Dead Women Tell No Tales... Or Do They?

It's been 13 years since one of Columbus' oldest landmarks met the wrecking ball in the name of progress. Built in 1834, the Ohio Penitentiary saw thousands of criminals pass through its doors. From Morgan's Raiders to the author O. Henry, many well-known people spent some time behind bars on Spring Street at this prison in its 150 years of operation. Today, it's the site of Nationwide Arena, a few random modern buildings, and plenty of parking spaces. But there might be a few leftover dead people lingering around.

People believed the old Ohio Penitentiary was haunted before it was demolished. Stories say that some of the 332 people who died during an arson blaze on April 21, 1930, still roamed the halls. Ghosts of many executed prisoners who breathed their final breaths inside the high stone walls were said to roam their old cell blocks and wander through the execution chamber. Though the building is gone, paranormal activity has still been reported at the site. If these prisoners really did stick around, perhaps one of them is the ghost of Ohio's first black woman to be executed. And it's quite likely she was a lesbian.

In the 1950s, sexuality was still a very taboo subject. Even newspapers, when faced with the task of telling tales of murder, often avoided the subject or (in certain cases) changing around the facts to make things sound, well, . . . less gay. That was certainly the case for Betty Butler.

By all accounts, Betty hailed from Cleveland, Ohio, where she had lived with her husband Harry, a strict Methodist, and two children. The exact reason why they couple separated is unclear, although court records indicate that Betty "associated with lesbians" in northeast Ohio. For one reason or another, Betty found herself in Cincinnati. She befriended a woman six years her senior by the name of Evelyn Clark. Some say they were lovers, while others say Betty was a woman caught up in poverty who had sex with Evelyn in exchange for money and shelter. Either way, their relationship was quite rocky. Arguments were frequent, and violence was not uncommon.

On September 6, 1952, the women were in a rowboat, joined by 42-year-old Deezie Ivory, enjoying the lake at Sharon Woods Park. A quarrel erupted between Betty and Evelyn; to escape the fight, Deezie quickly rowed to shore. There around 5:00 PM, the argument reached its peak. Betty strangled Evelyn, rendering her unconscious but still alive. In full view of the crowded park, Betty grabbed Evelyn by the ankles and held her head beneath the lake waters. "If I can't strangle her," she cried, "I'll drown her!" Leaving Evelyn partially submerged in the water, Betty nonchalantly said, "My work here is done," and walked away. She was stopped by park rangers before leaving the park; attempts to resuscitate Evelyn were unsuccessful.

Newspaper accounts varied when reporting the details. Some claimed the women argued over a man and it was a crime between "love rivals" while the Plain Dealer claimed it was a "sex revenge" murder. Jet Magazine made full mention of the "abnormal relationship", but seemed to waffle between Betty willingly becoming Evelyn's girlfriend and her being taken advantage of by a lesbian. In any case, it seemed the press was uncomfortable addressing the possibility that this was a legitimate same-sex relationship. They avoided the exact details of the crime as much as humanly possible.

Betty Butler was charged with first-degree murder and taken to jail. Her trial was swift; though Betty claimed it was self-defense "to escape [Evelyn's] perverted intentions" of keeping Betty as a "sex slave", she was found guilty and sentenced to death. She was sent to the reformatory in Marysville, Ohio, to await her execution. While in prison, Betty took up charcoal drawing and found she had a knack for art. "It's one of those things I didn't know I could do until too late," she said.

Her execution was delayed three times by appeals, but she met her fate on June 12, 1954 at the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus. After a last meal of scrambled eggs with cheese, toast, and apricots, Betty went to the electric chair dressed in a pink and black dress with white bobby socks and white Oxford shoes. At 8:00 PM, still clutching her rosary (Betty had turned Catholic while in prison), the switch was thrown. She was pronounced dead at 8:10 PM. She was the last woman executed by the State of Ohio.

Women were housed in a building at the southeast corner of the prison, not too far from the "Death House" where the electric chair sat. Today, this spot is covered by McFerson Commons, better known as Arch Park (so named because of the stone arch found here, the only remnant left of the 1897 Union Station which once faced High Street before being demolished in 1979) at the corner of Spring Street and Street. Perhaps if you take an evening stroll in Arch Park, you can still catch a glimpse of Betty, or maybe she finally found peace and has moved on to a better place.

For more information on Betty Butler's story, read The Penalty is Death: U.S. Newspaper Coverage of Women's Executions by Marlin Shipman.

A Spectral Sapphic Sheila...

