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October 22, 2009
   As promised on the OutVoice list I am posting contents of all information received here. That being said, not much has been sent along other than that both parties will not make statements due to impending decision by Vickie Blankenship on whether or not she will take legal action.  I do have formal statements saying such included below. 

   My problem here is that a press release was sent out initially  making very harsh allegations against the campground and town with no further information provided.  A brief round of response from the campground, one denial by the campground owner and a Georgia Lesbian activist via Southern Voice, a long delay in hearing from the event organizer,  and then nothing. It seems that legal should have given the advice to "keep quiet" prior to the sending of the initial press release.  Bottom line here is that an issue of safety at GLBT events is the issue we can and must address. All too many times I have seen our community members rush off to events with out a care or even slight investigation regarding security and or local attitudes toward our community. Of course they believed it was a safe event as sponsored by and or for the GLBT community.

     That is not a good idea as this situation has defined. In my opinion it is the responsibility of the organizer and the host to insure such safety. No where did I see any information indicating a conversation about security and local attitudes took place on either side. Nor is the issue of how a permit was to be obtained addressed. In cases where I have been involved in the planning of such events, if permits are required it is a pretty cut and dried procedure. Complete with deadline dates, limits and coverage, as well as costs. Events I have been involved with have always shown it to be the organizer's responsibility to obtain necessary required permits.  I am not saying it is above belief that a small town would have more casually applied rules, just not something I have experienced in small or large towns. 

     All the information submitted is below for your edification. There are two sides to every story. Sadly we do not have any real answers. This casts a light of doubt over the organizer and campground for me. As pointed out in several posts in several topic/blog areas; there were no cameras at this event? In this day of cell phone cameras it seems we catch photos of everything from police actions to cute animal tricks. But none from this event. The organizer should have had information on any prior problems as well. If not offered by the host, then an investigation should have been initiated by the organizer. I also could not find an artist or attendee who would collaborate either side. So all information other than from "Carolyn Bowden, president of First City Network in Savannah, Ga., the oldest LGBT group in the state, said she was there and saw nothing of what Blankenship is claiming in her press release." is from statements issued by both sides. 

     I would have preferred to see both sides sit down and go through some needed research. 
How did it happen? Why did it happen? How can we prevent this from occurring again? This would have been of huge benefit to organizers and our community as a whole. As that did not occur we at this time are left to our own determinations. So be it. My recommendation is that before you attend any event or go on any trip to an unfamiliar location, investigate first! Sadly that is my recommendation with regard to events by either party in this case. As we have not been provided with answers, seek them yourself. Check on security, get details. Check local attitudes and laws. Not just through the host or organizer, check with the town and local businesses. Neither of the parties involved should expect any less. The shadow of doubt was cast by the involved parties themselves by not providing adequate information in a timely and complete manner.

     I have made this same recommendation to those using travel agencies. In checking that area, I found many "community" travel agencies do not provide information to clients on local attitudes, local laws, and dangers pertinent to the GLBT community. That being said, what is the reason for using a community agency? Shouldn't this information be automatic? So ask your agent before booking that trip. Make your safety and enjoyment level your priority, and a more secure and enjoyable time will be had by all. 

Below is what was received in chronological order.

Subject: Press Release: GA Women's Festival Shut Down-Incident Report
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 14:59:56 +0000 (GMT)
From: Vicki Blankenship 
Official Indiegrrl Women in the Arts Press Release:

Georgia Women’s Festival Shut Down – Incident Report

 My name is Vicki Blankenship and I am the volunteer president of Indiegrrl Women in the Arts, Inc a non profit that works to create networking, educational, and showcasing opportunities for women in the arts.  Indiegrrl does not discriminate against religion, race, sexuality, age, political views or anything else and accepts all women involved in the arts to participate in our programs and events.  We work to build community type events to bring awareness to women in the arts and to raise monies for various charities and are presently working to raise funds to build a facility that will hold children’s music and art camps and songwriting/music retreats and workshops for adults.  The prospective location for this facility is Mineral Bluff, GA which borders NC and is very close to TN.

