Something I can happily report about my home state and adopted city.  I recently talked about Stacey Campfield, a state representative from Knoxville, and his ever-so-enlightened comments about HIV infection, his most recent bigoted, inflammatory, and completely false statements.  Don’t forget he is also the lead sponsor of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.  Well, I’m happy to report that other Tennesseeans are listening to the trash spewed form his mouth.  

Anyone who has lived in Knoxville for any length of time knows that Gay St. is one of the best parts of downtown.  Restaurants, bars, and a few unique shops surround the iconic Tennessee and Bijou Theaters and it’s just a generally great experience.  Well, one of these restaurants took a stand when Rep. Campfield decided to make a (laughably ironic) visit to a Gay St. classic.  Bistro at the Bijou is well known in the area and Cempfield decided he would stop by for a bite, but when owner Martha Boggs heard he was in the restaurant, she made a pit stop at his table…and told him to leave.  

“I didn’t want his hate in my restaurant. “I told him he wasn’t welcome here… I feel like he’s gone from being stupid to being dangerous, and I wanted to stand up to him.”

She then took to Facebook and said, 

 ”I hope that [Stacey] Campfield now knows what [it] feels like to be unfairly discriminated against.”

 It’s so nice to know that even here in the most conservative part of the state, people are standing up for what’s right.  I’ve always loved Bistro at the Bijou, but I’ll make sure my patronage is even more frequent now.  Thank you, Ms. Boggs.