More on the "Gang of Homos" Controversy

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

On Monday, the Newser reported on Jani La Belle (Janire Coba) having to move her store, Bella Epoque, after being evicted by her then landlord Lighthouse (landland.ansar), saying he didn't like having lesbians on the land, a screenshot showing the words "gang of homo." As a response, she was giving out "Gang of Homos" womens' tees, and was getting much support by fans.

The article got a few comments, including one from Zada Bury, saying she had been read the group notices twice, "it was such kind of stupid 'move.'" Another commented, "If you wanna be in business, the only political viewpoint you should have is what are you paying with. If you wanna wave a political banner, you will lose customers the more you judge them. ... It is your sim... right until you started renting it out. ... You are a weak businessman, aside from whatever other issues you may be having." Another responded, "I think the landlord was awful and should be banned from SL, but is calling a challenge to harass him really a good idea? Not only is it against LL's ToS, but it drags everyone down to his level and makes you just as bad. Why not just report his comments to LL, or create an event to uplift the communities he targeted rather then launching a harassment campaign." And someone else commented a sign of the political situation of the country in real-life, suggesting yours truly write about politics more often (in support of her faction).
 

Since then, more details have come in. Among them, Lighthouse finally answered the Newser, responding:

This is my answer you even i dont care what she said, she is a pure bitch and slut as well like to do a lot of photoshop 

https://gyazo.com/eaa464c4e09df18ff25b0409a0189833

lighthouse  

 

The picture showed more conversation taking place, and instead of "gang of homos" there was "gang of losers."

 

But that wasn't the only development. I was send a link to Lighthouse's rental page on Marketplace. Besides Janire's comment, there was a follow-up by Veronika Nightfire

Landland Ansar is not someone who should be trusted with your business or your events. He donated land for a charity event we were hosting and then turned around and sabotaged it. The moment he felt challenged by queer women, he started showing his true colors. Misogyny. Homophobia. Power-tripping behavior.

He gave us two days' notice to vacate and then banned us from the land entirely before we could even pick up our items. We lost work, decor, and personal belongings we had put into the space. No explanation. No professionalism. Just ego and bigotry.

This was a charity event. This was about helping people. And instead of supporting that, he let his hatred and fragile masculinity ruin it for everyone.

If you’re queer, a woman, trans, or just someone who respects others, avoid him and Lighthouse Realties. He is not safe to work with. Period.

And more notablly, there was one from a few years ago by a MuscleManEric.

WENT TO HIM AS OUT ESTATE GUY WITH A PROBLEM . NOT A BIG ONE BUT IT WAS WORTH ASKING FOR HELP, INSTEAD I WAS MET WITH HOMOPHOBIC RANTS THREATS AND ABUSE, THEN WITH FIVE DAYS REMAINING ON OUR HALF SIM THAT WAS 8050 A WEEK, AND REFUSED TO SPEAK OR TALK TO USE. HE EVEN TRIED TO KEEP OUR OBJECTS. STILL WONT REFUND THE RENT, LIED TO HIS GROUP 100% AND TRIED T MAKE ME LOOK LIKE A LIAR, THEN HE SAID I HAD GAY PHOBIA , WHICH MADE NO SENSE AS I AM GAY AND HE WAS THE ONE ABUSING ME THE CUSTOMER, HE SAID HE DIDT CARE IF WE LEFT THE PARCEL AS HE DIDNT NEED THE MONEY YET STILL, HE HAS KEPT 5 DAYS OF TIERS STIL THAT MORALLY BELONG TO ME.. HE IS A THIEF BEWARE DONT RENT FROM HIM ..
 

I also heard about some developments on Merryjest's Discord (where I first heard about the incident). With the "Band of Homos" tees being made for girls, "I went ahead and made my own hoodie," then post a picture.  

 

Merryjest would do more than just make his personal statement of support, but he would go over to Lighthouse's office and check things out. While there, he would run into him. Merry would try talking him, "He tried to claim Janire was an anti-semite. I pointed out they both support the Palestinian cause, which he verified, so I asked how, then, was she an anti-semite... and he refused to answer." When the "homos" comment was brought up, Lighthouse grumbled he was getting tired of the issue. 

Merryjest would also ask Lighthouse how many properties were currently being held in the rentals. His response was "none of ur boz." On his profile, he claimed to manage 190 sims. Merryjest thought this was odd, noting how bare the office was compared to Loxury Estates (which runs Second Norway).  He would also point out that on the Bonniebots website, there was no listing for Lighthouse. 