  Indiegrrl has produced many festivals in the southeast that were community events as well as showcases in venues all around the United States showcasing various female music acts, comedians, spoken word artists, and local artisans selling their arts and crafts.  We have also produced 2 national music conferences, one in Spencer, VA in August 2008
and one in Nashville, TN in August 2009.  We have future goals to produce many more events.  All of these events have been welcomed with open arms in the communities in which they were held, accept for the very last event we produced this month on October 2, 3, 4 in Tattnall County, GA.  This event was the first festival event that we produced as
a weekend event for women only ages 18 and up and was called the Georgia Women’s Festival.  This event had the soul purpose to create a safe environment for a weekend of celebration in sisterhood through music and art, no matter what your religion, political view, ethnic race, or sexual views were.  It was also a fund raiser to help bring in funds to
go toward the construction of bunk houses for the facility we plan to build in Mineral Bluff, GA.  Roy’s Hideaway Campground located in Tattnall County Georgia between Reidsville and Collins Georgia was the hosting site for this festival and is a gay and lesbian 21 year old and up membership campground.

  On two occasions prior to the festival taking place on October 2 to 4, campground owner Roy McLeroy tried going through the proper channels on finding out if we needed an event permit and if so to obtain the permit for the event to take place on his campground.  He was told by the on duty deputies of Tattnall County Sheriff’s department that he did not need to obtain a permit since it was private property and also a membership campground and that Indiegrrl the producer of the event was a non profit organization.  The second time he tried to obtain the permit was Thursday morning October 1, 2009 and he was told the exact same thing.

  The GA Women’s Festival music was scheduled to begin on October 2 at 2:00pm and was advertised on both the campground website as well as the Indiegrrl website and event flyers.  Our first two Friday music acts canceled the day before the event due to illness so the music was rescheduled to start at 4:00pm but we did not change the schedules on
our websites.  At 3:00pm two local deputies arrived on site telling owner Roy McLeroy and our event sound engineer Steve Wolfe that neighbors of the campground had phoned in a complaint that the music was too loud and we would have to turn it down.  Roy and Steve informed the deputies that the music had not even started and was not starting until
4:00pm.  The deputies verified that no music was being played on the stage and that the stage was not even fully set up yet and the deputies left the premises.  At 10:30pm that same night four cars full of deputies returned to the campground and told us we would have to stop the music.  We were told in front of many witnesses whose names and contact info we have, that we could go get a permit at 10:00am, Saturday morning, at the Tattnall Sheriff Department from Captain Bradley and we could resume our event on Saturday after getting the permit.  With the permit we would be allowed to play music until midnight.  The deputies stated they had lots of complaints about the noise and a permit would allow us to over ride the complaints.  After the deputies left the premises, people lined up outside the fenced perimeter of the campground and began yelling obscenities at the festival attendees and chanted “F___ing Queers go home”.  One neighboring piece of property had cars line up in a field that separated the properties between them and the campground and shined their car headlights down into the campground, blared loud music from their car speakers, and proceeded to fire guns down into the pond areas in the campground.  911 calls were made to the Tattnall County Sheriff Department to come put a stop to this but nothing got stopped.  I personally never saw a police vehicle respond to the area with the cars shining their headlights down on us and my cabin was 30 feet from the pond they were shooting into.  This went on until 4:00am when they finally stopped.

  On Saturday morning campground owner Roy McLeroy, his mother Dorothy, Steve Wolfe our sound engineer and I went to the Tattnall County Sheriff Department and asked for Captain Bradley to obtain our permit.  We were told it was his day off so we asked if they would phone him to come in and explained out situation.  When Captain Bradley arrived he walked past us and sat behind the window opening at the entrance.  I extended my hand for him to shake as I introduced myself and he refused to shake my hand all the while as he kept his arms crossed and seemed to be very
irritated.  I gave him our non profit brochure and our non profit federal number and asked if we could get the permit the deputies the night before had told us to get from him so we could resume our event today. He pushed the papers aside and told me he told them to shut us down and no he would not give us a permit.  I explained that the deputies had told me in front of many witnesses that Captain Bradley would give us a permit so we could resume our fund raising festival on Saturday.  I asked him on what grounds was he refusing us a permit.  He said he would not give us a permit and again I questioned him as to why not.  He stated “I just am not going to do it.”  I asked to see a magistrate judge and Captain Bradley told me there was not one on duty and told me “leave the premises right now.”  I then stated that I wanted to see a magistrate judge to know my rights on their laws and ordinances on event permits, noise restrictions, and event guidelines.  At that point Captain Bradley demanded that I leave the premises and advised campground owner Roy McLeroy to make me leave the premises.  I then stated that I have a right to stand on public property and that I was not breaking any laws and that I had the right to see in writing the laws and ordinances governing events and noise restrictions in their county.  Captain Bradley, who was out of uniform and refused to give me his first name when I asked him, walked off again yelling “Roy take her out of here before I lock her up.”  I told Captain Bradley he had no grounds to lock me up that no laws were being broken and that I would leave but I would find the proper authorities to find out the Tattnall County ordinances and laws.  I also questioned him why the harassment from the people outside the campground toward the festival attendees was not stopped during the night along with the gun fire after numerous 911
calls were made.  He said “We took care of that” and I stated “Well obviously not because it went on for 5 hours until 4:00am”.  He again yelled “Roy get her out of here”.  I then went to the parking lot and began making phone calls along with Steve Wolfe to try to find out the county ordinances.  Inside the precinct Captain Bradley told Roy McLeroy
and Dorothy “Ms Blankenship better watch her back while driving out of this county or she might find herself locked up in my jail.”  This was a verbal threat on my safety and well being.

