Just weeks after launching this blog in May 2007, I was already talking and emailing excitedly with Erin Davies, then a college student whose VW Bug had been vandalized with anti-gay hate speech. She took the car, dubbed fag bug, on the road and came to Las Vegas for two events that I organized (with a lot of help) in July 2007. Since then, she’s had the car sponsored by Volkswagen (thanks to connections she made right here in Las Vegas), it’s undergone a transformation by being wrapped in the rainbow flag, and is the subject of a documentary about her experience touring as a spokesperson for victims of hate crimes.

Read up on the local journey here (*scroll down to see 2013 event posts):

2007:

• Introduction to The ‘fag bug’ tour
• The beginning of organizing: Project ‘Fag Bug’
• Fag Bug!
• Admit it, you want another Fag Bug update
• Another Fag Bug update
• Fag Bug news
• Local artist creates new pieces, raises money for Fag Bug
• Check out the Fag Bug fliers!
• Activism is HOT!
• Local hate crime: Hate in Sin City
• But wait, there’s more…
• Event Reminder!
• ** Event Re-Cap **
• Fag Bug sponsored by Volkswagen of America
• Erin’s post-tour re-cap

2007 Media:

• Las Vegas CityLife: pre-event and post-event follow up
• QVegas
• News 3, NBC affiliate
• Channel 5, Fox affiliate
• View Newspaper
• Univision

2008:

• Fag Bug gets spiffy new look!
• Trailor for fagbug documentary

2011:

• FagBug vandalized on college campus

2013 Updates:

• THE FAG BUG COMES BACK TO LAS VEGAS — April 19, 2013 — DETAILS SOON!
• RSVP for the movie screening and panel on hate crimes!
• Donate here via PayPal to help pay Erin’s $500 speaking fee!
• National Day of Silence screening of Fag Bug documentary in Las Vegas!
• Las Vegas hate crimes event to feature Erin Davies and her Fag Bug
• NOH8 in Las Vegas: Everything you need to know about the upcoming event, including who is on the panel, and more!
• Thank you Imagine Communications for donating your time to design our amazing flier!
• NOH8 in Las Vegas event press release
• Volunteer opportunities, tabling, and more!
• Less than a week until NOH8 in Las Vegas! Please RSVP and share with friends!
• Have you watched the ‘fag bug’ movie yet?
• What the fag bug has meant to me, or, why this is my line in the sand
• NOH8: Thank you Las Vegas (event re-cap)

2013 Media Hits:

• UCC Magazine 4/5/13
• QVegas 3/20/13
• Vegas for the Family 3/20/13
• Las Vegas Sun (community news release) 3/19/13
• Channel 8 news (CBS affiliate)