 

I would message Lighthouse again. His response by notecard was faster this time.

 

listen mate i knew she will do that so i didnt comment i left her drop herself in the trap she made which is funny

this women been with me 10 years , amd i knew she is a leabian or pride and dont care, even its againt my value and btw dont care whatother says about me on MP each can say whatever they want and its none of any one biz im here from 2007 :) and been grow will i have 190 sims : so dont care

but when come to fraude poeple and say UNRWA and they tell me they dont know her nor they been  aware of this and this must be dont through them as cancer society and many antisemit this no BS on me

and she did photoshop the chat and you can see what I sent you a snapshot, but honest she can fuck herself :0

and sorry no furtern comment now this matter is higher hands and story end here 

He ended me by thanking me for contacting him, wishing me well.

 

This is unlikely to be the last we hear of the issue as Merryjest says he may do a stage performance later about the incident. In the meantime, the rebuilding of Bella Epoque continues with shoppers dropping by.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Interview with Kylie Sabra

By Bixyl Shuftan


If you're familiar with the Content Creator controversy that hit Second Life from 2013 to 2014, you've heard of Kylie Sabra who organized the United Content Creators of Second Life, the group that tried negotiating and talking to Linden Lab. This feat resulted in Second Life Newser choosing her as "Person of the Year: Runner-Up." But that's just one of a list of her accomplishments. From being the manager and set designer of the Rose Theater galleries to a clothing designer, she's made her mark across a number of fields on the Grid. Recently I had a chance to interview her. So we set a time and met at the Theater.

Bixyl Shuftan: "To begin with, how did you find out about Second Life?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): My husband saw me playing "Farmville," and rolled his eyes. "If you're going to'play', 'play' something cool." (laughter) He'd been on a couple of years before, but it did not set with him. That was five years ago this past October."

Bixyl Shuftan: "How were your first experiences here?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "One day a man I met created a bird right before my eyes and it flew away. I was mesmerized and began building immediately. I built my first art gallery within 60 days and filled it with my work and began promoting. So it has always been creative. Don't get me wrong. Like most, I ventured first into the club scene, but it's just not me."

Bixyl Shuftan: *nods* "Your first art gallery? How did that one go?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "It was awesome. It was a stepping stone. I drifted into roleplaying for about a year then. I'm a writer and roleplay was just a natural, but still the creative side won out. I leased a homestead and became enamored with creating incredible landscapes out of a postage stamp of sand. So my then second gallery was quite a undertaking on a quarter sim, and I began having guests artists and developing a reputation."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Sounds like you were quite busy. I take it the effort had very good results."

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "It did. The gallery was well received. I'd met Kaya in 2010 when I was writing for Radar Magazine. He and the Rose were my first assignment and that was the first page in a long and ongoing saga."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Sounds interesting. How would you describe what happened next, for the readers?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "I remained in roleplaying and worked on my gallery, but over the following year, met with Kaya on and off again. This place haunted me. In February 2011, he was giving me a tour of the then galleries. There were four at the time. He'd had a curator, but had not seen her for several months. Her picture still remained on the wall over her desk. Without even imagining it to be possible. I asked him if I could curate. (laughter) I can rather imagine him shrugging his shoulders as he said simply. 'Sure.' Soon four galleries became ten and with the new build they became and entity unto themselves-no longer an afterthought. He designed the layout that allowed them to flow and be together. I pillage it on occasion--as now with Molly Bloom's exhibition, but the lobby is hands off. (laughter) THAT is pure Kaya."

Bixyl Shuftan: *grins a bit at your chuckle* "Sounds like some interesting times, in a good way, continued to happen."

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "They do. *points to the picture over my desk* "He's the perfect big brother. He has my back, looks over my shoulder, but never tries to control or smother. I have a great deal of respect for him."

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "Did you want to spend some time talking about what's ahead?"

 Bixyl Shuftan: Sure, "I was going to ask about some of the Rose Theater and Galleries best events and displays, in your opinion."

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "As you know. the galleries are my babies, so I can best speak to them. I've had the pleasure of curating and building some incredible shows and not to shun any of our wonderful artists--there have been nearly 500 separate exhibitions over the past 4 years--but there are three that really stick out in my mind. The first one being TheaDee (now simply Thea), the second was 'Ride the Rose' for Gem Priez (sp), and the 3rd and current, is Molly Bloom's transfiguration of 2D art to 3D-characters literally stepping out of the art. All were beautiful, creative or simply fascinating."

