The Michigan Daily - Monday, October 7, 1991 - Page 7 I Gays, straights party together by Karen Sabgir Two local bars, the Nectarine and the Blind Pig, provide a niche on the nightclub scene for members of the Ann Arbor gay and lesbian community as well as a good time for members of the straight community. The general manager of the Nec- tarine, Mike Bender, said that Boys' Night Out also attracts groups of straight women who just want to come and dance. "They don't have to worry about playing the social game," Bender said. "Occasionally we'll do shows, and now and then we'll do some contests," Bender said, referring to the annual Miss Nectarine Contest, an opportunity for males to cross- dress. "We also have gay male strippers, Chippendale-type stuff." Bender praised the regular crowd that comes to Boys' Night Out. "As a rule they're of fairly discre- tionary income. They have legal pa- tronage to the Nectarine." However, occasionally the Nec- tarine gets negative feedback from the public for having two gay nights. "Some people have the mindset that it's a homo bar and won't come here," Bender said. He said, however, he would rather that Local clubs offer variety of alternative entertainment those kinds of people just not come. "It helps me weed out the fools." At the Nectarine the gay nights are all planned "in house" - no outside organizations are involved. The Nectarine reciprocates the loy- alty of the gay community with several benefits and financial con- tributions to gay organizations. "The House of Chanel is an or- ganization that uses the club as a venue to promote gay night," said Blind Pig manager, Todd Headrick. They hire the entertainment and place advertisements in gay publications. The House of Chanel is a male organization, a "big family of 'A gay dollar is just as good as a straight dollar. It's for everybody' - Tony 'Chanel' House of Chanel several categories: best attitude, best costume, best oral response from the crowd, and best runway walk. Tony came away with the Grand Diva 1991 title. More than 400 people showed up for the ball, a benefit for the Well- ness Fund. All of the money raised went to patients with AIDS. On various Gay Entertainment nights there are door prizes, trips being given away, and themes, pro- viding people with something dif- ferent to do. "We have a ball ... we just have fun," Tony said. This Tuesday there will be a ben- efit to send Karen White, Miss Gay Michigan, to Texas to compete in the Gay Miss America contest. Other themes include toga parties, an Old Fashioned Hoe Down and a masquerade ball. "Attendance varies, but it's been good so far. It depends on what other bars are doing," Tony said. He estimated that at least 60 people show up each Tuesday. Like the Nectarine, the crowd is not limited to just gay men. The Blind Pig welcomes both gay and straight men and women. "A gay dollar is just as good as a straight dollar. It's for everybody," Tony said. AP Photo Twenty-one gun salute Indonesian Armed Forces members raise their guns in a military salute during Saturday's Armed Forces Day celebration. A military plane carrying participants in the celebration crashed, killing all 132 aboard. Seven years ago the Nectarine started having gay nights on Tues-. days, calling them Boys' Night Out. By 1987 there was a demand for an- other night later in the week, so they added Fridays to their schedule. Tuesday evenings of Gay Enter- tainment at the Blind Pig are orga- nized by an outside group, the House of Chanel. friends," said member Tony 'Chanel'. The House of Chanel makes sure that there is more to do at the bar than just dance and talk to people. In September, they held a vogue ball called the Fan of the Flames before the premier of the film Paris is Burning. In a contest which was held, participants were judged in *Students: undercover party patrol must go by Travis McReynolds door. Some people were asked to students are also scared off by un- the officer would ask to see II D, then Representatives from the Greek system and members of the College Democrats met with Councilmem- ber Bob Grady (D-3rd Ward) last night to discuss increasing conflicts with the Ann Arbor Police De- *partment over student parties. Discussion focused on the party patrol and undercover cops at fra- ternity parties. Five years ago, the police set up a patrol in the campus area on week- epds to monitor parties, Grady said. "The party patrol was formed as an effort to take underaged drinking more serious," Grady said. "They ... issue noise violations and alcohol *rlated tickets when appropriate." This year, police added under- cover officers to the party patrol. Officers enter parties posing as stu- dents, then issue tickets to minors consuming alcohol. "In a way, it's a good thing," said Bruce Nameorow, a Business School junior representing his fra- trnity. "Our house has cut down on noise and excessive drinking at our *parties. But now, police are still en- tering our parties and giving out un- justified tickets." In an effort to control underage drinking, Nameorow said his frater- nity started checking IDs at the sign an affidavit declaring they do not work for the police. Many students commented party attendance has fallen. "What happened this year is stu- dents rioting on South U. instead of partying at fraternities," Name- orow said. Fraternity Coordinator Joe Fos- ter said this has to do with the colder weather and increased schoolwork. But, he added, many dercover police. Foster said earlier this year, the police received 40 noise complaints - six for fraternities. This past weekend, there were six noise com- plaints and only one was for a fra- ternity. Undercover officers are still at- tending parties. One Greek represen- tative said an undercover officer took control of a beer keg and was pouring drinks. After filling a cup issue a ticket if the person was a mi- nor. Grady agreed there are problems with the use of the undercover offi- cers. "I think undercover operations are legitimate. Drinking by minors is against the law and needs to be dealt with," Grady said. "But the business of officers entering with- out an invitation and giving unjusti- fied tickets is a problem." NURSING HOR1lQN$ A seminar to help you prepare for personal and professional decisions. November 1 & 2, 1991 Mayo Medical Center . Rochester, Minnesota SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Laughter: A Gift of Your Being to Light Up Dark Places Transition: From New Graduate to Expert Nurse Enhancing Your Personal and Professional Image BREAKOUT SESSIONS Financial Planning Critical Care Nurse Internship Program Preparing for Your Job Search Collaborative Practice - What It Is And What It Isn't State Boards: Are You Ready? 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