. We say "tried" because owner Martha Boggs told him to leave.

"I didn't want his hate in my restaurant," Boggs said in a interview this morning. "I told him he wasn't welcome here. ... I feel like he's gone from being stupid to being dangerous, and I wanted to stand up to him."

-snip-

UPDATE: Boggs will be on Michelangelo Signorile's show on the XM OutQ channel at 2:30 to talk about denying Stacey Campfield service. Signorile hosted the interview last week in which Campfield said that straight people basically can't get AIDS. Oh, and we have contacted Campfield for comment, but we have yet to hear anything back.

Link to Boggs' Facebook post, which currently has over 1100 Likes:

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150631803994283&id=68978679282

[JNelson6563]

1. Martha Boggs: Hero ~~ Stacey Campfield: Zero

[closeupready]

2. Fine with me. K&R

nt

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended, for some reason I'm reminded of this scene from the movie

movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?"

Thanks for the thread, highplainsdem.

[bullwinkle428]

4. K&R. If I lived in Tennessee, I'd be making reservations to eat at Bistro on the Bijou

every day this week!

[Fawke Em]

16. I live about three or four miles from there.

Will be eating there soon, I tell ya!

[highplainsdem]

58. I would, too!

[66 dmhlt]

70. Be sure to look for The Bistro's new Menu sign featuring "+ No Stacey"!

[Nye Bevan]

5. To be consistent, they should not admit Barack Obama either,

until he announces that he supports marriage equality.

[VWolf]

6. While I understand your point,

I think that's a bit of a stretch.

[onenote]

13. No. To be consistent, they shouldn't admit President Obama if

he sponsors a “don’t say gay” bill, compares homosexuality to bestiality, and publicly claims that it’s virtually impossible to spread HIV/AIDS through heterosexual sex.

Since the President hasn't done any of those things there would be nothing inconsistent about serving him and not serving Campfield.

But nice hyperbole.

[Nye Bevan]

17. The Bistro wanted Campfield to feel what it was like to be unfairly discriminated against.

Don't you think Obama is unfairly discriminating against gays by his opposition to marriage equality?

[LynneSin]

19. Have you been asleep all of last year?

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/07/barack_obama_doma.php

I would suspect repealing DOMA and telling the justice department to not defend any DOMA lawsuits pretty much is a sign that Obama supports marriage equality.

Plus he was able to repeal DADT

[Nye Bevan]

20. He hasn't retracted "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman".

And until he does I wll not give him a pass on this issue. If someone claims to be non-racist but states that blacks should not be allowed to marry whites, I would have a similar view.

Just think how awesome an "I was wrong. I support marriage equality" speech would be.

[LynneSin]

29. Figures

I doubt Obama could do anything to change your mind. So not even worth arguing about it.

Even if he did do the speech you'd probably find something else that wasn't 'just perfect' in your eyes.

[Nye Bevan]

32. "I was wrong. I now support marriage equality. I urge every state to legislate accordingly"

would do it 100% for me. Wouldn't you like him to make that speech?

[LynneSin]

37. I would like for him to make one of about hundred various "I was wrong, I now support <issue here>

I never ever expected Obama to be perfect, but one only needs to watch 10 minutes of any of the recent GOP debates to realize he is still the best choice for 2012. If I waited for him to be the perfect candidate I would love to support I'd die an old woman still waiting for that perfect candidate.


But I still give kudos to Obama for making some of the best advancements of any president EVER in regards to civil rights for the GLBT community. Is it perfect? Heck No. But it's still strong step forwards especially with the request that DOMA be overturned and that the justice department no longer procescute DOMA cases.

[Nye Bevan]

40. No question, Obama is better than any Republican and I will definitely vote for him.

But I'm not going to throw my gay friends under the bus by pretending that his position on marriage equality is anything less than disgraceful. Baby steps towards repealing anti-miscegenation laws would not be acceptable, and this is equivalent to what he is doing on marriage equality.

[LynneSin]

42. Oddly enough most of my Gay friends have seen hope with what is happening in DC

and realize that we need to work harder to make it happen.

