Reflections on Roanoke, Va's Backstreet Cafe Shootings
By Larry Smith
I moved to Roanoke in March of 1980, and went to the Backstreet Cafe the first night it opened in the Fall of 1982. My friend Danny Overstreet and I frequented the bar most week ends, and tried to patronize it as much as possible. We had always felt very comfortable there, and considered it a perfect little hide away - a small gay domain where we could truly be ourselves! Danny and I remained very close friends up until a year or so before his death. There are many, many lessons in life - and one that I have learned is to not hold grudges. Friends are too few and far between not to talk over their disagreements. Because it is such a painful thing to be standing over a friend's coffin and realize that you will never be able to tell them everything you wanted. The good thing is that Danny and I were speaking though, and I often reflect on my seeing him one week before his death as we attempting to "patch" things up...
On the night of September 22, 2000 I was out of town , but awoke out of a sound sleep to the telephone ringing. I realized I was experiencing a real nightmare as I heard the news of the Backstreet Cafe shootings. I simply could not believe what I was hearing. The next day I went to my parent's house on my way driving back to Roanoke. I remember my Father meeting me in the driveway, noticeably upset. He had heard about the shootings, and asked me if I knew who had been killed. I said "Yes and so did you." I think that was all could say before I started crying on his shoulder - needless to say my Father is the most wonderful man I know! He was so upset too since he had met Danny many times throughout the years.
Fast forward many days later, and I was inside the bar helping the bartender Alan clean up the mess and get the bar ready for reopening. You should know that the original owner had passed away several years ago and left the bar to his straight son - and this son really was a silent owner. He just let Alan run the place and keep it open for all the usual clientele to still have a place to come to. I was told to enter through the back door, and in the darkened corner was a blanket thrown on the carpet. We were going to rip up all the carpet, so another friend said "Let's get busy" and pulled up the blanket. There it was - a huge blood stain on the floor where Danny had taken his last breath. I broke down crying again. I was determined to get through this day however, and we did pull up all the carpet and loaded it in my lover's pick up truck. Nighttime came, and I drove the truck home. There it sat until the next morning when we took it to the city dump here in Roanoke. That was one of the weirdest feelings I had ever had , but somehow Danny's spirit guided me through it because I knew he would have wanted us to do just this, to reopen the bar, and stand stronger than ever.
The resulting days did show an outpouring of love and support for the most part. I do remember one night standing in front of the bar where we would gather , and a car drove by emoting fake crying and shouting boo-hoo at us. The next day, I wrote an editorial to the newspaper of this horrible event, and emphasizing the need to educate first here in the Roanoke Valley , then the rest of the world!
We were all impressed that Ted Koppel and his "Nightline" crew came to our town and did several interviews. This was definitely a start to educate our local town's people, and what a bonus that it would be shown on National television! The interviews were completed and we anxiously awaited the airing of the show to conclude with a live Town Meeting from right here in Roanoke. With the horrific events of 9 -11 , the show was understandably post-poned twice. Finally on May 20, 2002 the week long episode began. As Friday , May 24th neared we had to do several things in order to obtain tickets for the live broadcast. In retrospect, several of the Baptist churches were giving out tickets quit easily , or so I heard.
Friday the 24th was finally here. I was going to the live broadcast with a friend, and with Alan the bartender from Backstreet. They came to pick me up early, and we decided to start where it all began - at the Backstreet Cafe. We entered the bar and discussed with our friends that we were going to the Town Meeting. It seemed fitting that we would just walk up the street to the Jefferson Center. Alan, who was working the night of the shootings, has displayed tremendous courage through this whole ordeal. Every now and then, he would confide in me that he had terrible guilt feelings about that night, that he felt he could have done something to prevent Danny's death. I repeatedly told him there was nothing he could have done. We walked into the Jefferson Building, and as a token of support, my friend said to put Alan in between us as we took our seats. It was a very emotional evening.
Ted Koppel opened the meeting mentioning the Priest scandals , and that several gay rights groups have announced "Don't blame it on us!' That out of the way, the meeting began. The overall tone of the meeting was controlled by the Nightline staff however. Before anyone got to the microphones, they had to write on an index card what they were going to say. If "approved" they were directed to the microphones. It seemed the meeting turned into Right Wing Baptists bashing the entire homosexual population. My friend mentioned to me, "You can feel the hatred in this room!" A person from Nightline turned around and said, "Put that on this card and we'll let you speak." He declined.
After the meeting we realized we still have much educating to do , and above all teach these people that being gay is not a choice! The hatred issue was never addressed, nor were many other issues! I sat there hoping that maybe one person would get up to say, "I am truly sorry for the Hate Crime that happened here in our valley resulting in the death of Danny Overstreet." The shootings were hardly mentioned at all. Leaving the building, we three walked back to the Backsteet Cafe full of apprehension and realizing that we still have a long way to go. It is through Danny's memory that I will make this a lifelong commitment to do. His passing has made us all stronger in our convictions, and I personally will not allow his death to be in vain. We will remember him forever, and if I could just tell him this right now , I would feel a whole lot better...
TBC Eye on GLBT News & Headlines wishes to thank Larry for his contribution for our news section. He is dedicated to making a positive difference and his tireless efforts have accomplished just that. As coordinator of TBC and editor of TBC Eye on GLBT News & Headlines, I want to thank Larry for his responding to my request to share his thoughts, feelings and experiences, on the horrific hate crime the shooting at the Backstreet Cafe and the recent Nightline Series "A Matter of Choice". As a member of the Roanoke community, I felt he could give us a first hand look as to what it was like for those who lived through the most horrible of hate crime ever committed against GLBT's. And, his personal opinion on the Nightline series, as it positive or negitive effects on the Roanoke GLBT community. I greatly appreciate Larry's willingness to relive what was one of the darkest and painful times of his life and share his insight with us. TBC is proud to have Larry as one valued members.
On a personal note, I am as proud and thankful to also be able to call Larry a dear friend. I would like to congratulate Larry for his recent successful efforts in organizing a campaign to persuade the Senate to strike the section 1004 of the Supplemental Appropriations Bill. The bill would have dealt a devastating blow in the lives of many employees of US Air and other airlines. This bill would have withheld guaranteed loans to aid the airlines in their recovery efforts based on the tragedy of 9-11, which the Air Transportation Safety and Stabilization Act, had guaranteed when it was signed into law last fall.
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