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Repeal of Article XII Brings Influx of Gay Cartoon Characters to Westwood |
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By Patricia Cake | Dealer staff writer
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Wed, May 18, 2005
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Editor’s Note: Six months ago, Cincinnati voters opted to repeal Article XII, the anti-anti-discrimination clause in their city’s charter. Citizens for Family Values fought hard to keep Article XII in place, declaring anti-discriminatory laws protecting gays and lesbians to be “special” rights, as opposed to “equal” rights. How has the repeal of Article XII affected the Queen City? Has the city indeed become more welcoming to alternative lifestyles? Reporter Patricia Cake ventured to the west side to see how one neighborhood is dealing with this issue.
 WESTWOOD - Walking into the Rubber Duckie Day Spa on Eighth Street, I am greeted by a face familiar to thousands. Ernie, sporting his usual striped tee, welcomes me with his friendly smile. I find Bert, his business partner and best friend, preparing a cup of peppermint candy tea in the brightly-colored salon. Sitting down with the two well-known puppets, I ask them how well the neighborhood is accepting diversification.
“They give us dirty looks whenever we walk into Price Hill Chili,” says Bert, the features on his conical yellow head appearing stern and foreboding.
"Gee Bert, I don't think it's so bad," counters Ernie. Gazing lovingly at the love of his life, Ernie strikes a note of optimism. "Just last week Mrs. Schnitzenhaggen from the bakery next door brought us a nice batch of snickerdoodles."
"Ernie, Ernie, Ernie," sighs Bert, shaking his head. "Our mini-cooper had its tires slashed last Wednesday.”
Ernie has to admit that things could be better. "We've been to Kings Island, and marched in the parade. It's a very accepting environment. But here, in this neighborhood, it's different. There'll be sunny days ahead, I'm sure of it."
"Hypocrites. They're all hypocrites." Bert's voice does not hide his anger. "Why, if I told you the number of CPA's and former professional ball players who come in here looking for a 'special' massage, I'm sure you'd be shocked. But I'm not that kind of puppet. Now, you'll have to excuse me. Yogi and BooBoo are here for their pedicures."
Bert, getting up abruptly from the table, welcomes me to stop in again sometime. "I can do something for that skin tone of yours, hon."
 Ernie graciously answers a few more of my questions while Bert attends to his clientele, which includes such well-known characters as the Tasmanian Devil (full-body wrap) and Sponge Bob and his partner Patrick (mud bath).
We discuss the painful occasion several years ago when conservative watchdogs forced Bert and Ernie out of the bathtub they had been sharing for countless episodes of the hit children’s series Sesame Street. I mention that it must have been difficult for Spongebob Squarepants and his co-star Patrick when Focus on the Family singled them out as an example of a liberal agenda among animators targeting our nation’s youth.
Is this really the right place for them? What might this city have to offer these creative dynamos who have been through so much controversy lately?
“Well, the rent is cheap and there is plenty of re-hab housing available.”
I press him for more information.
“To be honest with you, the market for traditional, hand-drawn cartoons is diminishing all the time. And Sesame Street just isn’t the same since Wal-Mart came to town.”
 What do Ernie and his friends do for recreation?
“We all love to bowl. We go to the Western Bowl at least once a week. They have a great karaoke night, too.”
I thank him for his time and ask one final question. “Is it true that Peppermint Patty and Marcie are thinking of relocating to Cincinnati?”
Ernie nods his head in response. “Professional Women’s Rugby is just one more way this charming city will be enriched by the gay and lesbian cartoon community. Friendly neighbors can really bring about a super-duper positive change for everybody!” |
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