I am very happy to say that as of today I officially have my flight booked for December's two-week odyssey in Australia. Those of you who know me will surely remember my unsuccessful past attempts to realize the trip. That's not to say that even this time I haven't hit more than one snag as time passes. But it's happening at long last. As Mikey said in the movie Goonies, "It all starts here."

Originally, my plan was to feature some Aussie ghost stories next month. But why wait? Well, to be honest I stumbled across a wonderfully fitting tale that I couldn't wait to tell. It is the Halloween season, after all. Often the homosexual hauntings I find involve gay men and I do want to better balance the two sexes. So when I stumbled across an interesting story of a ghost hunter and his run-in with an angry female ghost, I couldn't pass it up. After all, it's set in the land which became the penal colony of New South Wales in 1788 (which was Britain's second attempt at creating a place to send its undesirables and criminals... take a wild guess where the first one was).

This story begins in 1992 with paranormal investigator Drew Sinton, proprietor of The Haunted Bookshop, when he received a call from Melbourne asking for assistance with poltergeist activity. The female same-sex couple resided in the suburb of Burwood and had been plagued by falling kitchenware, rattling doors, security alarms malfunctioning, and other unsettling phenomena. According to one of the women, similar occurrences happened at her previous residence which led her to believe it could be the spirit of her uncle following her to her new address. Sinton brought with him psychic medium Kelly Roberts to help find the cause of the supernatural experiences.

Kelly wandered the house picking up objects to sense their energy—a divination technique known as psychometry. After a short time she realized the spirit the women were dealing with was female, not male. As she picked up a small porcelain figurine, she was overcome with a strong sense of resentment. She immediately asked the women who had owned the object, but the couple grew quiet and declined any response. After some time they confessed that it had belonged to the ex of one of the pair, a woman by the name of Beverly. According to Sinton, they told him and Kelly that Beverly "died from a blood clot caused during a jealous rage when she ran into a coffee table and injured her leg."

Upon revealing the identity of the woman who the medium believed was behind the paranormal activity, the atmosphere in the room changed. The temperature quickly dropped nearly 45 degrees. A black shadow appeared, witnessed not only by the four people present but also the owner's cats, and moved from one side of the room to the other before disappearing without a trace. "Many times I have tried to rationally explain what I saw," Sinton recalled in an interview 8 years after the event, "but I have come to the belief that it was definitely a ghost."

Perhaps Beverly never let go of her rage from the day of her death. Or perhaps the new relationship angered the jealous spirit causing her to act out her disapproval. We may never know for sure. Hopefully the couple has found some peace with the former lover. Though it is possible that somewhere in Boroondara there's a lesbian ghost still wandering rooms, seeking some attention from the woman she knew or anyone who will notice her.

Psychic Kid Has Two Mommies...

I know I'm terrible. I've been neglecting the lesbians out there so much on my blog. It hasn't been intentional. You know how us gay men can be: thinking with parts of our anatomy below the neck, prone to emotional outbursts, a bit self-centered and shallow. It's a wonder you can tolerate us sometimes. But I have some good news! I've found some things you might be amused by, starting with a movie just in time for the Halloween season!

Imagine the little boy from Sixth Sense was actually a girl. And imagine she was being raised by lesbians. Now, toss in a crazed psychic scientist and some gore and a kidnapping/murder plot. What do you get? An interesting horror movie released last year by Lead Balloon Pictures. Written and directed by Brian Feeney, The Echo Game is a horror thriller centered around a young girl with supernatural abilities. Her mother April (played by Alisha Seaton) and her partner Casey (Jeannie Bolet) receive a letter from Rachel, a former lover thought to have been dead for 10 years. The important message sparks a chain of events involving a psychotic scientist who wants to steal the little girl's powers.

Although the child's parents are a same-sex couple, Feeney makes sure not to place too much emphasis on it. It's crafted in the style of those great 80s slasher flicks most of us remember and grew up watching so prepare yourself for plenty of gratuitous nudity and gallons of fake blood. Become a fan on Facebook or check it out on the big screen on October 25th at Spooky Movie 2010: The 5th Annual Washington, D.C. International Horror Film Festival! Hopefully it'll be released on DVD in the near future!

Watch the trailer:

Seeking Spirits with Pride...

So a lot of people are a bit puzzled by some of the cryptic allusions I've made to upcoming projects in my life. Well, I'll give you all a bit of insight into one in particular. Not long ago, while doing my usual searches for interesting stories and possible ghosts for my next book, I stumbled across a paranormal group based in California, Antelope Valley Ghost Hunters. They are quite possibly the only visible and exclusively LGBT paranormal team anywhere... well, save for The Scary Marys.

