CHICAGO ARSON AT 'VELVET ROPE' GAY CLUB

The wave of domestic terrorism continues, this time at THE VELVET ROPE, in Oak Park.

The blaze Sunday morning gutted the Velvet Rope, at 728 Lake St. The club's owner, Frank Elliott, said derogatory messages were scrawled on the wall inside the burned-out club. Authorities were seen removing a piece of a wall and loading it onto a truck.

Authorities have not said whether they believe the business was targeted because it was a gay club.

I have no idea whether any of these arson events are connected, or if there's a copycat factor. Even one individual acting alone is committing terrorism when the intent is to cause terror in any community. Period.

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ANTIGAY HATE MURDERS UP YEAR-OVER-YEAR

GAY, SORTA, DISCRIMINATION AT A STRAIGHT CLUB?

Next Mag posts a screed about an incident at the Standard. Someone came on a nongay and non-gay friendly night.

If a club wants to cater to a gay clientele it needs to be open and accepting all the time, every night of the week.

Okay, I agree, but, wait. This one-gay-night-a-week thing at club venues has been going on for a lo-o-o-o-ng time around here. You're just noticing? C'mon Next.

I always saw the phenom as something of a half-step backward. The outcome is practically guaranteed.

Gay club life has been of the floating party variety in New York for some time. Sensitivity training for staff is a start, but how long does that stick?

This could be sorted out rather easily, with a solution I have in mind. It would take a little work, though, and perhaps the party givers don't have the time to spare.

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