I hope Lambda Legal or the ACLU gets all over this. A just outcome would include disciplinary dismissal of the officers who conducted the raid and censure of the police chief, and possibly criminal charges brought against the officers. Oh, and perjury if they try the gay panic defense in the courtroom.

Dan, what do we do? Is there a recommendation about what might be most effective? Post a phone number to call, or an email address we should all send to. I know how organized Slog readers can be. I am stuck here in Austin and I want to DO something about this shit.

Dear Dan,

Start a twitter campaign you have enough clout to start something - I'll tweet from my end. We need this to be a national news story.

Canadian friend,

Les

Reason #465 why I don't live in Texas anymore.

And I agree with #2 and #3 - let's do something.

It's just so damn sad. Can't we just end this shit already?

Demand a federal investigation of civil rights violations. Let's see if Obama means what he says.

It's time to march.

@2 Start an online petition at: www.thepetitionsite.com demanding justice for the victim.

Sadly, Colorado is known for it's Backwoods, Good-Old-Boy network/ Redneck legal system.
I wouldn't be surprised if the cops get off with a slap on the wrist...disgusting

I plead with you Stranger Gods to allow the unregistered comments setting to be saved in a cookie. Please see douchebag @9 if you have any questions.

The more publicity, the more likely the city will settle and pay the medical bills.

One thing that concerned folks can do is check out the Facebook page for the Rainbow Lounge Raid http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10…

Having lived in a community where the cops (at all levels) were known to be rogue and given to abusing their power (New Orleans and surrounding parishes) I can tell you for certain that no one who is a resident of a community where the cops have that kind of rep would so much as give them an excuse to start cracking heads.

Like the bar owner said they're "gay, but (they're) not dumb".

Situations like this make me glad that I don't live in that part of the country anymore - but reinforce that we still need to take action to prevent more tragedies like this from happening.

@ 11 - Colorado?

Dan, I just watched a news clip about the incident today and it said the bar had only been open for TWO WEEKS when this shit went down?! Obviously not a coincidence.

And @15 - Yep, our cause is doomed because I'm asking for an enhanced feature on Slog. And yep, activism is irrelevant. Nice work, thanks for helping.

It's on Digg and Reddit now - vote it up and let's get the word out.

Digg:

http://digg.com/politics/Fort_Worth_Poli…

Reddit:

http://www.reddit.com/user/NewsGeekaTron…

It should be all cookied up there, general.

I love love love LOVE Dan Savage for his ability to boil it down like this.

This is fucking important; why have I only seen this in the blogoshphere?

@20!!!!! FTW!!!!!

As sad as this is we need to Digg, Tweet, Reddit and make this a public news story. This can't happen anymore. If those of us who can't actively participate by going to Fort Worth to raise awareness, we can at least get vocal online. It's been working and news outlets are looking for a wave of "Twitter" news - so lets strike while this form of citizen journalism and internet activism is hot.

@21: I know what you mean. If it weren't for Dan with Slog and Andy Towle with Towleroad I don't think this story would have gotten much if any attention at all.

There was a brief mention of it on the Rachel Maddow show last night, but not much since she's on vacation and has substitutes in this week. Still, I think you're right, the blogosphere is the only place where this is really being discussed. Hopefully we can help change that and bring it to the attention of other MSM outlets.

Btw, @21: Long time no see. Glad to see you resurfaced from work and are posting.

@20 - Thanks Jay, it does work for the current post on refresh, but I was referring to saving the setting for all posts. Also, if you have any sort of "Timothy" filter, that'd be great.

Dan, please let us know if/when a fund is established to help cover Chad Gibson's medical bills. I fervently hope he survives this and gets all the therapy he needs for the long road to recovery. I've worked in a brain injury unit and seen what happens when the ole noggin takes a beating. It's not good.

And I really love not having to look at unregistered comments anymore. Thank you, Slog Web Team!

@17..Whoops..I must have read Fort Collins...Texas=even worse!

