photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
leafleting team assembles at Whyte Hall, boycott flyer & Low Tea poster
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On May 30, Fire Island Pines activists—motivated by new Pavilion, Blue Whale, and other businesses-owners Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass’ having hosted a benefit for notoriously homophobic US Senator from Texas and Republican Presidential candidate Ted Cruz, and then criticizing their own customers—began a public campaign by posting flyers, urging an economic boycott of these and other establishments, along Fire Island Boulevard and Ocean Walk.
The leaflet reads in full: “You can stand up for your rights or you could just sip … n’ twirl. Are you willing to support anti-LGBT hate by spending money at Low Tea? No? Neither are we! … Go to Tea for free Boycott—in the Pines: Pavilion, Botel, Bistro, Sip-N-Twirl, Blue Whale, Pines Pizza, and Cultured Elephant as well as all their ATMs (Except for the ones in the Pantry) You still want to go to Tea with your Housemates and support the Boycott? Take a “roadie” with you or cho[o]se NOT to buy an overpriced cocktail!!!!!!”
“After a shocked and ferocious backlash, with calls for a boycott by over ten thousand individuals from whom Weiderpass and Reisner have made their money … They issued dishonest ‘apologies’ but immediately followed by hurling insults at those who objected to their gay-owned businesses (that rely on LGBT cash) funding anti-LGBT right wingers’ political campaigns.”
“In a May 1 interview with New York magazine, Reisner said, ‘Gays are cheap.’ He went on, ‘They’re frugal; gays are frugal. Let me retract that … gays are entitled … Do you know how challenging it is to make a penny off a gay person?’
“In a May 10 editorial in the NY Observer, Weiderpass called anyone who disagreed with them ‘gay extremists’ who are ‘small and intolerant.’
“Do not support Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson, and other right-wingers who oppose marriage and equal rights for LGBT people.”
“Boycott in the Pines by NOT spending your $$$ at Pavilion, Botel, Bistro, Sip-N-Twirl, Blue Whale, Pines Pizza, and Cultured Elephant (Canteen).”
On a discouraging note, the team leafleting on Fire Island Boulevard found, on backtracking a very short time later, that may of the pieces of literature had systematically been torn down.
Further leafleting will, nevertheless, continue on subsequent weekends, in June, throughout the Pride season, in both Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove.