The man arrested in the beating of a parole officer from Marietta has confessed to the crime and the incident does not appear to be a random act, according to a press release from the Atlanta Police Department.
Atlanta Bear Fest begins today and wraps up Monday with a farewell brunch, bringing together hirsute men who love men and those who love them for a weekend of growling and prowling.
This year’s theme, “Lock Down,” conjures up some sexy images of guards and prisoners. And apparently security is going to be tight — check out these “secret memos” from the “warden.”
Atlanta police still need to apologize for Eagle raid
Re: “Atlanta police want to sweeten relationship with LGBT community” (News, May 28)
Of course they want to sweeten the relationship. They are tired of being sued.
Except for [GA Voice Deputy Editor Dyana Bagby’s] astute, articulate articles, and [Eagle lawsuit attorney] Dan Grossman’s comprehensive legal expertise, there has been no sense that anyone, including the APD, the City of Atlanta, or our local LGBT so-called leaders have had the slightest clue about the seriousness and legalities of what happened at the Eagle. If the police and the city had, even after the fact, realized the gravity of their actions, they wouldn’t have taken the “underwear dancing” case to trial. And the police would have apologized formally by now for their Gestapo-like actions in September.
Gay activists hope new chief has ideas on how to rebuild trust
Senior Patrol Officer Patricia Powell, the new LGBT liaison for the Atlanta Police Department, has stopped in at least one gay-owned business to introduce herself as part of her new duties.
“My initial thought [of Powell] is I’m impressed,” said Philip Rafshoon, owner of Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse, who said Powell dropped into his store about two weeks ago and also attended the Pearl Cleage reading on May 20.
Mayor Kasim Reed pledged earlier this year that Atlanta would have at least two fulltime LGBT police liaisons, but confusion remains as to whether Powell’s appointment truly fulfills that goal.
Anniversary weekend begins tonight at Atlanta Eagle
Damage to city’s reputation, budget could have been limited
Atlanta mayor hopes his actions and record will mend rift from bruising campaign
UPDATE II: Mayor's office responds to our blog.
It’s a frustrating fact of being a small media outlet, whether gay or straight. Often, politicians try to avoid taking a stand on controversial issues until the volume of media coverage forces them to get involved. And also often, what finally gets their attention is TV.
The Eagle raid has been compared to the 1969 police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a New York City gay bar, that is credited with sparking the modern gay rights movement.
How do the two raids really stack up? We asked Scott Titshaw, professor at Mercer University School of Law, who teaches “Sexual Orientation and the Law.”