From all I have read, found on Google, I'm not inclined to believe the police on this.

My prayers are with this young man.

The email for the Fort Worth Police Department is:

fwpdweb@fortworthpd.com

(snail mail is even more effective, and their internal affairs # is
(817)392-4270 - this is the number to call to report officer misconduct.)

I have sent them the following message:

Dear Jeffrey Halstead and the FW Police Department,

Across the nation people are mobilizing in outrage at your department's actions.

While you may not have targeted the Rainbow Lounge because it is a gay bar, it is clear that the patrons were treated brutally and with excessive force.

I will give money and time to the national legal establishments dedicated to prosecuting your department's actions. If you have not learned that the days when the police can target and attack gays are over, we will teach you.

Rest assured that the nation is watching you and my gay brothers and sisters will be praying for Chad Gibson.

You'd better hope that he lives.

Texas seems to be starting a trend in gay rights being legally fought due to the gay bashing police offices bullying members of the GLTBC. If this goes to court and advances to even the federal levels, then this case will be following Lawrence v. Texas.

The following is from the Facebook page. Info for donating online will be made available soon;

To donate to a fund for Chad Gibson, walk into any Frost Bank location in Texas and ask to make a donation to Q Cinema for the benefit of Chad Gibson (the donation is through Q Cinema in order to be tax deductible). The account number is 608439230. Ability to make online donations coming soon.

Obviously, the cops are lying. But even if they WERE groped, it doesn't give them the right to beat the shit out of somebody. That's worse than the "she was asking for it" defense. It's "To Serve and Protect". Not "to brutalize whenever possible." A police officer should know better. But they hardly ever seem to...

This is why the hate crimes law is important. If the local or state authorities won't prosecute the officers because they're bigots, then the feds need to step in.

@29. Thanks for the concrete suggestions. The snail mail address is:
Fort Worth Police Department
350 W. Belknap Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102

I'll be sending a letter.

Do any of you honestly think Texas is going to change its ways through a lawsuit? After the deaths of James Byrd and Brandon McClelland?

There is no way in hell this is going to be a federal case, there is no way in hell these people are going to be prosecuted, and there's no way in hell this is going to change unless people actually fucking do something. Silent pickets, impotent marches, none of this will matter to Texas. Not to the cops, nor the courts. This did not happen in forgiving South Texas, where folks might hate gay folks, but they'll stick up for them... this happened in the gritty arc of North Texas, where faggots are targets. When you slip out of Dallas or the snug confines of whatever little scrap of Fort Worth queers have a fingerhold on, you're done for. Hell, even Native Americans get shit up there. This isn't Austin, Montrose, Turtle Creek, artsy-fartsy Castroville or the frilly permanent Fiesta of San Antonio, it's hell on earth for anyone who isn't whiter than cotton and dumber than dirt.

Stop being so goddamned naive... this needs to be physical. A foot needs to be put down. Those shit-kicking fucks in North Texas are never noticed because the good queers of Dallas stay locked up in their loop, shades drawn. Al Sharpton won't come save black folk up here neither because he knows he's in a veritable no-man's land.

Something has to give.

@16 yes, lumping a large group of people who have only 2 things in common (being men and homosexuals) into the same absurd box you pulled out of your ass is progress!
oh by the way, i heard asian people can't drive, that black people will rape you and those of the jewish faith are ripping you off. so watch out!
ignorant fuck.

https://twitter.com/thewallofdeath

twitter is the new comments section: follow only those whose opinion you care to read.

Thank you, Jasonzenobia and I Love IPA for the contact information; I'm on it. Having been pulled over by cops in North Texas for DWF (Driving While Female), I agree that we have to be OUT LOUD about this. This kind of bullshit must not stand.

Thank you all who provided info. I sent an email AND called. I hope they come in tomorrow to find their voice and email inboxes stuffed to the brim with outrage.