Sometimes calling themselves "Family Paranormal", they tried unsuccessfully to capture the attention of a network station but haven't given up yet. I have spoken with the founder, Teresa Parker (who has formed BirdPark Productions), and she's quite a nice and knowledgeable person. Yet again, though, I'm never in the right place... but hopefully, I'll have a chance to tag along with the gang at some point in the future.

And it just might happen some time soon, but that's as much as I'm at liberty to talk about at this time. I'd rather not say too much too soon, just in case plans fall through. I've learned that from experience. But from what I've heard, they're an enthusiastic and great bunch of people, so I definitely hope the tentative speculative plans being made do come to fruition. It's been a while since I've been out west anyway, and I just might get to see a few friends of mine on the way.

But without further babbling, let's see the group in action, shall we? Here's a clip from one of their investigations and a little encounter with a not-so-nice male entity:

Coming Out of the Dark...

It's officially National Coming Out Day today across the globe. Today marks the 20th celebration of a day for GLBT peoples everywhere to make their voices heard. It originated as an anniversary celebration of a march on Washington, D.C., in 1987 to raise awareness for gay and lesbian equality in which half a million people participated.

There remains some debate as to whether being out is important or even mandatory, as some more militant people suggest. Personally, I leave it up to the individual as a personal decision. Yet I do believe that visibility is extremely important in this age. Though it may be yet another label to brand on our foreheads, silence does make us seem like more of a minority than we truly are.

So polish up that old pride necklace you have buried in your dresser drawer. Clip a red ribbon on your shirt. Wear a pink or black triangle on your tie. Let yourself be noticed.

Shiver Me Timbers...

Since I missed last week's celebration of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I thought I'd take the time to write a better-late-than-never bit about those interesting pirates of yore, Anne Bonny and Pierre Bouspeut: tales of a different sort of romance on the high seas.

Anne Bonny was a fierce Irishwoman who turned to a life of piracy while living in New Providence (now known as Nassau). It was there where she befriended many other pirates, and a man named Pierre, who operated a few businesses on the island, including a dressmaker's shop.

Pierre Bouspeut was known by several names. Pierre Delvin. Peter Bosket. Yet one stands out among the rest: "Pierre the Pansy Pirate". That's right, Pierre was gay. And what did he and Anne choose as their first ship to pillage? A French merchant vessel laden with expensive cloth! The duo stole a boat from the harbor, covered its sails with turtle blood, set up a bloodied dressmaker's mannequin on the deck, and had Anne stand beside it with a blood-soaked axe. Upon seeing the ghastly site in the moonlight, the French sailors immediately handed over all their cargo.

I'm sure Pierre was in heaven.

Anne's partner in crime was John "Calico Jack" Rackham (whom "Jack Sparrow" may have been loosely based upon), nicknamed for the colorful clothing he wore... which happened to be lovingly created by his "companion", Pierre Bouspeut. Calico Jack met his demise after being captured on his ship, Revenge, in October of 1720 (his crew was drunk from a night of celebrating a hefty cargo seized from a commercial Spanish ship). He was hung for piracy on the island of Jamaica in a spot now called Hangman's Cay or Rackham's Cay. The rest of his crew, presumably including Pierre, were tried and later hanged in February of 1721 at Port Royal.

Anne was also said to have had a lesbian love-affair with the only other documented female pirate on the seas, Mary "Mark" Read. Mary died in childbirth while imprisoned with Anne. Anne, though, seemingly vanished. It is rumored that she escaped and lived out her days in Charles Towne (Charleston), South Carolina.

Who knew there was so much intrigue and alternative lifestyles in pirate life?

Queer Paranormal Road Trip: Battlefield Bed & Breakfast

Without a doubt, the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is one of America's most haunted locales. During the pivotal Civil War battle of 1863, the town saw the largest number of casualties of any campaign. It has since become a major tourist attraction, not only for the history but the ghosts as well. One such haunted site is a quaint, lesbian-owned inn on the southern end of town: Battlefield Bed & Breakfast.

The house was built out of fieldstone in 1809 by Cornelius & Anna Houtelin. A barn followed in 1820. It remains largely unchanged from its original design, save for the modern amenities added in the 1970s. The current owner has occupied the bed & breakfast for the last 14 years. The house is one of the oldest in the city and has more than a few eternal guests.