  We returned to the campground and gathered everyone and I made an announcement to the festival attendees that we were not granted the permit that the officers on Friday night told us we could get and that the stage could not resume with music.  We then started phoning various county offices including the Sheriff’s department to find out what the county noise ordinance was and we were told several different answers including 9:00pm, 10:00pm, 2:00pm, and All Day.  30 minutes after returning to the campground the magistrate judge drove up.  I then questioned him on the ordinances and questioned Captain Bradley’s behavior.  His direct comment to me was “Well you know how small towns are and Captain Bradley is a good old boy and a pretty good officer.”  I then stated “I only know about the small towns that go by their ordinances and laws that are on the books and that do not make up laws as they go along, and where police officers did not threaten people who were just asking to know their rights and to see those laws and
ordinances in writing.”  The magistrate apologized for Captain Bradley’s behavior and stated he did not think we had to have a permit because the campground was private property in the county and a membership campground.  He then walked away and phoned Sheriff Quinton Rush and came back and told me we could not go on with our event and that he would not issue us a permit.

  At 8:00pm that night people once again lined up outside the campground fence line and resumed yelling obscenities at us and were chanting the same “F___ing Queers go home”.  Once again the loud music, headlights from the cars, and the shooting of firearms into the ponds and into the air resumed until 5:00am on Sunday morning.  Again 911 phone calls were made and nothing got stopped.  The women in the campground were literally crying in their tents and cabins afraid for their lives and the Tattnall County Sheriff Department did not respond to or stop the harassment.

  Indiegrrl had no prior knowledge that the neighboring community had harsh feelings towards Roy’s Hideaway Campground and had acted out against them in the past.  We would not have organized an event at this facility if prior knowledge had existed.  We in no way would put festival attendees in any danger by holding an event in a possible
hostile environment.   We will not hold any more events at this facility in the future nor in the county of Tattnall.  We do want to make the public aware of the unjust treatment that existed for this event and the harassment that did take place.  Events that we produce bring monies to the local area including hotel rentals, restaurant revenues, gas and grocery revenues and more.  Our goal at Indiegrrl is to create fun community events that benefit the attendees, the community, and the artists participating.  Indiegrrl is still exploring our options on legal proceedings with this situation.  It is unacceptable for this type of blatant harassment and prejudicial treatment to go on and the lives of US citizens to be put in jeopardy.  There was a severe and open violation of civil rights on offering equal protection by the law in Tattnall County.  This violation of safety was not a gay thing or a straight thing it was a human thing and a violation of human safety and human rights occurred.

Contact Info:
Vicki Blankenship
Indiegrrl Women in the Arts, Inc.
P.O. Box 4021
Martinsville, VA 24115

Article in Southern Voice. on 10-8-2009  http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27567# 

From Freddy Freeman 10-9-2009
Events and Promotions Director Roy's Hideaway Campground

Dear Outvoicers; 
There has been a lot of stuff going around about the recent events concerning Indiegrrl and Roy's Hideaway. As the new Events Director , I am releasing a statement on Roy's behalf. I was not at the event, but based upon my experiences there and the testimony of Roy, and a number of guests, I do not believe events occurred as alleged and do not believe anyone's safety was at risk.  I do however want to make it clear to Outvoice that we do support the mission of Indiegrrl and are committed to providing a safe environment for all of our community, and opportunities for all of its performing artists.

