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Kudos to Bistro at the Bijou

Posted 15 months ago|27 comments|605 views
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Last Sunday, Martha Boggs, owner of The Bistro at the Bijou, ejected Tennessee State Representative Stacey Campfield from her restaurant. I commend her.

Campfield, author of the ridiculous "Don't Say Gay" Bill that was passed by the Tennessee Senate last year and awaits a vote in the House has been making national headlines once again. This time, it's not just because of his discriminatory and bigoted views regarding sexuality in the twenty-first century but by his ludicrous and horribly untrue statements regarding HIV/AIDS.

Representative Campfield, during a recent radio interview on Sirius SM, in no uncertain terms blamed the AIDS virus on men having sex with monkeys and further stated that the disease is "virtually impossible" to contract via heterosexual intercourse. And, contrary to twenty-plus years of scientific research performed around the world, he continues to defend his remarks.

"I didn't want his hate in my restaurant. I told him he wasn't welcome here. I feel like he's gone from being stupid to dangerous, and I wanted to stand up to him". – Martha Boggs, Owner of the Bistro at the Bijou.

The message that he is sending, not only to his constituents but to the entire world, is one of ignorance and intolerance and could have possibly deadly consequences. He's not simply "ill informed" or "mistaken" he's simply wrong. And, as he continues to spew untruths for a living, it appears that he's convinced himself that he's not. I think he really believes that he's smarter than the world's scientists.

Something must be done. As if Representative "Stomping Mudholes" Floyd isn't doing enough damage with his campaign of ignorance surrounding department store dressing rooms, Campfield appears to be on a mission to make the State of Tennessee a laughingstock in the eyes of fair-minded citizens across the nation. Who will want to open a business in such a backward state? Who will want to send their children to school in Tennessee? Who will want to have a Tennessee institution of higher learning appear on their resume? Who will want to work in Tennessee? Who will want to seek healthcare in Tennessee? This man and his ignorant remarks are doing much more harm to their lives than his constituents appear to comprehend.

Our world needs more people like Martha Boggs. People that are willing to stand up to bullies and say "I've had enough … I can't just watch this insanity happen any longer."

Click Here to sign a petition to stop Campfield from spreading any more lies and Click Here to show your support for The Bistro at the Bijou.

Copyright © 2012 DiatribesAndOvations.com
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COMMENTS
Perfect Horizon
Perfect Horizon
Chicago, IL
15 months ago: She has the right to refuse service to anyone. I just question whether you would be applauding a business owner with the exact opposite beliefs kicked a gay rights activist out of his business for not agreeing with his/her views?
15 months ago: No, I would not. His homophobic views are only a part of what's going on and certainly not news. The bigger issue is now his insistance that the false information regarding HIV/AIDS that he is sharing is true.
Perfect Horizon
Perfect Horizon
Chicago, IL
15 months ago: So, it's ok (and in fact enough to make you applaud) a person who's views agree with your own to kick a person out of a business. I would be willing to bet that you would be throwing an absolute fit and calling for the ACLU to sue the crap out of a business owner who, lets say is anti-gay marriage, kicked a gay marriage activist out of his/her coffee bar...

(on a side note, this does not reflect my personal views on the issues, I'm a huge supporter of gay rights and have been pushing my state legislature to legalize gay marriage for years)
15 months ago: Discrimination is never ok. People that share my views are asked to leave restaurants every single day. It's become so commonplace that it's not even "newsworthy" any more.

While I applaud the restaurant's owner for standing up to a bully, this new issue isn't just about his homophobic views but about his insistence that the non-truths that he shares are factual. It's frightening to think about how many new cases of HIV might result from a "Campfield says it's virtually impossible for me to get AIDS" mindset.
Perfect Horizon
Perfect Horizon
Chicago, IL
15 months ago: "Discrimination is never ok"

~You just said it was ok, as long as it is discrimination against homophobes.

The owner said she kicked him out because of his hateful views. I am simply saying that there are tons of people who cry foul when the shoe is on the other foot.

I don't know where you live, but I have never been asked to leave a place of business because of my support for the gay community (then again, I live in Chicago)
15 months ago: Maybe it's not really discrimination if both sides are playing by the same rules.

I live in the buckle of the Bible Belt where it sometimes feels like 1965. Gay people are not only asked to leave restaurants, they're shot at, vandalized, beaten and bullied to the point of suicide.

Yes, that there are tons of people who cry foul when the shoe is on the other foot.

I remember when it was possible for people to "agree to disagree" and go about their business in a civilized manner. I worry that those days are gone for good.
15 months ago: Yea. We can't have any anyone with a contrary opinion. Goodness Gracious No! Everyone must fall in line and think like these enlightened ones.