Obama has set the groundwork for DOMA to be repealed via the Supreme Court. THe justices he has appointed will support the repeal and at this time we're probably 4-4 with Kennedy being the wild card. There really isn't a whole lot of anything else Obama can do other than appointing judges that will protect civil rights and signal to congress that he would support the repeal.

Maybe words are important to you but what I see is action. He's done what he has said he would do. Now it's up to Congress and/or SCOTUS to make this happen.

[Nye Bevan]

43. Not much else he can do

other than admit that he was wrong when said that gay people should not be allowed to get married. And use his bully pulpit and formidable speaking skills to show leadership on this issue and urge the states to pass legislation allowing for marriage equality. Words *are* important, when they come from the President. When JFK made his anti-Jim Crow speech in the 1960s he showed true leadership in that fight.

[LynneSin]

45. Again the list is a mile long for things he could make the same exact speech

Hell I'm still pissed about that decision he made about Plan B although they found a way to loophole around it later on.

Point is this, really?

I've heard enough words to realize they don't mean shit to me unless action is done.

But whatever. I mean I just hope you aren't holding your breath waiting for these things. As for me I'd rather get out there and help support the action that is occuring now.

Geez, it's like arguing with a fundie, where they feel the only way to be saved is just by saying "I believe" and your actions don't matter; whereas anyone who has done any studies on the gospels realize that it is your action that you will be best remembered by".

[Nye Bevan]

50. Expecting the President to show leadership on a basic civil rights issue,

is not unreasonable, I think. And I would not deride Presidential leadership as "words that don't mean shit". The Gettysburg Address, for example, was "just words".

Obviously we both want the same thing. In every civil rights campaign there have always been incrementalists, content with baby steps, and those wanting decisive leadership and action. I am comfortable to be in the latter camp.

[LynneSin]

51. Unlike you, I'm not a single issue voter

I expect him to show leadership on MANY MANY MANY things. Why should civil rights be any more important than ending wars, jump starting the economy, providing healthcare for everyone, providing quality education for our children etc. etc. etc?



Personally, if he was a one-note president I'd be looking for another candidate since there would be hundreds of other notes he would be a total failure on.

As democrats this is our greatest failure with the single issue voters but thanks to the Tea Party - the republicans are becoming just as bad.

[Nye Bevan]

52. He has ended the Iraq war. He used his leadership to push through the Affordable Care Act.

He has ended the recession and reduced unemployment. He is pushing for millionaires to be taxed fairly.

He is far from being a one-note President. But along with everything else, a little civil rights leadership would be very welcome.

[LynneSin]

55. OMG really?

I might as well find a brick wall because I might be able to get a better argument?

Obama pushed thru repealing DADT, he has said DOMA should be repealled.

Should I just tape record a message to be replayed each time you reply?

I mean I know that no matter what Obama says in regards to civil rights for GLBT you won't be happy. So go ahead and repeat it again for me if you'd like - whatever makes you happy.

AND btw legislation has been intruduced in congress to repeal DOMA but last time my math checked we don't have the votes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act#Repeal_attempts

It needs 60 votes to survive the filibuster and no matter how 'fire & brimstone' Obama gets I highly doubt there is a single republican that would support it.

[Nye Bevan]

56. Repealing DOMA does not enable gay marriage.

Obama has stated that "marriage is between a man and a woman" because "God is in the mix".

Would you be happy if he retracted this nonsense and used his bully pulpit to push for marriage equality?

Perhaps he is waiting to hear from God; a message, perhaps, in which he "takes Himself out of the mix"?

[_ed_]

22. "God is in the mix"

Offensive on so many levels. Support for marriage equality would entail getting in front of a podium and expressing your support for marriage equality.

DOMA was repealed? Was I sleeping?

[LynneSin]

28. Did you read the link

Obama stated that DOMA should be repealed.

[_ed_]

35. I saw that

Has it been repealed? Pretty words don't count.