My Statement Below:

   We are so sorry that Vicki Blankenship has had a negative experience in Tattnall County while holding an event at our facility; however the actual details of what occurred are unclear, and there have been conflicting accounts. Our main concern has always been to make sure that all of our guests feel safe, secure and respected. We have and will continue to work with local authorities to ensure our guests' continued safety.  

   We are aware that there was some confusion over permits and noise levels, but the engineer was asked to lower the volume numerous times, but did not comply with the requests. The event was not fully shut down, as performances
continued poolside. Many of the women who attended have expressed how much they enjoyed themselves despite not being able to have amplified music.

   Mr. McLeroy and other guests did not witness or experience the alleged harassment, but of course the safety of our guests is of utmost concern. Roy has met with Tattnall County Sheriff Quinton Rush, who has once again pledged his support, and also guaranteed permits for future events and even offered to post two deputies, if requested, at our larger events to ensure everyone's safety. Mr. McLeroy has spent considerable time developing relationships with the community and has the full support of the Sherriff's Office, Magistrates, Chamber of Commerce and other local organizations, who have all once again pledged their support of Roy's Hideaway.

   I have held events at Roy's Hideaway and spent considerable time there getting to know Roy and his family, and I have also been into the community with Roy. I have never experienced anything but support and friendliness from anyone I have encountered. I held a very successful gay men's music event with a number of musical acts there in August and we all had such a great time and never once felt threatened in any way. My friend (openly gay) singer-songwriter Charles K. Brown was even invited to play at the local Wiregrass Festival in Reidsville and had a wonderful time and was well received by the crowd. A local straight owned restaurant has also opened its doors during off hours to accommodate parties from Roy's Hideaway.

   The impression left on me by Roy and his establishment is so great that I am moving there to join his family and work on creating unique events and programs for the Campground. I have been involved in the LGBT music community for 8 years, doing conferences, festivals and other community activism. I am uprooting my whole life to be a part of his team, because I feel like it is a great place to build something positive for our community.

   We are interested in what we can create for our community. I am looking forward to the opportunities a place like Roy's Hideaway can give to LGBT people in South Georgia. In our experience, we are establishing a great relationship with the surrounding community. Local officials have expressed their desire to continue to work with us and show their support, so I think we should all try to turn this into a positive thing for our community. Please join us in creating positive change for all of us by working with the County and supporting Roy's Hideaway. LGBT people of Georgia will be better
off if we accept the County's offer of continued support and create new allies instead of enemies. Roy has worked hard to create something positive for all of us and I don't want to see it fail because of a misunderstanding, especially when community leaders are so eager to fix the perceived problems. Wouldn't it be nice to read articles about how local officials are supporting an LGBT campground and helping to combat homophobia and any other form of discrimination? If anyone has any questions about the campground, the surrounding community or anything else, please feel free to contact us, or visit our website at  www.royshideaway.com

Freddy Freeman
Events and Promotions Director
Roy's Hideaway Campground

Final statement from Freddy Freeman 10-13-2009
Events and Promotions Director
Roy's Hideaway Campground
Len;

 I'm sorry I have not had the opportunity to fully answer your questions. As you are aware, we are currently dealing with unsubstantiated allegations and threats of legal action. I would like to let you know that Roy's Hideaway is committed to providing a safe, friendly, and warm environment for performers, attendees and community members and  will be moving forward with our 2009/2010 schedule. We look forward to offering many LGBT performers opportunities to perform in the coming year. I’m sorry I could not offer more information at this time, but  Thank You for your efforts to resolve this and get to the truth. I will let you know when I am able to offer any more information.

Freddy Freeman
Events and Promotions Director
Roy's Hideaway Campground

Final and only statement received from Vickie Blankenship on 10-14-2009

For the Record:
 Indiegrrl stands behind our initial statement as to the incidences that  occurred at the GA Women's Festival.  We are being advised by legal as to the best way to pursue this incidence  if we do decide to continue with  legal action.  We have a list of witnesses who were at the festival and  were at the Tattnall Sheriff  Department and saw various incidences take place and they have come forth  voluntarily.  This list will not  be disclosed by Indiegrrl at present until we decide if legal action will  take place.

 Sincerely,
 Vicki Blankenship
 President
 Indiegrrl Women in the Arts
 P.O. Box 4021
 Martinsville, VA 24115

That is all the information I have received to this date. I held this end information in anticipation that someone else would respond with more information. If you would like to comment and or provide information email me and I will post here. 
Thanks, Len Rogers 
OutVoice / StoneWall Society Network