During the first week of 2009, a series of letters from an anonymous individual sent to eleven Seattle area gay bars, as well as the local alternative periodical The Stranger, threatened to poison as many as 5 people in every bar. The writer of the letter claimed to be in possession of 67 grams of ricin, a deadly toxin concentrated from a compound found in castor beans. The letter indicated that the poisonings would happen some time over the month of January.

So far, all of the targeted bars have remained open. In fact, many of them are reporting a rally of business since the threats went public. Rather than giving into the fear intended to spread from the threats, Seattle's prominent gay community has shown a healthy sort of defiance. There's already been one organized pub crawl to the threatened establishments, with more on the way.

Seattle has been the site of many stunning displays of gay rights activism in the past year. The quickly-organized protest march over California Proposition 8 drew a crowd of over ten thousand people, including some individuals in high public office in Seattle and the state of Washington. Seattle also hosted the 2008 Gay Men's Health Summit this past autumn. The threat letters were very clear in their anti-gay sentiment, the writer saying he or she would "let the deaths speak for themselves" rather than listing the writer's problems with the gay community as a whole.

Many people have speculated that the ricin threat was really just an attempt to hurt the targeted businesses by scaring away their patrons. Whether the letters are a false alarm or a credible threat, the responses from the police and from the community would be the same. Seattle police in conjunction with the FBI are treating the letters as a genuine concern, investigating the threat as a hate crime and potential terrorist act. Meanwhile, the community has adopted an attitude of steadfastness, solidarity and safety.

This doesn’t mean thirsty Seattleites, regardless of sexual orientation, shouldn’t exercise caution.  Police, bar owners and community advocates continue to stress the importance of mindful, safe behavior, especially in the so-called “targeted” areas. Whether you're in Seattle or not, remember to always follow these tips for a safe, fun evening on the town.

Never Accept Food or Drinks from People You Don't Know. It may be a time-honored tradition for a person to buy drinks for someone he or she finds attractive, but there's a safe and an unsafe way to accept this courtesy. If that handsome hunk or lovely lady wants to get your attention, they can do it with an offer and then let you order your drink straight from the bartender. Ricin threat or no, it's just a bad idea to consume something from the hand of a total stranger.

Never Leave Your Food or Drinks Unattended. I know it sounds like the warning you hear about your bags in the airport, but this one is just common sense. And no, putting a bar napkin over your glass won't do the trick. If you're alone, stay with your stuff until you're finished. If you're with other people, leave at least one person to "stand guard". Even if it's not a matter of life and death, you never know what nasty stuff can land in your drink in a crowded bar.

Party Safe. Even if you're the designated driver, it's a good idea to be mindful of your surroundings. You don't need to be on edge, but keeping your eyes open and your wits about you is never a bad proposition when you're out on the town.

Stay safe and keep enjoying the nightlife, Seattle and everyone else.