Bixyl Shuftan: "500 separate exhibitions, that is a lot."

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "It is a lot of exhibitions and there are times I wonder how I will make the next one unique, but then I get the artist's work and it just falls together."

Bixyl Shuftan: "So a natural talent for making it all work out?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra) blushes. "I'm not what it is or where it comes from. I think it's just my passion."

Bixyl Shuftan: And besides the gallery, you're also known for your efforts in regards to the "Terms of Service" controversy that haunted Second Life for a number of months. How did you yourself find out about it, and what gave you the idea for the UCCSL?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "Yes. I am so delighted that Ebbe came on board as CEO. I believe that Second Life will thrive under him. That was a tough and sometimes dark road on my path through Second Life, but I'm glad I traveled it and even more glad that it is over. I am now no longer affiliated in any way with the UCCSL group. I'm not in sync with the new management and felt it best to step down. As to how I found out, it was through Toysoldier Thor and Ernie Farstrider. We coordinated and I emceed (sp) one of the first public meetings and that was the dawn of the UCCSL. Later, the Rose Theatre was host to a folllow up meeting in which we featured a legal panel. The group helped to pull people together and bring focus to the key elements of the issue.

"There were many in SL that worked to bring this issue to life and they did so eloquently, I think UCCSL just quantified the people affected by the issue; it's members including some of the top-earning creators in Second Life."

Bixyl Shuftan: "It seemed that despite your efforts, Linden Lab's responses were few and far between, before Ebbe Linden's coming in as CEO. Did you have any further opinion as to why?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): Honestly? I felt the then CEO simply had no interest for the concerns of Second Life's citizen creators. It seemed he had an agenda and it did not include us. Seemed to me he was cutting off his nose to spite his face, tossing the baby with the bathwater and any number of such colloquialisms. It seemed they were more focused on trying to shut us up--making promises that were never delivered upon--than they were in resolving the problem.

"However, one of the issues I faced with the group was that I never once believed that griefing or gratuitous Linden bashing was the answer to problem and indeed was probably more deterrent and divisive than anything else.

*smiles* "But, that is in the past."

Bixyl Shuftan: "After stepping down from leading the UCCSL, what have you been doing?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra)'s face brightens. "I've taken my creative demon in a new direction. I'm designing fashion under the label 'Sabra Style.' The line pulls its inspiration from the lifestyle we live here at the Rose--one of refined elegance and beauty. I strive to create supremely wearable clothing, whether it be for the office, cocktails at an elegant club, ballgowns for those special events. I don't limit myself to those though. I also seek to create elegant casual clothing--the kind of clothes that set a woman a part. With one look a man knows he has met a woman who is confident in herself and her beauty--that she is intelligent, thoughtful, intriguing. I've always dressed this way in Second Life and one of the comments that I've often received is that, 'Kylie, you are clearly different. You know who you are with nothing to prove. It's refreshing. Or as my daddy would say--less eloquently--'If you give away the milk, who's going to buy the cow.' Sorry I grew up in Texas. (laughter)"

Bixyl Shuftan chuckles, "No problem, How has the clothing line been doing so far?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "I'm doing very well. This is my first year and I was nominated for three Avi Choice Fashion Awards--Best New Designer, Best Formal Wear and Best Casual Wear. I was blown away."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Oh yes, I see the awards on the shelf."

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "I have a devoted and growing clientele. I'm a happy lady and look forward to growing more this year.

"I do have a surprise. I'm taking on something new this year, which will keep me far from all things political. (laughter) I'm going to start singing. The only reason I've not done it sooner is that I'm scared to freaking death. (laughter)"

Bixyl Shuftan: "Singing, that should be interesting." *grin*

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "Well I promise I won't hit the stage until I'm ready. My partner in crime, Lisa Valentino, QAs my clothing and me! (laughter) She believes in the adage, 'Friends don't let friends sing badly.'"

Bixyl Shuftan chuckles "So what are your plans for this year, and beyond?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra): "As far as beyond. . . I have the galleries, my clothing line and now singing . . . I can't think beyond all of that, but I'm always open to new adventures."

Bixyl Shuftan: "Sounds like you have quite a bit planned for the future, was there anything else you wanted to add?"

Kylie Sabra Angel (kylie.sabra) sets her tea down on the table, "I do. And I'm so sorry, but I need to rush to a family luncheon. We are hosting a lunch for our residents today. Thank you so very much."
[
Bixyl Shuftan: "welcome, and good luck."

Bixyl Shuftan