As awesome as it would be if everyone went ot Fort Worth to protest, I would come out if there were a solidarity rally around here. That's actually doable, for me. And it would at the very least bring more press coverage to this, and FWPD's main hope at this point is that it goes away quickly.

Maybe the cops were upset because Michael Jackson had died.

Welcome to the rest of the nation.

You're not as close to universal acceptance towards LGBTs as you think. Don't let a handful of states' legal measures fool you.

@34 I couldn't agree more - "he/she was asking for it" is not an excuse to beat/rape the everliving shit out of a person.

(1) California Prop. 8
(2) Obama "protecting" "traditional" marriage
(3) "Silencing Christians" airing in several TV networks
(4) First Lt. Dan Choi discharged from New York National Guard for being gay
(5) "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" still in effect.
(6) Religious Right declares war on homosexuals.

Any country that would do this to 10% of their citizens simply because of their sexual orientation has got serious problems.

Add to this the fact that billions are being giving to corporations and banks while the public infrastructure decays (DC transit crash a prime example) . . . the U.S. is NOT the place to be right now. And unless things change . . . and change DRASTICALLY . . . all of you good Americans might want to consider getting out now.

Obama = change? I don't think so.

If the "gay panic" defense is enforceable it stands to reason that woman should be allowed to retaliate against any unwanted advances from straight men. Same logic. Sure, if you grope a uniformed on-duty officer I can even see charges being pressed but excessive force? What if uniformed cops walked in on a bunch of drunk women at a bachelorette party and were groped? I doubt they would have assaulted the women. Either way going en force into a situation where people are drinking without any cause is proof enough they were trying to cause trouble. It's probably true that none of these cops were groped, but I'm just saying EVEN IF THEY WERE the force that was used is still reprehensible and I hope, punishable by law.

I'm assuming that when Chad Gibson was admitted to the hospital that a routine blood-alcohol check was made. When will that number be released? If he was "falling down drunk" as early police reports stated, that should show up in the blood-alcohol test.

Here's how I know that the cops are lying sacks of shit.

Back when I was in the Army (this would've been around '97 or so), I used to drive down to Atlanta every few months to indulge my gay side. On one such trip, I met a guy who had a uniform fetish. A serious uniform fetish. We're talking two large closets with nothing but uniforms fetish.

We thought it would be fun to be a couple of cops for the night. Naturally he had the right size shirt and trousers for me to wear, in the proper Atlanta PD color. He had the perfect utility belt, even with a realistic looking plastic squirt gun in the holster. The badges were wrong, of course, but close enough, especially in a dark environment. This guy was good at getting the details right.

We both looked the part. He was a firefighter in a small town on the outskirts of Atlanta, and in his mid-30s. I was in the Army still. We looked damn good (wish I'd had the presence of mind to get some pictures). And what really made it realistic was that there were two of us. Everyone knows cops travel in pairs.

So we went to the Heretic, which was kind of a leather-lite bar. The security guy (who might have been an off-duty cop himself) just smiled and waved us in. But when we got in, you can imagine the impact. In a crowded bar close to midnight, voices fell and people made way for us with absolutely no prompting whatsoever.

The Heretic had a back corridor where there used to be quite a bit of shenanigans on a Saturday night. We later heard that the word of our arrival spread back there like wildfire and guys zipped up in a flash.

Then the manager of the bar came up to us to see what the problem was. We told him we weren't really cops and he smiled and bought us a drink. Word got around and everyone relaxed.

So that's my experience from the cops' POV, and why I know this story that the Fort Worth PD is total bill. Because I've seen how the patrons and the management in a bar react, even late on a Saturday night when everyone's pretty buzzed. They do not start groping you, even if the bar's got a reputation for being that kind of a place.

These cops are nothing but lying Texas redneck pigs, and they deserve a few whacks to the head with a billy club themselves, but I'll settle for their badges.

Who can we call to contribute to this poor young man's medical bills? And who do we call to voice our concerns over this absolute form of inequity. I'm thinking of Chad and have said a little prayer for you!!