Because he has different notions than these divinely inspired and smarter than everyone else Bistro people, Mr. Campfield must be an ignert, bigotted ceasture because he has different ideas than these people.

I can hear the Brown Shirts marching in formation around the corner.
15 months ago: and Dietriber.

You are not quoting him correctly.

He was quoting a book, and HE INVITED THE INTERVIEWER TO TELL HIM IF HE WAS WRONG.

For crying out loud!

15 months ago: And this Creasture Campbell is probably opposed to a Tennessee State Income Tax too!

How dare him!
15 months ago: "Differing opinions" aside, one can't help but wonder how many new HIV/AIDS cases we'll see in eastern Tennessee because of a "Campfield says I can't get it" mindset.

He was referrencing a 30 year old book (not quoting it) and ignoring 30 years' of science.

It's one thing to be ignorant/uninformed and keep it to yourself. It's another to spout untruths when you're paid to be a representative of the people.
15 months ago: If Campfield and his wife are monogamous and he needs no transfusions and he stays off the heroin, he can't get it.

No?

He invited the questioner to correct him if he was incorrect.

I understand you and the Bijou person are illinformed, despite your self-enlightened state...........unless I am wrong.
Perfect Horizon
Perfect Horizon
Chicago, IL
15 months ago: monogamous and politician...those two terms do not represent reality when paired together
15 months ago: I'm not ill informed or self-enlightened. I read the book that Campfield is trying to quote when he was still in grammar school. I've studies the epidemic for more than twenty years.

Inviting the questioner to correct him if he was incorrect is hardly the same as being right.
15 months ago: Respectfully, you are being disingenious.

I'M NOT SAYING HE IS RIGHT!!!!!!

You are the one calling him "ludicrous and horribly untrue statements" and other scathing descriptions.

You went beyond saying he was incorrect. No?
Perfect Horizon
Perfect Horizon
Chicago, IL
15 months ago: Well, does it really matter how a person says "incorrect"?
15 months ago: Just like a liberal.

It's your way or the highway.

PERIOD.
Perfect Horizon
Perfect Horizon
Chicago, IL
15 months ago: That is an unfair statement. Conservatives are just as pig headed as anyone else. Look at the House of Representatives. They literally will not do anything because of the majorities Conservative views.

On a side note: Is your shift key broken or have you still not learned the difference between liberal and Liberal?
15 months ago: Pfct.

Granted. I may be pig headed. Fine.

Exactly. Less Congressional Action meand Less Government. That is good.

No My ShIfT kEy WoRkS fInE.

You still have not taught be what a liberal Liberal is....or is it liberal Liberal?
Perfect Horizon
Perfect Horizon
Chicago, IL
15 months ago: I have clearly demonstrated the difference. If you want to continue ignoring it that's fine, but doing so is only an example of you being ignorant on purpose.

Yet again for your reference:

liberal (i.e. Classical liberalism): is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, free and fair elections, human rights, capitalism, and freedom of religion.

Liberal (Modern Liberalism): everything that you call "liberal". Left wing theory. Pro-Choice, Anti-Death Penalty, Pro-legalizing marijuana, Pro-Taxing the Rich...

Any more questions???
15 months ago: Not so. Do you REALLY think he's doing a good job of representing his constituents?
15 months ago: yep

15 months ago: Someone being a homosexual is nobody else's business in the entire world. Who cares if someone is a homosexual?

To each his own.

What's the big deal?

What's with the need to be approved or ratified?

Keep your homosexual preferences to yourself. Others don't care.
Perfect Horizon
Perfect Horizon
Chicago, IL
15 months ago: Actually its not so much things being approved, its old laws that need to be over turned. Laws that prohibit gay marriage need to be removed. This is America, everyone is entitled to the same rights.

If you don't want gay marriage legalized then government must be completely removed from marriage. No marriage licenses...no marriage tax benefits. The Government must simply not recognize marriage at all. Of course the far right would still not be satisfied because there are many churches that would then begin offering marriage services to gay couples.
Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box
 Moderator
15 months ago: Brother sister marriage? Father son marriage? Polygamous marriage? Come on, where do YOU draw the line? Freedom is freedom, right?
15 months ago: Most draw the line at "two consenting adults".
Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box
 Moderator
15 months ago: So you would have no trouble with two adult siblings getting married, or a father marrying his adult son or daughter?

And why draw the line at two? Mormons have been gettin discriminated against for one hundred years,even having to flee the country to practice their religious beliefs.
15 months ago: Stacey Campfield certainly appears to care.

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