Fifth Avenue Forum

But now, amid new allegations of sexual harassment against Duran by members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, some West Hollywood residents and politicians are saying enough is enough and that times have changed. Three of the city’s five council members have called on Duran to resign, saying he has become a distraction.

Protesters are planning to converge on the City Council meeting Tuesday to call for Duran’s ouster and seek action in another scandal: the recent deaths of two gay black men in the West Hollywood apartment of Ed Buck, a white, wealthy Democratic donor and LGBTQ activist. For several years, Duran worked as an attorney for Buck.

Last week, Robert Oliver resigned as vice chair of the city’s Public Safety Commission in protest after other commissioners declined to condemn Duran.

“It is time that the #MeToo movement comes to West Hollywood,” he said.

Duran, 59, has refused to step down, describing himself as a proudly sensual gay man who lived through a sexual revolution colliding against a prudish #MeToo movement that’s too quick to judge. Bawdiness is just part of who he’s always been, Duran said, and he’s not going to change now.

“There’s a culture clash going on,” the mayor said. “If somebody expresses himself or herself sexually, that doesn’t make it harassment, per se.”

“People are thinking that anything sexual is harassment because somebody feels it is unwelcome, but you have to open your mouth and say, ‘No, I don’t want this.’ … Otherwise, how are any of us able to navigate the sexual politics of 2019? I just think there are bigger, more complex issues at play, that everyone needs to take a timeout and slow down. It can’t be accusation equals guilt.”

Three current or former members of the Gay Men’s Chorus have accused Duran, the longtime board chairman, of crude sexual comments and engaging in unwanted touching.

Not harassment per se but someone tweeted about a John Wayne interview from the 70s and as you can guess Wayne said some insensitive stuff

I don't use social media but I'm upset that I ever found out that this is a "trending" thing. Such a waste of time but apparently digging up graves is something people do now

https://twitter.com/pixelpreaching/stat ... 52641?s=20

Shocked! Shocked I am to discover that a man born in 1907 and who was already in his 60s when interviewed in 1971 did not have progressive, post-millennial opinions about race and sexual orientation. I am also shocked to discover that bears crap in the woods.

Shocked! Shocked I am to discover that a man born in 1907 and who was already in his 60s when interviewed in 1971 did not have progressive, post-millennial opinions about race and sexual orientation. I am also shocked to discover that bears crap in the woods.

You might want to sit down for this one, but whales, in fact, crap in salt water.

MIMH. I apologize for being short with you.

Not harassment per se but someone tweeted about a John Wayne interview from the 70s and as you can guess Wayne said some insensitive stuff

I don't use social media but I'm upset that I ever found out that this is a "trending" thing. Such a waste of time but apparently digging up graves is something people do now

https://twitter.com/pixelpreaching/stat ... 52641?s=20

What’s your issue, exactly? I’ve never heard of this. I’m glad I have. The skeleton that used to be attached to his dumb brain doesn’t have feelings anymore. I think you can sleep tonight.

If anyone takes this as a chance to harass his living family, that’s wrong. If he ever showed significant contrition, this is a gray area. But pointing out the faults of people that have been falsely idolized and are still idolized is still at least a smidge important, I think.

And “Insensitive” is a heck of a whitewash, I’d say.

And you’re on social media right now, fella.

MIMH. I apologize for being short with you.

Low blow.

I don't enjoy modern political discussion and this is a major example of why. The hammer falls hard on those that people on the internet decide they don't like something that someone said at some point. What happened to Liam Neeson is another good example. Human beings and their thoughts, views etc are complicated but it doesn't matter anymore. Both sides of the aisle are making it "if you're not with us, you're against us"

Is there anyone that's surprised that Wayne holds these opinions? Did anyone think he was going to be a civil rights activist?

I'll admit I have an issue too where when I hear about a story like this, I can't help but browse twitter (I don't even have an account) and get angry about everyone's views. My life improved when I deleted my Facebook app and I wish I had enough willpower to keep off all these wretched shitholes

All old people were racist and homophobic back in '71...

No, they really weren't...

The Liam neeson backlash is silly.

All old people were racist and homophobic back in '71...

No, they really weren't...

Yeah, wtf? Hateful people are what they are, regardless of era.