Singapore Police Raid Gay Sauna; arrest owner

by Ng Yi-Sheng
The Online Citizen

Last Friday, 25 April 2008, there was a police raid at a gay sauna named One Seven. Though none of the clients were arrested, the 74 year-old owner, Sam was injured by the supervising officer and arrested and jailed overnight for allegedly having assaulted the officer, a charge that he denies. No explanation was given for the raid – on being asked, the officers refused to produce a warrant and simply repeated over and over again that they were conducting a “spot check”.

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Police detain gay kisser

by Alan Markoff
Cay Compass

The Royal Cayman Islands Police detained a visiting homosexual man for kissing his partner on a dance floor last week.

The man, 23–year–old Aaron Chandler from Amherst, Massachusetts, was dancing at the Royal Palms last Wednesday night with his partner. His partner’s sister and brother–in–law also came along to the popular nightspot after they had all dined at Reef Grill.

While dancing, the two men kissed several times.

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Chicago police abuse

Three women claimed Thursday in a federal lawsuit that an off-duty Chicago police officer roughed them up and called them names because of their sexual orientation after this year's gay pride parade.

The lawsuit could become the latest black eye for the Chicago Police Department, which has faced tough questions lately about the actions of off-duty officers, among other problems.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit filed on behalf of Kelly Fuery, 36, Debra Sciortino, 32, and Nicole Tomaskovic, 25, were the police department, officer William Szura and two state troopers.

According to the lawsuit, a vehicle driven by Fuery came upon a car moving at 30 mph on Interstate 55 after the June 24 parade. Fuery beeped her horn, and Szura responded by slamming on his brakes, speeding up and switching lanes, making it impossible for Fuery to pass, the lawsuit said.

Fuery was forced to the shoulder, where Szura screamed words such as "dyke" and spit at her, according to the lawsuit. The women claim he stuck a gun in Fuery's abdomen, "causing her to fear for her life."

When Sciortino tried to step in, Szura shoved her, and she fell, the lawsuit said. When Tomaskovic drove up in another car and tried to help, Szura placed her in a chokehold, according to the suit.

In other Chicago police troubles, six members of an elite unit are accused of using their badges to shake down residents and intimidate people. One of those six was accused Wednesday of considering hiring gang members to kill a former colleague and potential witness against him.

In July, three off-duty officers pleaded not guilty to beating four businessmen in a bar in one of two videotaped confrontations that helped ramp up criticism of the department.

In the other case, an off-duty officer was caught on tape apparently beating a female bartender. The officer has pleaded not guilty.

Provincetown: Travel Warning update

Most of us think of Provincetown and "Gay Friendly" as coupled terms (like bread and butter). Maybe that's changing?

Richard (pictured) was visiting Provincetown this last weekend.

Richard decided to buy a pizza at Spiritus on Commercial Street. He left this well-known pizza parlor around 12:30 AM and as he walked down the street, came face to face with three men, one of whom calls him "faggot." Richard, as many of us would, replied with a "smart" comeback.

Richard continued his walk and within seconds felt a blow to his head. The last thing Richard thought to himself before he blacked out was "this is it, it's over..."

About an hour later he was awaken, on the beach, by Provincetown Police (they received an anonymous call). Officer Joudrey made the police report and sent Richard (distraught and confussed) on his way. Richard drove his vehicle back to his home town of New Bedford.

Around 12 noon the next day, Richard went to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford. At immediate sight, the orderly puts him in a wheelchair, administers an IV, and puts on a neck collar (due to obvious head trauma). Richard was asked when this happened. He responded, "around 12 hours ago." He is told by the doctor "that is when you should have gone to the hospital, 12 hours ago."

Richard phoned the Provincetown Police and asked "what are the police going to do about this" and was allegedly told, "there is nothing we can do because you told us that you couldn't identify the three men that did this, so it is best to leave it alone."

Up until yesterday at around 2pm, the brother of the owner of Spiritus Pizza, Carl Yingling, was unaware of any incident near his establishment. So it seems that the police did not contact Spiritus or check out its webcam to see if any of this was recorded that evening.

Folks, this is a federal hate crime! Why would the police dismiss it so casually? Are the Provincetown Police lazy or bigots?

http://knowthyneighbor.blogs.com/home/2007/09/is-provincetown.html

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Provincetown doesn't like gays

The Provincetown Police Chiefs' LACK OF ACTION allowed a woman to commit suicide (the Chief received 3 days off without pay - note: he already had the days off).

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/n1riw/ptnchief.htm

The Provincetown Police accused of gay bashing (throws a noncombative gay man into an object smashing his face).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x54545

And yet ANOTHER gay bashing in Provincetown (The victim was discovered unconscious at around 3 AM, lying on the beach covered in bruises, dried blood, and lacerations.)

http://livelovelearn247.blogspot.com/2007/09/another-gay-bashing-in-provincetown.html

These are three very recent articles which would suggest there is a major problem in Provincetown.

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TWO CALLS FOR THE RESIGNATION OF PFOX EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REGINA GRIGGS AFTER GROUP FABRICATES HATE CRIME

LOS ANGELES - Truth Wins Out called on PFOX Executive Director Regina Griggs to resign today for faking a hate crime incident at a the Arlington County Fair in Virginia. Griggs claimed that a gay activist at the PFOX booth physically attacked an "ex-gay" volunteer. She said that police intervened and ejected the assailant from the event. Ex-Gay Watch editor David Roberts investigated her claims and found that Griggs' story appears to be a complete fabrication.

"Once we started checking with people who would know, the evidence was overwhelming that it could not have happened the way they claimed," said David Roberts, Editor of Ex-Gay Watch. "Fair officials, the police, eyewitnesses - they all report that no physical attack took place, police were not involved, and no one was escorted off the property. PFOX claimed all those things, and Focus on the Family and other Christian media repeated the claims."

"Regina Griggs has lost all credibility and must resign in shame for her dishonest behavior," said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. "What PFOX did was warped, twisted and an insult to real hate crime victims."

"The entire notion of ex-gay is a big lie, so I can imagine it is not a difficult leap to take it to the next level and completely manufacture a fraudulent story for political and financial gain," added Besen. "The police, Arlington County Fair officials and eyewitnesses refute Griggs' story. She has a lot of explaining to do if she wants to save her reputation and keep her job."

Truth Wins OUT is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the "ex-gay" myth and educates America about gay life. For more information, visit www.TruthWinsOut.org.