[LynneSin]

41. Really, do you know what is happening here?

DOMA will never EVER be repealled by Congress. We're too greatly divided to make that happen. But what Obama has done is to set this case up so that in reality we just need one good DOMA style case to make it to the Supreme Court that we could feasibly see it overturned. (RIght now SCOTUS is at 4-4 with Kennedy being the wild card). With the Justice department no longer supporting this we could see this bill be repealed by SCOTUS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act#Repeal_attempts

On September 15, 2009, three Democratic members of Congress, Jerrold Nadler of New York, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, and Jared Polis of Colorado, introduced legislation to repeal DOMA called the Respect for Marriage Act. The bill had 91 original co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.[43][44] However, Congressman Barney Frank and John Berry, head of the Office of Personnel Management, did not support that effort, stating that "the backbone is not there" in Congress. Frank and Berry suggested DOMA could be overturned more quickly through lawsuits such as Gill v. Office of Personnel Management filed by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.[45][46]

On February 23, 2011, following Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement that the Obama Administration would no longer defend DOMA Section 3 in court, Senator Dianne Feinstein announced her intent to introduce legislation in the Senate Judiciary Committee to repeal DOMA.[47] On March 16, 2011, the Respect for Marriage Act was re-introduced in both houses during the 112th Congress. The House version was introduced by Nadler,[48] and the Senate version by Feinstein.[49] The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 in favor of advancing the bill to the Senate floor, where it would require 60 votes in order to end a potential fillibuster.[50]

What we need is a strong case to get to the Supreme Court - 'Roe V Wade' bill that could make the difference in overturning this bill. If that happens - it won't matter what the law is in the states, it would legalize it everywhere.

[FreeState]

49. Actually no - DOMA repeal will not make marriage equality everywhere

Mind you the DOMA cases in court now were started before Obama took office. I appreciate his not defending the law, regardless of that the law will be judged based on law not what Obama is doing.

When DOMA is gone, and it will be, it will enable the federal government to recognize marriages performed in states hat have marriage equality. It will not make marriage equality in every states.

[MNBrewer]

72. You "suspect"?

Until the words "I support full marriage equality" come out of his mouth, I'll just go with his last statement, that "God's in the mix."

[emulatorloo]

78. Dumbass False Equivalency.

Obama justice dept refuses to enforce DOMA

Obama push to successfully end DADT. Repealing DOMA apparently next on the agenda.

No Obama push to stop marriage equality in states that have it.

He's been consistent in opposing attempts to limit the rights of same-sex couples.

So no, Obama is not "the same" as Stacey Campfield.

Yes Obama should come out with a strong statement for marriage equality.

But claims that he is the same as Campfield are silly.

[Nye Bevan]

79. "Marriage is between a man and a woman..... God is in the mix...."

Repealing DOMA does *not* legalize gay marriage where it is currently illegal.

And while Obama is not as bad as Campfield, until he retracts his previous statement opposing gay marriage I will not give him a pass on this issue.

[emulatorloo]

82. Who's giving him a "pass"?

I am irritated as hell that he will not make a strong positive statement in support of marriage equality.

However as you well know actions are louder than words. Obama's actions have consistently been in support of equal rights for gays, including full partnership rights for same-sex couples.

I have heard other politicians make similar statements about their religious beliefs about marriage. The difference is that most of those politicians follow through with egregious policy proposals and anti-gay legislation.

Obama is not the first person to have his thinking fucked up by religion. However, If you cannot distinguish between Obama's actions and views on gay rights as a whole, and Campbell's actions and views on gay rights, this is a problem with your thinking.

That's what my Mom used to call cutting your nose off to spite your face.

It isn't that "Obama is not as bad as Campfield" as you said.

It is that Campfield and his ilk are the mortal enemies of GLBT. While Obama is one of GLBT's allies, despite the his dumb/muddled statements on marriage equality.

Additionally the "god is in the mix" statement isn't the last word.

TIMELINE: Tracking Barack Obama’s Position On Marriage Equality
By Zack Ford on Jun 22, 2011 at 1:20 pm ThinkProgress
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/06/22/250931/timeline-barack-obama-marriage-equality/

I am ready for him to fucking evolve his thinking already. Everybody who wants to get married should have the right to marry.

P.S. I know what DOMA is.