This is classic cop behavior: Assault you, arrest you for being drunk, say you attacked them, not press charges.
Happened to me two years ago, and the police complaint is still in the system.

This "raid" is appalling, and something needs to be done about it NOW. I cannot believe that the sheriff is saying such stupid things, and expecting people to believe that the man fell down and hit his head. Actually, no, he doesn't expect anybody to believe it, because almost nobody cares. That is the problem right there.

@54: Yeah, well, as you say, it's classic cop behavior. I've seen many cases of alleged police brutality where I think and even want to believe that the cops acted rightly (this is not one of them, btw), but I have trouble doing so because of how tightly they circle the wagons after any kind of accusation.

A big part of the problem, in my opinion, is how we tend to rate witnesses. The assumption is that a cop is an upstanding citizen, no matter how much of a thug he actually is. This is aided by his co-workers standing up for him on the idea that others will reciprocate when and if they run into trouble.

Obviously, the oversight system here is broken. I don't see how you fix this, though. Have an ombudsman ride with every cop on every patrol? Does that person not gain a bias over time? I've felt hopeful over the increase in recording media in the past few years, but even direct recordings seem very susceptible to the usual spin tactics.

i think a candle light vigil is in order - or perhaps a divestiture and boycott of all things Texas.

Attempted murder by the police would be a good court case. Tried as a hate crime in Federal court. No wonder we need a hate crime law, and the Christian Taliban are so opposed.

Wouldn't it be fun to see these police put in the 'big house', and their identities outed to the inmates.

They would then get exactly what they deserve - being everyone of the super-hetero-macho's prisoner's boys.

My gay husband lives in the metro there and works for the federal government--he has been trying to follow this story since I (who live on the liberal East Coast) informed him of it on Sunday. To date, no news channel that he can find in TX has even covered this story AT ALL. WTF?!!

@57: Prisoner rape is the new Godwin's law.

@29 Just sent my email.

@31 Who the hell are you?

Re: "Reason #465 why I don't live in Texas anymore."

Don't blame the entire state for the ignorance and homophobia of one city's government. Austin, Houston and Dallas are amazing cities, and Dallas has an openly gay Sheriff. And in 2007, Dallas almost elected the first gay mayor of a major city (Tom Leppert ended up winning, but he is very gay friendly and appointed a gay Chief of Staff).

I can assure you that people in Dallas are appalled that this happened so close to home and are treating like like it happened in their own city.

@16 - Your distaste for public displays of gay affection is just as narrow minded as these police officers, I don't care for seeing straight couples act in the same manner, but I deal because I know that they're socially acceptable still, and we are not.. I understand if it makes you uncomfortable since its probably something you're still not used to being around. Another man kissing another man in public isn't a crime, its not disgusting, and there's nothing wrong with it, no matter how much it bothers you. We are all human beings and should be looked at and treated respectively the same.

@56 - Really.. Let's ban Texas, absentmindedly do something like that.. wake up! This shit happens everywhere.. Not on their side obviously being a homo and a former Texas resident, I love the place, but when I see this kind of thing happen, its like it is a thousand times worse than it would be if it happened in Colorado or Alabama..

Anywho there is no discussion to be had around this issue.. the cops are lying and somebody needs to do something about it. I think its great that there is a medical fund for Chad, thats a step in the right direction, and as was also said earlier.. online discussion with stupid/ignorant comments *silent protests* aren't going to get anything done. In this day and age, with this sort of thing happening, we do need to take action more heartily because we as a society beyond this, yet little packets of ignorance and violence still live on in different areas of the country. If something like a major level protest or a large gathering in refute to this tragedy, I would make my way to TX to help and be a part of it. I'm ashamed the reputation that this is giving Texas as a state, there are still thousands of people there in the dark areas of close-mindedness, so a full on protest demonstration needs to be organized in large numbers, not a violent protest, but a big enough stand to let them know that what they've done is not right, they can't arrest everyone and I'd gladly go jail to put another foot in the door of the gay civil rights movement of this decade, if the protest ended in that direction. Most people wouldn't say the same. I will also be notifying Ft. Worth city and police officials with the provided addresses and contact information.

Final word being the police officers were in the wrong, regardless of whether they were actually groped or not. They had no right to do what they did in any situation unless he had pulled out a gun or some other form of physically offensive weaponry and threatened them. This is a good ol fashioned gay bashing and there is no other explanations around that. I will be keeping an eye on this and watching to see what develops in order of a protest or action towards getting the word out on this happening.

My heart goes out to Chad and I really hope he recovers from this to fight back for what was done to him.

This is what happens when you have any group of Citizens treated as less than equal. I agree that violence against us, the LGBT community, will continue to rise as those against our having full and equal rights continue to think that violence will send us back into the closet. NOT SO FUCKERS! This one ain't going away!

Discussion is under way about the establishment of a medical fund to assist Gibson. His hospital bill will undoubtedly be enormous, and it is unlikely that he will ever recover any of those medical expenses from the City of Fort Worth. Police officers and other government employees are protected by state law from liability in any legal action that arises in connection with the performance of their official duties, unless they are involved in misconduct or broke laws.

Those piece-of-shit officers HAD to have broken laws there!

Maybe those officers now know what its like when any woman enters a 'regular' bar and gets gropped by men just like them (or maybe EVEN them). It was presented as tit for tat. As if touching a straight man in a gay bar is even remotely 'tatted' with physical violence. Pfff. I'd like to see how long these police officers would last in their own prisons.

Another Good Contact is the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. They care about money and tourism.

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
777 Taylor Street
Suite 900
Fort Worth, TX 76102-4997

The President and CEO is:

Bill Thornton
817.336.2491 ext 234

I've asked them to support Councilman Joel Burns' call for an investigation into the police raid at Rainbow Lounge.

You can also send messages to all the members of the Chamber through their website:

http://www.fortworthchamber.com/chamber_…

i think a candle light vigil is in order - or perhaps a divestiture and boycott of all things Texas.

Hahaha a boycott of Texas. You better be ready to boycott life. You'd be surprised how much of almost everything about you goes through that state. You might want to prepare to disown some friends and family too while you're at it.

Jasonzenobia is rocking it. Thanks for your concrete suggestions. Let's hope we can make a difference.

This is such a step back in time for society in Texas - i'm saddened by this obviously because it's wrong and angered because it's just hateful - the police that are paid by gay and str8 tax dollars alike are there to serve and protect - here they did a great disservice to their employers (taxpayers) - this cant go unaddressed by the ACLU

As a Fort Worth resident, I have to stick up for the many of us that are appalled by this injustice. It truly is sad that this incident is how people will perceive the city as a whole. Contrary to popular belief, we have a great nightlife, great museums, a great art community, and a growing and vibrant progressive community. A few bad apples always spoil the bunch, but I would hope that everyone outside the city looking in will aim their dissatisfaction at those that grossly overstepped their authority and are giving all of us a bad name, and not at the city as a whole. The officers who did this hopefully will be brought to a swift justice and we can resume to being the kind of Texans that are welcoming and friendly.

Ease up on "cops". There are actually a lot of gay cops out there. and plenty of straight cops who would never do this. So don't attack this act of discrimination with more discrimination. "They're all a like" mentality is wrong no matter who you are talking about. You should be trying to get support from Police Officers to speak out against this, not badmouthing all of them. That's a backwards attempt at trying to fight for civil rights.

Ease up on "cops". There are actually a lot of gay cops out there. and plenty of straight cops who would never do this. So don't attack this act of discrimination with more discrimination. "They're all a like" mentality is wrong no matter who you are talking about. You should be trying to get support from Police Officers to speak out against this, not badmouthing all of them. That's a backwards attempt at trying to fight for civil rights.

I hate TX! Thank you for this story.
It's true that Texans are welcoming and friendly, just not entirely well-educated and they're friendly until they find out you're not like them.

