Press Release....

[69forever]

Well, it seems repression is alive in Milwaukee. Two steps forward and one back.

Media Advisory

Contact: James Pennington, Executive Director

Phone: (414) 271-2656 ext.113

Or Patrick Flaherty, Director of Communit Relations (414) 232-5657
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 18, 2005


Police shut down of “Naked Boys Singing” raises questions of priorities and selective enforcement

Play’s director to speak to media at 8pm (Th 8-18) at Gay Arts Center, 703 S. 2nd Street

Milwaukee: According to Mark Hooker of Milwaukee Gay Arts Theater, the Milwaukee Police Department ‘s Vice Squad is shutting down tonight’s performance of the William Morris Agency-licensed production of “Naked Boys Singing,” a musical cabaret performance by naked adult men staged without incident in places like Houston, Portland, OR; San Diego, Chicago, Rome, South Africa and more.

Mark Hooker told LGBT Center staff that Police Detective Dan Wilcox ordered the performance shut down because of a question about whether it has the right small theater license. According to those associated with the Milwaukee performance, about thirty other Milwaukee venues also lack the license, which raises questions about selective enforcement.

“The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center thinks that legitimate questions are raised about whether closing a theater is an appropriate priority in the middle of a violent crime spree,” said James Pennington, Milwaukee LGBT Community Center Executive Director. Pennington also wants more facts to make sure that antigay bias and selective enforcement aren’t behind the forced closing by police action.


Patrick Flaherty
Director of Community Relations
Milwaukee LGBT Community Center
315 W. Court Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(414) 271-2656x112
fax (414) 271-2161

 

[Etoile]

Oh christ. I wonder what they were charged with. Being artists?

 

[Sallad]

Oh christ. I wonder what they were charged with. Being artists?

Probably some form of public indecency...but it couldn't be any worse than going to a strip club. If they paid to see naked people dance or sing, and those naked people aren't being incredibly lewd (like sex on stage or something) then I can't see the problem in this.

The article brought up another good point. Here in Dallas there is apparently a whole task force dedicated to making sure a stripper doesn't break the 3 inch rule, but the violent crime rate here is one of the highest in the country!!!

 

[Brinnie]

Milwaukee = Close minded closet case hick town.

Good luck shutting them down in Portland.

 

[69forever]

Probably some form of public indecency...but it couldn't be any worse than going to a strip club. If they paid to see naked people dance or sing, and those naked people aren't being incredibly lewd (like sex on stage or something) then I can't see the problem in this.

The article brought up another good point. Here in Dallas there is apparently a whole task force dedicated to making sure a stripper doesn't break the 3 inch rule, but the violent crime rate here is one of the highest in the country!!!

Yeah, the murder rate is over 90 so far this year here. Like go get some of the bad guys off the street. Easier picking on the Queers.

 

[69forever]

Milwaukee = Close minded closet case hick town.

Good luck shutting them down in Portland.

I'll agree to disagree. Milwaukee has an active and open LGBT community and culture. Don't knock it unless you've been here. The West coast isn't the center of civilization......

 

[ezervet]

Yeah, it sounds like selective enforcement to me. Doesn't seem to be any sort of vice squad thing, just a "hey lets go stick it to the queers" vis-a-vis standard regulations. I suppose the lesson would be that if you're going to be putting on a show that might attract attention from those who are not, shall we say, your biggest fans, that you should make sure to have all your ducks in a row.

Of course, in the interest of avoiding victimizing ourselves, there may be other possible explanations. Perhaps there's a code/regulation enforcement push going on in Milwaukee. Have other theaters been shut down over licensing issues recently? As for the whole vice squad vs. violent crime, i'd imagine its about a couple of things, like revenue from fines, the press release quality of saying you're "protecting the children" etc. etc. Besides, the guys working the vice squad aren't necessarily the guys i'd wanting investigating an assualt on my person, ya know?

 

[Shankara20]

Probably some form of public indecency...but it couldn't be any worse than going to a strip club. If they paid to see naked people dance or sing, and those naked people aren't being incredibly lewd (like sex on stage or something) then I can't see the problem in this.

The article brought up another good point. Here in Dallas there is apparently a whole task force dedicated to making sure a stripper doesn't break the 3 inch rule, but the violent crime rate here is one of the highest in the country!!!

It was at a high $$$ strip club in Dallas that a stripper asked me "don't you touch?" my reply "isn't it against the rules?" her reply "don't you ever break rules?" she showed me who in the club to watch out for and her tip tripled (I was in town for a convention entertaining customers on n expense account - she knew her business) Guess where she had me slip the rolled up tip money?

but I digress....

 

[Etoile]

Whoa, now that is an old bump.

 

[Shankara20]

Whoa, now that is an old bump.

hey - did I just get called "old"?

Oh - never mind. (why do I always make it about "me" )

 

[ezervet]

whoa, i didn't even notice that the thread was that old. I must have followed an old link somehow. whoops! Current events this ain't, i suppose.