[Nye Bevan]

83. I'm still going to vote for him.

But I think it would be awesome if a gay-owned restaurant refused him entry, or a gay waiter refused to serve him, because of his opposition to gay marriage. I would like to think that this might shock him into doing the right thing.

[emulatorloo]

85. Yes, he needs to step up and say the right thing.

No disagreement from me on that.

[xchrom]

7. .

[GoCubsGo]

8. If I am ever in Knoxville...

...I will certainly make it a point to have at least one meal at the Bistro on the Bijou.

[Bruce Wayne]

9. A real American hero

"Sorry, homophobes. We don't serve your kind here."

[DonRedwood]

10. In the old days we would have just spit in his food

NEVER make your waiter/waitress mad!! I worked with this guy who would spit in food of customers he didn't like. He was especially horrible to return customers who were bad tippers or rude.

I'll admit, I'm SUPER nice to restaurant staff now, out of fear! Please don't spit in my food!

(I do not condone spitting in people's food, have never done it and I hope nobody has done it to me!!)

[Rex]

11. They have the right to refuse business

to anyone they want.

[nobodyspecial]

12. It's this guy's right as a private business owner.

But think of the outcry here if the roles are reversed.

[closeupready]

14. "think of the outcry here if the roles are reversed" - this is a progressive board, and I do HOPE

there would be an outcry if the roles were reversed.

[nobodyspecial]

25. I'm sure there would be

But I think you are missing the point. Should we be celebrating exclusionary tactics like this? If we don't want certain groups discriminated against, should we be applauding when others are?

[LanternWaste]

39. I often discriminate against hate groups...

I often discriminate against hate groups, enablers of hate groups, racists, Klan members and homophobes-- they're bad for business, it's perfectly legal, and I'm ethically justified.


Unless of course you believe Mildred Loving (ne: Loving v. Virginia) should openly embrace members of the Klan who happened to walk into her neighborhood....?

[closeupready]

46. If the bigot is being excluded, then yes we should celebrate when they are being discriminated again

against.

Not sure why that's such a mystery to you. Are you in FAVOR of discrimination or bigotry against gay people?

[Rex]

81. I don't think that is what the poster ment.

[Bluerthanblue]

80. the owner wasn't targeting this man because of his group affiliation-

she asked him to leave because of his public statements against 'certain groups' and his spreading mis-information about HIV- AIDS. She said she considered him a bully.

That is perfectly acceptable. He, individually was refused service because his own words and actions. There is a difference imo.

there's a statement from the owner further down on the thread which is worth seeing.

[_ed_]

23. What?

Shouldn't there be an outcry when a business owner of public accommodation refuses service based on sexual orientation?

[nobodyspecial]

26. This isn't based on orientation. It is based on political beliefs and actions.

Would you want a heterosexual supporter of equal access to marriage be refused service?

[_ed_]

36. Do you understand public accommodation laws?

I have no idea what you're getting at.

[nobodyspecial]

38. Yes, I understand you can't discriminate against people based on color, sex, etc.

This guy was refused service based on his beliefs. Should liberals be denied service based on their beliefs? Would you applaud as loudly if Sanders was not allowed to dine at a restaurant owned by a conservative?

[_ed_]

44. You don't understand public acommodation

You have the right to refuse service for a number of reasons. They don't include things like sex or race. They do include things like: "no shirt no shoes no service."

This merchant is keeping bigoted, stupid people out of his restaurant. Being a stupid fucking bigot is not a protected class under American jurisprudence.

[SomethingFishy]

59. Which people are the liberals taking rights away from?

Which people are the liberals hurting with their beliefs?

Which liberals are out there spreading this DEADLY LIE: "it’s virtually impossible to spread HIV/AIDS through heterosexual sex."

When a person spreads DANGEROUS LIES that could literally kill people, I believe it's a private business owners right to not allow those lies to be spread or endorsed in their place of business.

I understand the point and any business owner who wants to not allow "liberals" in their establishment can go ahead and do so. All that does is tell me where not to spend my money.

At some point a line must be drawn. This business found their line.

[msanthrope]

63. No--he was denied service because of his statements. The owner was very

clear on that. There's no protection from the logical consequences of idiot speech.

[MNBrewer]

73. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is not illegal in that state.

It happens all the time, with no legal recourse.

[LanternWaste]

31. Yes. Of course there should be an outcry

Yes. Of course there should be an outcry when a business owner refuses services based on sexual orientation.

But the owner isn't discriminating against anyone for their sexual orientation-- they are however, discriminating against someone for being a small-minded, half-educated, sub-literate, knuckle-dragging bigot-- which is of course, completely legal...

[Posteritatis]

54. The difference is that the reverse situation is wrong and this is not.

Sometimes things really are that simple.

[Fawke Em]

15. Here's a link that shows their sign:

http://www.wbir.com/news/article/203201/2/Sen-Stacey-Campfield-asked-to-leave-Knoxville-restaurant

Today's Special:
Fried Chicken,
Crispy Chicken Livers,
No Stacey.

[LynneSin]

18. If I was still waiting tables, Sen Campfield would be welcomed to dine at my tables.....

I've always got a few giant hockers that I could use to season his food and I'm sure the cooks wouldn't think twice of dropping his food on the floor before serving! And the Bartender creating his drinks would probably use their special Bar Rag mixer to create his drinks.

[xmas74]

61. As in

"Floor spice makes it all extra nice."

I remember those days.

[K Gardner]

24. I live in Knoxville, didn't see this thread, but posted a pic of the sign outside the Bistro today..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002242587

[highplainsdem]

76. Thanks!

[Ohio Joe]

27. Good

Fuckers like that need to have their asses kicked to the curb everywhere... Including their job.

[nobodyspecial]

30. So you would be for liberals getting fired because they are liberals?

If it's OK for one group to do it, it's OK for the other.

[Ohio Joe]

34. I would be ok with homophobic liars being voted out of office

In fact... I would be more then fine with that.

[Ohio Joe]

33. Take two minutes and send them your thanks

I got their email from their website, it is:

[email protected]

http://www.thebistroatthebijou.com/

Send them a nice Thank You note!

[Found in Yonkers]

47. DR

Stacey is a GIRL's name, Senator!

[white_wolf]

48. Well they just made a future customer in me.

Anyone who is willing to stand up for equal rights gets my support. My dad likes to take the family out to breakfast on the weekends to spend time with his grandkids, I'll have to suggest this place, if it isn't too expensive that is.

[usrname]

53. You know you're a real douche bag when

even Tennesseans think you're a douche bag.

[idiotgardener]

60. *sigh*

Do you see anything "douchey" about insulting an entire state, including the Tennessee DUers here?

[usrname]

66. Until Tennesseans can show a strong liberal bias,

Yes, I feel perfectly justified in lumping tennesseans among the red-state tea-partying blowhards. You have to earn your liberalness.

[stonecutter357]

74. K&R...

me to

[ingac70]

67. I'm from TN and I'm not insulted.

This state is over run with douchebags.

[47of74]

62. If I'm ever down in Knoxville again

I shall make it a point to have a meal at that place.

[bluestate10]

64. Good for the business owner. She stood up to a nazi-moron. nt

[WillyT]

65. HUGE K & R !!!

[awoke_in_2003]

68. "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold...

is for people of good conscience to remain silent"

It is good to see that some people choose not to remain silent. K&R

[earthbone]

69. Good for them..

but did they not set themselves up for a lawsuit?

[alcibiades_mystery]

71. On what basis?

[steven johnson]

75. Hate speech -- don't do the crime if you can't do the time

Putting all of the HIV ills on one group negatates the role of the Reagan Administration's "lack of leadership" on the disease "significantly hindered" HIV/AIDS research and prevention efforts.

Let he who is without fault cast the first stone.

[link:http://www.thebody.com/content/art10329.html|

[Enrique]

77. short interview with Martha Boggs

[closeupready]

84. I {heart} Martha Boggs!! When bravery comes as if by instinct, you just KNOW

you're dealing with an outstanding human being. I salute you, Ms. Boggs.