So, like, is there a problem here?
Posted on 12/20/2004 5:01:16 AM PST by Ellesu
In an incident the YMCA is calling "a very regrettable scheduling error," kids arriving for an early-morning swim meet Sunday walked into a gender-bending scene of the kind most of them wouldn't be allowed to watch on TV.
Several of the kids' angry parents clashed with participants in a transgender fashion show, which had been under way at the New City YMCA since about midnight, resulting in a chaotic melee that was eventually broken up by private security guards and East Chicago District police.
A YMCA member had reserved the entire facility, at 1515 N. Halsted, from 11 p.m. Saturday through 8 a.m. Sunday for a fashion show and ball, which featured cross-dressing and transgender models in a competition similar to the ones shown in the 1991 documentary "Paris Is Burning." But the facility had also been booked to host the youth swim meet, scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Sunday. When the swimmers -- mostly elementary and junior high school-age kids -- and their parents started showing up shortly after 6 a.m., many of the parents were upset to see the "House of Escada" fashion show and dance in full swing.
"It was like they didn't want the kids to see the gay people at all," said Kashma Avery, in a recorded interview provided by WBBM-AM (780). Avery was in charge of a 13-member security detail for the ball, which he said was attended by about 400 people, most of them gay men.
Scheduling policies face review
As parents and other YMCA members began to complain about the event, New City staff reportedly closed off access to bathrooms and locker rooms, barring the "House of Escada" participants from continuing to use the facility. At that point, party guests and parents began confronting each other in the building's hallways and lobby.
"Some of the guests started hearing sexist slurs," said Avery, "and an altercation ensued."
A chair was thrown, and when a witness mistakenly reported hearing shots fired, police were called to the scene. The scuffle was quickly broken up, and police said no arrests were made.
A spokesman for the YMCA, Luis Diaz-Perez, said Sunday, "The YMCA regrets any confusion or concern caused to our members by this scheduling conflict."
He added that New City, which does not typically schedule overnight events, will today undertake a comprehensive review of its rental and scheduling policies.
I hope some of the members grab the film from security cams. I would bet it was a Fudge Packers Ball rather than fashion show. This is a sleep over not a fashion show.
YMCAs build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. So, naturally, Ys seek employees who exhibit the values behind the mission (caring, honesty, respect and responsibility), who enjoy people and want to make a difference.
Each one of us has been given certain talents to develop and use in some special way. The challenge lies in matching your values and abilities with opportunities in the world around you. The YMCA is a place that allows you to do this.
Take a few minutes and discover all that the YMCA offers. When you choose a career, remember to keep your eyes open to the real rewards. Working for the YMCA means you can have a high-quality lifestyle and reap the rich rewards of helping others. You take home the smile you get from teaching children to tie their shoes or to do the backstroke. You feel pride in watching teens you have mentored graduate from high school and achieve honors. You thrive from the excitement of an adult fitness member who has reached a new goal. You know what it means to impact someone's life.
http://www.ymca.net/index.jsp
Then change the name.
Here in Morris County NJ, my daughter swims for the Y (and has for 3 years). This would NEVER happen here...(Morris County--77% for Bush/Cheney in '04).
Would that I had the power. LOL
It doesn't matter if it applies in NYC when this is taking place in Chicago.
Unfortunately, I'll bet well over half of the parents voted like the rest of their fellow blue staters. I'd like to think the event created new Republican voters, but I can see a lot of them still voting for a "centrist" Hillary in a few years.
It makes perfect sense that people with identical, er, tastes, and very similar incomes/households/etc., would have similar recreational schedules.
"Go back to DU and post your nonsense there please."
...read some of my other nonsense. I just like to try imitating Democrats once in a while to show how sick their arguments are. If it bothers people like you (who I've seen many excellent postings from), it's probably best that I stop.
I'll stick to direct comments, sorry.
I don't believe that's what happened here. There was no "cramming" of beliefs.
The scheduler screwed up, plain and simple, by having the "fashion show" still going on when the swimmers were due to arrive.
Sounds kind of like the "cultural confrontation" at the movie studio at the end of "Blazing Saddles".
try reading the post a bit closer, and then comment again.
you know, this doesn't suprise me all that much.
Most of the health/workout places you go to work out in have a been overrun with the homosexuals.
It's got so bad that there are a few gyms I'll never use anymore.
Also, never use the campus/college centers. In my experience, these are now gay recruiting clubs and your chances of just using the weights unhassled by lisping queers are very slim.
If you do go, never use the bathrooms or showers, it's like a disco for fruits with poor social skills...they like to hang out there. And experiment with their Camera phones. Why can't these people just go to a gay bar, instead of bringing the gay bar to us?
The gym I go to now is still normal, but a few are starting to show up. So it's just a matter of time until I'm driven from this one, I guess.
Usually I'd say to go in the morning, as that element usually parties all night and doesn't live by a normal work schedule. But then again, in this story the "party" lasted till 7:00 am, so what do I know?
So, like, is there a problem here?
Imagine how "excited" the party goers got when they saw a bunch of young boys arriving. A scheduling snafu? I wonder.
Wow. And you live in Kansas. If it's that bad in the red states...
No, the comment was:
"It was like they didn't want the kids to see the gay people at all,"
My point is that this idiot who made the above statement is forcing his/her beliefs on others.
My post has nothing to do with the scheduling of the event.
Haven't you heard? A lot of judges (true, probably more in the blue states) feel the YMCA is no longer able to be the Y.M.C.A. that it was upon it's conceptin. And no pun meant in that sentence, either....
I didn't look at any of your previous posts. What I looked at was how long you have been here at FReerepublic.
Perhaps you might want to wait a week or two until you try your hand at sarcasm and "imitating" Democrats here.
You did such a good job at "imitating" a Democrat that you had me fooled.
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