Posted on 07/13/2003 4:09:00 PM PDT by 07055
For decades, Two Mile Hollow Beach existed as East Hampton's tony gay beach, without serious complaint.
Then came private detectives with video cameras, and nudity and sex acts in the dunes were private no more.
The videos sparked a reaction that exploded in an angry hearing in an East End firehouse yesterday morning, with gays protesting the intrusion on their no-tan-line turf.
As the mayor, police chief and other elected and appointed officials sat on the dais, 150 angry locals, most of them gay, blew off steam about the private eyes who have been playing Candid Camera in the underbrush.
The event was organized by Tom Kirdahy, co-chairman of the East End Gay Organization, who said he called the hearing because of his members' concerns that the cameras are evidence of homophobia.
Many of the complaints were focused on Ron Baron, a representative of the Further Lane Association, which serves the mansion-studded area where such famous Hamptons residents as Billy Joel and Jerry Seinfeld have lived.
"On June 4, the Further Lane Association hired a security company to video the beach for possible prosecution of crimes," said Police Chief Gerard Larsen. "On June 11, the security company turned over to police tapes of public sex, urination and probable drug activity."
The tapes led to the arrests of five men, two for public lewdness and three for public urination.
Based on the tapes, and on reports of increased teenage drinking, Larsen said he has ordered nightly patrols of all beaches in the village. "With increased uniformed police, I don't think there will be too many problems," he said.
"We've had several formal complaints regarding the Two Mile Hollow issue, and we're looking into possible bias incidents," said Dafna Priel, a member of the Anti-Bias Task Force of East Hampton.
Fearing violence
"Is kissing illegal?" one audience member asked, noting that former village administrations ignored kissing and more intimate sexual activities between consenting adults in the dark at the beach.
"Videotaping in a concerted, organized way is harassment," said Scott Bennett, who said he uses the beach. "I get up in the morning and all I want to do is use my beach, and I see guards glaring and staring at me with video cameras. It sickens me. I'm afraid we're going to have real violence and maybe a riot if the police don't protect us."
It's not illegal to take videotapes on the beach, Larsen said. "But you have the right to say you don't want to be on camera, and if they persist, then it could be considered harassment."
"People are afraid of being arrested," said Richard Cabot, another Two Mile Hollow Beach regular. "If it's a straight white couple having sex on the beach, I think nothing would happen."
"If I receive complaints about any people having sex in the open, they will be arrested," Larsen responded. "One complaint is all it takes."
Originally published on July 13, 2003
None that I can tell.
They both show beatings taking place in the dark.
We think alike here... I never gave permission to be photographed by anyone...
I think the moderator should get involved.
I always fling my sandwich and puke out what's in my mouth in the waste basket or on the keyboard.
I have rights!
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