A banner reading, “Boycott Hi/Lo Tea! Fight for Full LGBT Rights!” flew behind a small yellow plane, over the Great South Bay, Cherry Grove, Fire Island Pines, the beach, and the Atlantic Ocean, on the afternoon of June 7. An action by Queer Nation, it came in response to Pines business owners Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass’ financial support, in April, of homophobic Republican United States Senators and political candidates Ted Cruz, from Texas, and Ron Johnson, from Wisconsin.
Queer Nation’s Ken Kidd wrote, in a Facebook posting, “Two gay business owners are making money off the LGBT community at a world-famous gay vacation spot and then giving that money to outspoken anti-LGBT politicians. Our community is out to win comprehensive federal legislation that will make LGBT Americans fully equal under the law. We will not be taken backward by funding anti-LGBT politicians. Even if we win marriage equality in all 50 states at the US Supreme Court this month, a majority of LGBT Americans will still face discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and other areas. Our community will continue to speak out against anyone—including gay men—who fund any opposition to comprehensive civil rights for LGBT Americans. Doing without a cocktail at Tea is a small sacrifice to make.”