Bates House Owner Joe Ware Has Died

It is with great sadness and tear filled eyes that I inform you all that a dear friend and fellow Oakland entrepreneur, Joe Ware, passed away over the weekend. Details have not yet been released as to the cause of death but it was health related.

I took this picture of Joe last year during the Oakland International Black LGBT Film Festival and just as this picture suggests, Joe was a peaceful and laid back kind of guy. He was also a consumate host. It was these exact qualities that made his business The Bates House Bed & Breakfast such a hit with locals and visitors from all over the world.

As owner of the Bates House, Joe was the only black gay owner of a Bed & Breakfast hotel in the Bay, and one of maybe two black owned Bed & Breafast businesses in all of the North West.

And when he was healthy...he ran his business with pride, professionalism and class.

Almost all of the early Keeping It Real TV interviews were conducted at The Bates House and Joe always opened his door to special events in support of the LGBT community and the community at large.

Even today, there are not many who are brave enough to be out and gay and run a respectable business in the community. But Joe didn't care and he flew that big gay flag at the top of his business as a beacon, to let us know that without question we were welcome at the Bates House.

I will miss the days conversing with Joe in his beautiful backyard amongst the flowers and the impecably landscaped grounds, with classical music or smooth jazz wafting through the air.

I walked by the Bates House today....the big gay flag is gone....but we will not forget you Joe and all that you have done to help make our community and our city proud.

I love you and miss you and goodbye for now my friend.

Joe

PS...as soon as I get information about services I will add to this posting.