I get it that this is sort of a dumb and laughable crime. But why do you have to put a homophobic spin on it? Why do you have to laugh at gay people? Do you think that is how REAL journalists operate? What the hell is wrong with you? I guess your attitude towards the GLBT is that of Memphis and why Memphis will remain at best a third tier city. If even that. Big cities don't make fun of gay people, they understand that they are part of the community. GROW UP FLYER!

First of all, Atlanta, nobody said a word about "gay" except for you. Sounds like you may be a little insecure about yourself. Haven't found a dress that fits for the holiday season or what? A large percentage of cross dressers are not gay, so, if anyone put that spin on this, it was you. There is nothing wrong with a little humor. If three men want to dress like ladies and beat the hell out of a McDonald's manager over, mmm... a FISH sandwich, then what kind of reaction do you expect? I guess, as you must do in the forgotten land of mythical Tara, cry? Is that what real men who don't wear dresses do? Go ahead, work that overdone drawl of yours and stay sad when you could come on over to Memphis and lighten your load! I'll even treat you to a Happy Meal right after we tour Graceland.

And I rest my case...

"Haven't found a dress that fits for the holiday season or what?" That's right, because femininity is just lower than - well, low. Isn't that right, homophobes? "Is that what real men who don't wear dresses do?" Excellent, trying to be witty while at the same time exposing your hatred of all things feminine. That does a lot to distance yourself from homophobia and misogny. (first, JohnTerrel, that's sarcasm. Second, look it up - I know there's a dictionary somewhere in podunk) Yes, Clint from Atlanta, JohnTerrel is the real Memphis talking to you - the third teir (you're generous) city that just can't get it's own head out of it's ...well, you know. And he mentions one more reason to avoid Memphis - "Graceland."

Sorry, fellas, but three men in drag busting up a McDonald's over bad service is FUNNY. Good God, lighten up. This isn't homophobic, it's making fun of idiots. They're black, does that make it racist too? If you think the media in Atlanta, or shit, San Francisco, for that matter, wouldn't have been all over this story if it had happened in those places, you're unbelievably naive.

It's not the story, but rather how it is being reported. If it comes out that these people were being harassed for being transexuals, then it takes on a completely different tone. And yes, the media here in Atlanta would also report this story, but not in the tone a snarky 8th grade boy snickering at the differences in others. Having lived in Memphis for years, I know how people are treated when they do not conform to the "norm." It is not a very friendly place at all when you are different.

I totally agree as a gay man I have to say this is the funniest thing I read all day I was feeling a little down but now my day is a little brighter ;-). Some ppl just need to learn how to take a joke and don’t take everything to heart.

Yes. I imagine this would make news in most markets. However, I don't think most reports would sound like a snarky 8th grade boy snickering over other people's differences. How do you know that these individuals were not reacting to derogatory comments made by the McDonald's staff? Having lived in Memphis for many years, I would not put it past anyone to abuse others because of their differences. That is what makes Memphis such a sad city -- It's blatant intolerance and hatred towards anyone different. Want proof? Reread the article from a gay/transgendered perspective. Sure it seems like fun to report things like "unladylike behavior" and wonder if they will be put into men's or women's prison, but using language like this paints all transgendered people as laughing stocks and exposes Memphis' as a hate-filled city. Defend it all you want in whatever manner you will, but for those of us looking from the outside in, Memphis is not a friendly city at all.

Clint, it's clear that during your time in Memphis you were not received well or accepted here for being who you are. I sincerely hope that you are having a better life in Atlanta or wherever you may be. As John Terrell so rightfully pointed out, there was no element of homosexuality portrayed in this article. None at all. You introduced that from the gate. Because you are a cross-dresser does not mean that you are necessarily living a gay lifestyle. You seem to have some pent up aggression towards the outside world and more specifically the city of Memphis. That still does not give you the right to bad-mouth our beloved city on a public forum. Anyone that has experienced life outside of Memphis knows that we are behind other cities of it's size in a lot of areas. But we also have a lot of great things to offer people of all backgrounds here. And we're only getting better. You're beloved Atlanta wasn't always what it is today. We would love to have you re-visit the City of Memphis sometime after you've dealt with your own personal issues. That way you can come and enjoy the best of what we have to offer here. Til then, continue to support and read the Memphis Flyer.

I got a laugh out of this article, but even more from the comments... where is your sense of humor people. I saw nothing about homosexuality or trans-sexuals or trans-gender. i saw three very stupid people dress as women destroying a McD's over poor customer service. WOW, some of you people out there have real issues. AND what is so wrong with graceland... it is not as hokey as the "Corn Palace"

I'm a full time transexual living in Memphis, there are many of us here and it's actually a very rare occasion when have any problems. Memphis is actually a very nice city and most people try to understand and are tolerant. But I live and work as a woman and most people would never know I was anything else, but I have friends who don't look good and they have traveled the city safely for years without incident. So my take on that story is that possibly the resturant refused them service at the window so they came inside and got insults which is why that happened. I don't know but I'm just supposing and I don't personally know the 3 suspects. So give Memphis a break, we all think it's a terrible place to be LGBT but it's not all that bad, and I'm sure we will find out "The Rest of the Story" in the coming days.

God! I miss living in Memphis. I live in Savannah, GA now and nothing wonderful like this goes on here.

I am gonna bail these three out of jail and make them famous - "Tranny eye for the McDee's Fly?".

Lisa, thank you for setting it straight (absolutely no pun intended!). "Clint" obviously has quite a few hang ups. This city is quite gay friendly, especially considering that it's in the Bible Belt. My gay friends all tell me that they rarely have any problems. And as for the tran issue, it is true that most people would never know who is and who isn't.

As a crossdresser who is out in public frequently I can tell you that being singled out is a humiliating experience. It hasn't happened to me often, but the few times over the past ten years or so that it has have hurt. I don't claim to know what "really happened," and I don't condone a violent response to harassment and discrimination, so I will just say that no one deserves to be humiliated in public. The fact that some people turn this into a joke demonstrates that women are generally de-valued in our culture. Women who act in masculine ways - tough, aggressive - are OK, but men who feel a need to embrace traditional feminine attributes are mocked - which is indirectly mocking women. Check it out: http://www.yvonnesplace.net Yvonne

Yvonne, please. You're a man who goes out dressed in women's clothes and you don't expect to be "singled out"? Good Lord, man, people are only human. They're going to look twice at some guy dressed in heels and a pencil skirt. And the only reason these three guys were "singled out" is because they ATTACKED A McDONALD's. IN DRAG. Jesus freekin frog on a french fry!!! This is NOT about prejudice, it's about a weird, crazy escapade. It has NOTHING to do with homophobia or singling anybody out.

Reading this thread makes me very glad that I left Memphis, and very sad that so many people in Memphis, and indeed the country, have such a limited understanding of what homophobia means, not to mention what the "T" stands for in "LGBT" and why we stand together. I was especially dismayed at the use of the antiquated term "gay lifestyle," which is nothing more than code for "deviant sex," or "perversion." And for gay people to continue to support non-gay attitudes in some dim hope that this makes them more acceptable to main stream society is - in a word - pathetic. As for my time in Memphis, I was always accepted and completely out and outspoken. But I grew tired of the lack of real change. When I left, it was the same place I moved to 20 years before. It sounds like the same place now, 10 years later.

Sounds like we have a few drama queens posting comments here; I'll be more than happy to contribute to anyone here needing funds to go buy themselves a sense of humor...