Fake flier on gay community event source of laughs

Erin Neff

Monday, Sept. 20, 1999 | 11:19 a.m.

A flier advertising a fake benefit for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center was sent to news media last week with an honoree list of well-known Las Vegans.

The hoax drew more response from the media than the actual benefit event, Tasha Hill, deputy director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Las Vegas, said.

"It so closely mirrors the guest list for our honorarium," Hill said. "I just personally found it very amusing that someone would go out of their way to do this."

The flier claims "A Night to Remember" will be held Oct. 23 at the House of Blues Foundation Room inside the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino.

The flier, which was faxed from an unknown source, claims the event will honor Las Vegas City Councilmen Michael McDonald and Gary Reese, Siegfried and Roy, former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce President Bob Forbuss, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa and Silver State Disposal President Steve Kalish. Also on the list was Silver State corporate counsel Robert Groesbeck, who pleaded guilty Friday to misdemeanor charges for disturbing the peace and resisting arrest after he allegedly groped a woman recently at the House of Blues Foundation Room.

The cost of the benefit was listed as $150, with proceeds "to assist gay and lesbian causes in Southern Nevada."

Entertainer Kenny Kerr, a female impersonator, was purported to perform, with a gourmet dinner prepared by Wolfgang Puck.

The inclusion of real honorees Jones and Del Papa, who will attend the real benefit dinner Sept. 25 at the Las Vegas Hilton, made the flier believable to some people who received it.

"Some people called and said 'House of Blues. That sounds good,' " Hill said. "I should have said 'Send a check.' "

The fliers spread through the gay and lesbian community as people faxed the announcement to friends hoping to root out the source of the faux flier or the right- or left-wing conspiracy at play behind it.

"You know, quite honestly, people have too much time on their hands," said Lee Plotkin, columnist for the Las Vegas Bugle, a gay newspaper.

The Bugle was listed as a co-sponsor of the event.

Actually, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center will hold its annual awards dinner beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday with a cocktail hour and silent auction.

Tickets are $75 and are available by calling 733-9800.