Nice work, Michael.

What's the status of the police investigation?

Good job! Sometimes it takes a tragedy to increase security. I hope those two guys are okay.

Sounds like a lot of mumbo jumbo from the guy. Didn't the victim say the manager just rolled his eyes and walked away?

PS: Several groups want to stage protests and/or help the guy who wrote me the original email, so I've forwarded him their information to see if he wants to cooperate with that.

Thanks for staying with this story, Michael.

This sounds like spin to me. The theatre seems totally innocent here, contrary to the original report. I'd like to know where the police are on their investigation.

This is not the first time something like that has happened. It may only be the first recorded and finally responded to incident of recent record. I have myself been a victim of harrassment while attending a movie with a male friend. However, my glaring back at the offenders seemed to send some kind of message that one time. However, I was sufficiently uncomfortable with the situation to have not returned to that theatre in a few months.

Also, Mr. Westerling's response is merely drenched in cautious rhetoric. I would have been more encouraged should he have indicated emphatically that gays and lesbians are welcome customers, valued customers and that they will examine their customer service to ensure that all patrons will be responded to with respect, courtesy and without bias of any kind. I would have hoped for a "we love our gay and lesbian customers and value their business and we are deeply concerned about the incident and will everything we can to prevent it from occurring again on our premises."

Exactly right, Quintin. I would expect the usual "we loves our gays" platitudes also, even if it was also more evil spin -- but all we got was hot dry air from someone afraid of being sued.

And ... he should be afraid.

So, do they treat all of their 'long term customers' so well?! Hmmmm.

I agree with the comments above by Taylor and Quintin and appreciate your following up on this. It still bothers me that some guys feel so threatened that they must respond violently and aggressively towards gays--specially when they are in peer groups. I know there has been so much written on this subject, its causes, etc., but it continues to concern--and frighten me.

I love his argument."Well, the guy was never gay bashed there before." So what?

It's important to remember that homophobic actions are the result of extraordinary fears possessing the perpetrators. In my youth, I responded to gay bashers as the "enemy," the "they," and not the "we." But they are the "we." They are the unfortunate victims of an insane society that fears love. While maintaining a courageous stance in the face of this Piscean era craziness, we must always remember that we are trying to save these lost sheep for Jesus so that they, too, will know the joy of embracing love and not being afraid of it.

i wanna join the protest!

This message was clearly written with Lawyers leaning over the guy. I too am ashamed that he could not mention his love for our community or at the very least his appreciation but again the lawyers were holding this guys hands.

The original letter said that they contacted management twice and that nothing was done and that management walked away during the complaint but Westerling does not respond to these concerning issues, which is where it appears that the theater failed to respond effectively.