Unfair Park from p10 Earlier this week, U.S. health authorities said the country would likely recommend a vaccine dose each year, much like the flu shot. That would mean “one COVID-19 shot, once a year, each fall,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “Winter is not that far away,” Biden added. “The past two years, we have seen COVID-19 cases and deaths soar. It does not have to be that way this year.” ▼ LGBT WELCOME TO THE THUGOCRACY D the department said in a press release last Thursday. The calls and texts are similar to scam messages many Dallas Water Utilities cus- tomers received in July. Both sets of com- munications come from a number caller ID labels “Dallas Water,” leading people to be- lieve they’re legitimate. (The scammers make the calls and send the texts that ap- pear to be from a number associated with the department’s customer service line.) The message will usually tell people to make a payment over the phone or through a text message payment link to avoid discon- nection. But the department says it doesn’t call DENTON’S COOL BEANS CANCELS DISNEY DRAG BRUNCH AFTER THREATS. BY DARBY MURNANE enton’s Cool Beans Bar and Grill has canceled a Disney-themed drag brunch performance scheduled for Sunday, citing “aggressive phone calls” and “threats.” Cool Beans announced its decision to can- cel the event last Thursday, hours after right- wing media figure Sara Gonzales urged her Twitter followers to protest the event. Gonzales, a host on Glenn Beck’s Blaze TV, had tweeted, “Who’s coming with me to shut it down?” Her post was shared by for- mer far-right gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines, who added, “The devil is coming for your kids. What are you going to do to stop this madness?” In its statement, Cool Beans said it had canceled the drag brunch, which was open to all ages, because the performance “caught a lot of attention from certain political groups who have made it very clear that they aren’t happy about this event.” The bar cited the climate of anti-LGBTQ discrimination, saying, “it’s better to be safe than sorry.” Cool Beans employees declined to com- ment and said their manager was out of town. But Megan Queen, who used to work at the bar, said she was heartbroken that threats had targeted Cool Beans. Queen added that the bar has long been a welcom- ing place for the LGBTQ community, ex- plaining that it used to hold a weekly trivia hosted by “a fabulous, infamous and queer host who made everyone feel like they be- longed.” Contacted by the Observer, the Denton Police Department said it was “aware” of the reports and “in contact with the business.” The department was unable to provide any additional details. The Cool Beans event is the latest drag show to be threatened by far-right groups. Last month in Roanoke, a drag brunch gained national news attention thanks to a standoff between conservative protesters and an armed leftist group that came to provide se- curity for the performers and audience. In recent months, Texas has seen a swell in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric as state Republi- cans and right-wing groups target drag shows, accuse schools and teachers of pro- moting “gender ideology” and clamp down on medical procedures for trans children. Cool Beans says its decision to nix the drag brunch isn’t a win for right-wing activ- ists and media figures but is a result of fear tactics targeting the businesses’ college- aged employees. “To those of you out there who have forced us to make this decision, shame on you!” the bar said in its statement. “Shame on you for putting fear into us with your threats, your aggressive phone calls, and hateful comments.” Still, Gonzales celebrated the cancellation in a tweet Friday afternoon, accusing the brunch organizers of “grooming” children. She also called on followers to “mobilize” We bring sophistication with a twist to the metaphysical and holistic markets with products, classes and services. We have locations in Dallas, Carrollton & Frisco. Psychic Hotline Now Available: 888-415-6208 WWW.SOULTOPIA.GURU BEST OF DALLAS AWARD WINNER Some water customers are getting spammed. Jacob Vaughn against another upcoming drag show in Katy, located around 30 miles from Houston. Patrick Riccards, executive director of the nonprofit Life After Hate, which helps former far-right adherents transition out of the movement, said the far right is as rife with anti-LGBTQ bigotry as it is with preju- dice against people of color and immigrants. “The drag community is, in part, about celebrating uniqueness and embracing what makes one different,” Riccards said. “It is the antithesis of the [far right’s] thinking, which focuses on the singularity of how a commu- nity thinks, speaks, acts and even dresses.” ▼ SCAMS MUDDYING THE WATER L SCAM CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES TARGET DALLAS WATER UTILITIES CUSTOMERS AGAIN. BY JACOB VAUGHN ast week, some Dallas Water Utilities customers received calls and texts de- manding that they make a payment or else lose service. This is a scam, according to the department. “Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) advises customers that fraudsters are again making fraudulent phone calls and sending text messages in both English and Spanish from a phone number claiming to be from DWU,” before service disconnections and that no- tices are sent through the mail. As a security measure, Dallas Water Utilities doesn’t even use real people for payments via phone. In- stead, the department uses an automated voice response system. The department is telling customers not to share their financial information or make a payment to someone calling or texting claiming to be with Dallas Water Utilities. The department advises scam victims to re- port incidents via email to forgery-dpd@ dallascityhall.com and contact their finan- cial institution. The renewed scam calls and texts coin- cides with Dallas Water Utilities continuing its residential disconnections for nonpay- ment this month. The department told the mayor and City Council in two memos that these disconnec- tions would continue on Sept. 6. They were suspended in March 2020 in response to economic hardship caused by the pandemic. In recent months, Dallas Water Utilities has been reaching out to customers with past-due bills in hopes of connecting them with assistance to pay their balance. The de- partment put notices about assistance and establishing a payment plan in customers’ August and September bills. In April, July and August, the depart- ment also mailed customers postcards ad- vising them to contact Dallas Water Utilities and set up a payment plan. In the meantime, Dallas Water Utilities S 12 Visit us: 900 W Davis St, Dallas • 3414 Midcourt Rd #100, Carrollton 7004 Lebanon Rd, STE 106, Frisco, Texas 75034 a fe l y S says it’s still working with customers who are behind on their bills to set up payment plans that fit their budgets. The depart- ment says it has also partnered with the county and state to streamline some of the assistance. hop n lin e SEPTEMBER 15–21, 2022 DALLAS OBSERVER CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | CULTURE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS dallasobserver.com 2020 O
