Religious Power Helps Prove Faith Is In the Heart at the South Shore Inn

by Gary N. Snyder, PRIDE News May 2001

Less than one month ago, the Erie Times News ran a story on the South Shore Inn of North East. Co-owned by Patricia Graham and Danielle Hazen, South Shore Inn has in the past months seen bad times in the form of dropping business. The article stated that business was failing due to the Rev. Patrick Kennedy, an assistant pastor at First Baptist Church in North East, cautioning parents to keep their teenagers from going to the South Shore Inn "because of the potential for recruitment into the homosexual lifestyle." 

Kennedy said he told his congregation of 600 about the restaurant twice, handing out copies of a message promoting the restaurant on a gay Web site. [The gay web site in question was the Erie GLBT Bulletin Board on www.eriegaynews.com. It was taken off when we weren't getting enough on-target postings. - Michael Mahler].

When I first heard this point of fact, I wondered to myself, "Why is someone cruising the website in the first place?" Yes we have a good resource of information available on the web as well as this publication [PRIDE News], but how many of us actually spend time cruising the religious postings to find out who's banning or accepting our 'family' this week? 

Graham said she wished Kennedy would have talked to her first before condemning the inn, but Kennedy says he didn't feel the need to do so. Graham continued to state that teens under the age of 19 who attend dances at the inn have to have parents sign them in and out of the dances, and added, "I'm 44 years old, for God's sake. I'm not going to seduce a 13-year-old. Or anybody else. I'm very happy with my life, thank you." 

In light of the media coverage, the first press story, plus subsequent editorial responses, the South Shore Inn has resumed fair business. I even received e-mail from an anonymous sender that GAYBC.COM on the internet was going to have a talk show discussing the very issue openly with one of the owners. Unfortunately I did not get to hear the interview and discussion, but I have since become a listener to the internet-based radio station. The Advocate as well as other GLBTA press covered the story. 

Why all the hub-a-loo? Fairness to have a business. A core question came about from this point of focus. Who cares what a person does in loving another as long as they are not harming anyone? Kennedy of course used references to lines from the 'testament.' Quoting scripture is as powerful as handing out treats was to Pavlov's dog. Educated individuals understand the conjecture through which spirituality is meant to lead us into betterment, not having us give into hate, anger, bigotry, and fear. 

In response to the issue of discriminating a business from a preaching of ignorance, two Methodist Churches have organized to help bring together people who believe and support the divine lives we lead. On May 18th, 6:30pm at the South Shore Inn, members of different communities will come together to show faith and love can overcome fear at an open table dinner. Several selections will be available to choose from. I too will be attending with several friends and staff members in helping someone make their dream come true. 

I think Pastor Kennedy has yet to learn faith from fiction. As a result, he find himself at the center of controversy and confusion. May he find the peace within himself that will bring clarity to his heart that has been darkened by fear. I would like to personally invite Pastor Kennedy to be a guest at my table of old and yet-to-be made friends. Who knows? He may come to see our humanity and find some of his own.

[As it turns out the banquet dinner May 18th was quite a heart-warming success, but the South Shore Inn unfortunately was not. It ceased operations and closed soon after the run of this article. As of this update (July, 2001) Danielle Hazen and Patricia Graham are no longer together as partners and Ms. Graham has returned to her home country. It is not clear whether or not the business could have succeeded if it had not been targeted by hateful homophobic rhetoric from Pastor Kennedy, but it certainly could not have helped. In any case these women should be remembered for very publicly standing up to homophobia whatever the consequences. - Mike Miller.]

Please note that Rev. Patrick Kennedy was later listed in November 2001 on an anti-anti-gay web site by someone who had a history of mental health issues.

About the Author

Gary Snyder Gary Snyder (He/Him), has been involved with Erie Gay News submitting articles since 2005 and coordinating the Annual Pride Picnic kitchen in 2008. He currently serves as an Advisory Board member of the NWPA Pride Alliance [since 2012]. Gary is a graduate of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in HRIM. From 1999 to 2012 he was an active member and then executive officer of the non-profit Burgh Bears social club in Pittsburgh, PA. Currently Gary is employed by the Erie County Department of Health as the HIV Disease Intervention Specialist, serving as a community member of the HIV Planning Group in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Along with advising the NWPAPA Board, he chairs the Erie County HIV Task Force, serves on the Erie Gay News Editorial Board, and is the President of the AFSCME Union Local 2666.