During the Gettysburg Campaign, fighting took place on the property. One soldier still appears throughout the homestead and on the property. The spirit of a young girl has also been witnessed by guests. Some have reported a small, cold hug from the ghostly child. Footsteps are heard on the stairs. Door unlock by themselves. An ethereal lantern shines in the nearby field. Some even say Cornelius Houtelin himself still watches over his former home.

Devil's Den, Cemetery Ridge, and Little Round Top are just a short distance away, making it a prime location for paranormal enthusiasts. But why venture out? There are plenty of spirits within the grounds of the inn, just waiting to be explored...

Lavender Bloodbath Television...

If you're looking for some paranormal television this evening, you might want to check out a gay ghost investigation!

Tonight, the series Ghost Hunters International will visit a couple haunted relics in eastern Europe, including Čachtice Castle, alleged haunt of the sadistic, lesbian serial killer Elizabeth Báthory who bathed in the blood of virgin women to "maintain her youth". Vampire legends are often linked to some of her dastardly deeds. She died while imprisoned in a castle tower in the 16th century.

Her ghost is rumoured to haunt the place of her death.

Figures. The bastards didn't invite me.

You can tune in tonight on the SciFi Channel at 9:00 PM.

Dying to Check In...

It's the night before "the biggest gay party weekend of the year", and five gay couples find themselves seeking accommodation far from the highway. The Sahara Salvation Inn seems like a rustic, charming old place... but as the night wears on, secrets are revealed and the nightmares begin!

That's the basic synopsis for the campy, humorous horror movie, The Gay Bed & Breakfast of Terror. The 2007 independent film centers around a group of stereotyped gay men and lesbians, from the sophisticated lipstick lesbian to the personal trainer/gym bunny boy. The innkeepers, Helen and Luella, might seem like typical, wholesome mother and daughter entrepreneurs, but nothing at this inn is what it seems to be.

While it might not feature hauntings, the plot does involve something even more frightening. And it all leads to the attic...

But don't take my word on it. Just watch the trailer...

Choose Your Own Adventure...

First, the bad news: I will not be posting a "Queer Paranormal Road Trip" this week.

No, I have not run out of places (quite the contrary). Instead, I'm taking the time to ask for a little assistance from around the world. An open call for help from my dear readers.

You might think I'd be content with having the dozens of tales I possess at the moment, but no. I know there are more gay/lesbian ghosts and gay/lesbian-owned haunted places! Some might possibly be in your own town... or personal experiences you have had over the years.

So, do you have a story? Do you know of a haunted place with a queer spook? Have you stayed at a gay-owned bed & breakfast and had an unusual experience? Noticed any rainbow flags flying at places on ghost tours?

I want to know.

It doesn't matter where in the world the place is, I'm looking for something anywhere I can find it. Australia would be nice... Spain, Canada, Portugal, France, Brazil, Germany, China... anywhere at all. The United States as well. Anonymity is not a problem. And keep in mind I'm looking for places open to the public. Private residences aren't preferred, but they will do in a pinch.

Just drop me an email and tip me off. No harm, no foul.

In the mean time, happy hauntings...

Queer Paranormal Road Trip: Mile High Grill & Inn

Is there a cold pussy beside you in bed?

Hopefully, that means you're staying at the Mile High Grill & Inn in Jerome, Arizona. What once was yet another ghost town in the southwest has become a lovely, quaint little town. And what better reason to go than to stay at the lesbian-owned-and-operated (and reportedly haunted) hotel.

Owners Jet and Liz are aware of some strange happenings in their building. Unexplained sounds and misty shapes have been witnessed by visitors. The doors of an armoire in the Lariat and Lace Room have mysteriously fallen off their hinges several times. And then there's the feline spirit which frequently sits on the beds.

At one time, the downstairs restaurant was a hardware store. A man purchased a gun and was stopped by a sheriff as he was leaving. The man opened fire and the sheriff shot him dead on the sidewalk. Some believe his presence can still be felt in the stairwell leading to the upstairs hotel.

So if you find yourself in Arizona, looking for a little encounter with the supernatural, be sure to stop in Jerome for a bite to eat... perhaps even stay the night in one of the guest rooms above the Mile High Grill. Who knows. You just might have your first ghostly encounter...

To read one investigator's story, be sure to check out Buck and Michael's stay at the inn...

Oh... and don't worry, boys, they do have pure Angus beef burgers in the downstairs restaurant.

Do You Fear That a Queer Ghost Hunts Here?