This is the note I just received back from Bill Thornton at the Ft. Worth Chamber of Commerce:

Gurldoggie,
I have had multiple conversations with Mayor Moncrief concerning this matter and I am convinced that he and Chief Halstead will conduct a thorough and timely investigation into what occurred at the Rainbow Lounge.
Bill

Keep up the pressure people!

Although it's much stated to "not mess with texas" i think that the police chief is probably a fat fucking ignorant southern bastard who needs his dick cut off, along with his "posse" of iligitimate "officers", if you will. I have lived in Texas for a number of years, and never have encountered anything nearly as ridiculous as this. These officers should know better, considering FW is basically part of Dallas, which has a very large gay population. I urge all GLBT folk to revolt against the pitiful action taken.

Dan said "Gay men all over the country are going to have to speak up and defend the patrons of the Rainbow Lounge". This is incomplete: ALL people, gay straight male female, need to demand justice after this fascist police riot.

Really Mr Yuk @16 ? I'm a gay man and never acted like that and none of my gay friends neither ... and if you think were looking at you it's because your looking at us ... and looking at you dosen't mean we want you ...

The DOJ should investigate the FWPD for violation of the patrons civil rights and sue their dumbasses for all they are worth.

This is a hate crime perpretrated by law enforcement.

The officers involved in the attack on the Rainbow Lounge should be charged with Assault with Deadly Intent and with committing a hate crime. If Gibson dies, every officer involved should be charged with first degree murder.

We are still a nation of laws, and the terrorists in the Fort Worth police department should be treated as such.

Until justice is done, I wouldnt feel safe in a town like this, with these kind of badge wielding officers on the public payroll who have an anti-public minded agenda led by a police chief who would make public statements before his own investigation was complete. They give fellow police officers a bad name, they give the town of Fort Worth and the state of Texas a bad name.

This is Texas. Driving thru the state several times and talking to friends living there (and even more who have LEFT Texas after living there), much of the state has NO gay bars and no tolerance for gays...I guess FW PD was showing restraint, this is Texas, usually they would just shoot 'em.

Hate is ugly, especially when its wearing a badge. I guess just that much faster I'll drive on my next trip thru Texas.

I know we're not supposed to be in favor of prison rape, but I really hope the officers who assaulted this man are arrested, tried, convicted and then sent off to a big ol' fudge packing penitentiary.

Well Brothers and Sisters... I hate to be the bearer of bad news... but very little has changed in the past 40 years.

We are considered a "unfortunate inconvenience" by Straight America... one that just need be "tolerated" in the open, while being beaten and scarred behind closed doors.

One that only deserves a half-assed civil commitment ceremony instead of what every other citizen of this country is entitled to... equal protection...

These morally perverted idiots who would use the old "he touched me" defense after beating someone so viciously are clearly looking for an excuse... which we cannot let them have.

We have to stand up to this in whatever way we can...by calling our representatives, supporting the abused, and marching on DC if we have to, to end this treatment as second class citizens.

We talk about how enlightened we are as a country, and how much better we are than Russia, or Iran or pick a country... we are the best you know... just ask anyone who's not a minority...if that is the case, why are we burying so many of our brothers and sisters every year?

Unfortunately it takes an incident like this, to rally us... but we need to continue the fight to make sure that this is not acceptable behavior...least of all by the people empowered to "Protect Us"?

I have 20 years service in Law Enforcement with NYS, and I can tell you today that these people are an embarrassment to not only themselves, but to everyone who wears the uniform.

I am sending a copy of this to all in my account, and encourage the rest who have read it to please do the same... we cannot let this happen without retribution and change...

I have a feeling when we see pictures of the cops that assaulted this 26 year old, we'll be scratching our heads.

There is no way some older overweight cop would be attractive to a single, fit attractive 26 year old.

This is all out shitty and DAN SAVAGE IS ON THE MOVE TO LET YOU ALL KNOW IT. HEY DAN, This good and this is what you are good for....how about we publicly discuss some major issues concerning QUEERS AND VIOLENCE and how we should execute our right to be decent folk and look after our brothers and sisters...Yes, Let's talk about the rights and wrongs of our society as a whole and how we are making it a better place and letting THOSE PEOPLE know that we are not gonna take thing lying down. HEY DAN, WHAT WOULD MARTIN LUTHER KING DO? OR IS THAT QUEEN in OUR CASE

LET ME KNOW, still waiting for us to publicly discuss important QUEER MATTERS AT HAND.

That's devo.lang@gmail.com

THANKS FOR LETTING THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT, FROM NOBODY!

The SEATTLE STRANGER puts high regard on the way MARTIN LUTHER KING felt that day of his death, oh wait, the day he was killed, oh, wait the day he was murdered, oh wait the day his face was blown half off, YES! The Seattle Stranger is the only paper who knows that MARTIN LUTHER KING not only wanted to be banged on a the balcony, but he liked it!
Yes, the Seattle Stranger has even coined a clever acronym in his honorable balcony event. You want to know what that is, I will tell you, it's even marketed to the homosexual community of "bottoms." Well, MLQ by definition of THE SEATTLE STRANGER, Page 9, Vol 18, June 25-July 1, 2009, specifically, "KWEER KWIZ KORNER,"
'MARTIN LUTHER QUEEN, slang for a gay bottom who gets banged on a hotel balcony." OOPS my bad...it doesn't express if any one liked getting banged on the balcony...well..oh well....we can assume, right? My question is why is the MLQ a bottom? Oh and another thing we all think some fucked up shit, and there is that freedom of speech thing...so...my fight and disgust is with the EDITORS OF THE SEATTLE STRANGER. "WHAT IF A QUEER PERSON OF COLOR WROTE THE CLEVER ACRONYM?" NOPE, still wrong. It's not a RACE issue. It's FLAT OUT WRONG. IF this was written in any PAPER other than SEATTLE ONLY PAPER, THE STRANGER, DAN SAVAGE ( I love name dropping) would have been on ANDERSON COOPER in a heartbeat....or some megaphone burning and boycotting at some local night spot on the 'HILL. There would have been a big ad in THE SEATTLE STRANGER to come together and show support in OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO FIGHT STUPIDITY...

ENOUGH! EDITORS RESIGN! GO to California regroup! and stop being stupid! You know better! Put you cleverness to good work, and speaking of work, work out your demons and get back to being fucking progressive. WE DID NOT COME THIS FAR JUST TO BE BETTER OFF WHERE WE WERE.

I tell you, there are people who don't want the queer lifestyle to exist, who wouldn't dare write that fucking acronym. It's bad enough to be and live who we are, without having continued bullshit postings that fence such insults. MLQ, really!? You could have taken a heroic route! WHAT THE FUCK SEATTLE STRANGER?

Here's the letter I sent to all email addresses provided.
To The City Council, Mayor Moncrief, and Forth Worth Police;

I am appalled to learn of the actions of the Forth Worth Police department and their aggressive raid of the Rainbow Lounge.
What happened to philosophy of to Serve and Protect? I'm guessing you operate as a police 'force' not as public service.

It's disheartening to learn your police Chief, Jeff Halstead is blowing off the aggressive actions of his officers acting like Chad Gibson deserves the traumatic brain injuries he's surviving. Mayor Moncrief, why are you allowing the officers and the chief to continue to serve after this violent action? They should be removed from duty immediately and an outside organization should conduct an investigation in to this police brutality.

Halstead saying, "I'm happy with the restrained used...." is saying I'm happy this guy has a brain clot and could die. He'll never recover from the medical bills he'll sustain from the police departments brutality and still may die from his injuries if the blood clot does not dissolve.

Mayor Moncrief and the City Council must take action and stop this from ever happening again and these officers should lose their jobs.

Seeking justice and equality.

Scott Roewer
Washington, DC