When I first set out in the paranormal community, I felt alone. Not for being new, but for being gay. I felt as though it were a non-issue; it had nothing to do with ghosts or death, honestly. I never brought it up, but I never denied it if asked about it. Aside from a few small-minded individuals (mostly online... a few paranoid men and a handful of "devout Christians" who spoke openly about how horrible the lifestyle was right in front of me, not knowing I was one myself), I never had much problem with anyone I worked with for over a decade.

Like it or not, it's a part of who I am. I spent years suffering in silence, feeling a bit like a fraud. I wasn't being honestly who I am. Even though I was essentially "out" (many people don't realize that coming out is a chronic and constant process), I would shut down in the paranormal community.

Slowly that changed. I met some of my closest gay friends through ghost hunting. Everywhere I turned, there were more gay and lesbian paranormal investigators. So I added it to the many labels we give ourselves.

At the same time, I noticed many out there who were terrified of admitting who they were. One investigator went so far as to start dating a woman. Sadly, it still happens to this day.

There are rumors circulating about the sexual proclivities of certain individuals very visible in the paranormal community. Do I know anything about any of them for sure? No. I'll admit I'm sometimes curious, but I leave things be. I'm a nice person. I'm not the sort to out anyone who hasn't said those words, acknowledged rumors, etc. I applaud those who have been brave enough to be themselves.

Still, I'm doing the unthinkable: I'm asking more GLBT paranormal investigators, psychics, mediums, etc. to stand up and be counted. Some of you may have run across my blog accidentally... others may give it a glance here and there. But why hide any longer?

Fellow investigators will get over it. Producers and agents will blow a gasket, but they honestly shouldn't have a stranglehold on someone's personal life. The benefits will far outweigh the perceived risk.

There are more out there, either unknowingly feeling isolated or keeping quiet for other reasons. Both the lonely and the fearful can find solace in each other if they only give it a chance.

Blood Baths, Lesbians, Dracula, and Transylvania

I've always been fascinated with Eastern Europe. Perhaps it stems from my heritage (my great grandfather lived in an apartment in Bratislava, Slovakia before coming to America). Or it could be the result of the countless images of werewolves, old crumbling castles, and vampires haunting my nightmares at an early age. I even dated a Romanian named Dani during my college years (yes, he was from the region known as Transylvania... his hair, voice, and sense of humor were all dark... but he wasn't a vampire, sorry).

Often, our most iconic images are not so much based in reality but a blend of fact and fiction.

Dracula, as we are familiar with him in our culture, never actually existed. His image stems from three sources: superstition, Vlad Dracul, and Elizabeth Báthory.

A strigoi, in Romanian mythology, is the evil soul of the dead capable of transforming itself into an animal or specter to haunt and terrorize the countryside.There were a few different forms: Strigoi vii were living vampire witches, while Strigoi morţi were their undead counterparts. Both fed off the life force (be it the soul or blood) of their victims and could only be destroyed during their feast.

Vlad Ţepeş ("Vlad the Impaler", Vladislav III Dracula , or "son of Dracul", Prince of Wallachia) was a fair and well-loved ruler in Romania during the 15th Century. His nickname stems from his preferred method of punishment. Tales of Vlad drinking the blood of his victims circulated around Europe, though these words came from the lips of his enemies. After escaping Poienari Castle ("Dracula's Castle" as it is now known, where his first wife leaped to her death in the Argeş River below), he returned in 1475 with Stefan Báthory to reclaim the throne, only to be killed in battle during the winter of 1476. His body has never been found.

Speaking of the Báthory family, there's yet another possible origin for the vampires of legend: Báthory Erzsébet, better known as Countess Elizabeth Báthory of Hungary. Elizabeth was a lesbian and always surrounded herself with beautiful, young women. As age and fading beauty began consuming her thoughts, she devised a plan to keep herself young.

She would bathe in the blood of young women. Well, torture and mutilate them first... just for fun.

Everything seemed to go quite well, under the guise of schooling young peasant girls from the countryside. But soon, the rumors of her misdeeds reached government officials. To avoid a public scandal, she was sentenced to house arrest. Čachtice Castle in modern-day Slovakia became her prison for the remainder of her life. She passed away on August 21, 1614 while still bricked into the single room.

Over the many centuries, these and many other tales became twisted and molded into the character we know today as Count Dracula. Transylvania and much of Eastern Europe still retain their superstitious beliefs, but most of the negative reputation is unwarranted.

But who knows... if you ever find yourself wandering the Bohemian countryside after dark, you just might encounter a spook or two... or even a lesbian vampire...