Most residents of Fort Worth have never even seen the inside of a gay bar. Fort Worth’s police chief Jeff Halstead is counting on that fact—counting on the average person’s ignorance about gay bars and certain stereotypes about gay men—to get a half a dozen Forth Worth police officers off the hook for conducting a violent raid on a Forth Worth gay bar, the Rainbow Lounge, late last Saturday night. Seven men were arrested during the raid, which took place on the 40th anniversary of the raid on the Stonewall Inn that kick-started the modern gay rights movement, and one of those men—Chad Gibson—remains in intensive care with a brain injury. Gibson may not survive.
The officers who raided the Rainbow Lounge claim that the men in the bar made “advances” on them—and Forth Worth’s police chief is backing them up:
Monday, police chief Jeff Halstead said the officers’ actions are being investigated. However, he also said that officers that entered the bar during the scheduled inspection were touched inappropriately.
“You’re touched and advanced in certain ways by people inside the bar, that’s offensive,” he said. “I’m happy with the restraint used when they were contacted like that.”
Allow me to translate the chief’s comments: “Them faggots in that thar bar touched mah officers and now they’re complainin’ about some rough stuff and one little ol’ faggot with a brain injury? Those perverts should be grateful they’re alive.”
This is a classic example of the Gay Panic Defense. In the very recent past all a straight man who brutally murdered a gay man had to say was, “He made a pass at me!”, and the jury would ignore the evidence and let the murderer off. The Gay Panic Defense doesn’t fly in many courts of law these days but it still has currency in the court of public opinion. And the chief of police in Forth Worth, a major U.S. city, is attempting to use the Gay Panic Defense to convince the citizens of Fort Worth to ignore the evidence—to ignore photographic evidence and credible eyewitness accounts—and let his officers off.
And you’ll never guess who the police are accusing of being the groper: Chad Gibson, the one man arrested at the Rainbow Lounge who can’t defend himself and may never be able to give his side of the story. But another person at the bar witnessed Gibson’s arrest:
“They were hyped up. They were loaded for bear,” said Todd Camp, a veteran journalist who was there celebrating his birthday with friends. “They were just randomly grabbing people, telling them they were drunk.”
Camp told me he has been in bars during TABC/police “checks” before, “and it was never anything like this.” Usually, he said, officers discreetly walk through, looking for anybody who has had too much. This was different. “They were shoving patrons,” Camp said, “asking, ‘How much have you had to drink?'”
…
“[Gibson] was taken down hard,” said Camp, with “four or five” officers wrestling him to the floor inside the club. Cellphone photos shot by patrons and posted to blogs show a person being held facedown by officers in a short hallway inside the club, then show a dent in the wall where his head was apparently banged.
The police claim that Gibson wasn’t injured when those four or five cops slammed him to the floor of the bar, but after his arrest, when, drunk and handcuffed, Gibson somehow fell and hit his head on the pavement outside the bar.
All of this is bullshit.
I’ve been in a million gay bars. I’ve been in gay bars on multiple occasions when the police came in to check everyone’s IDs and make sure no minors were being served. Gay men don’t grope police officers when they enter gay bars. I find it inconceivable that the gay men drinking in the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth responded to a raid by attempting to grope the police officers. This “they groped us!” shit is a lie. As the owner of the bar, J.R. Schrock, put it at the protest the night after the raid:
“The groping of the police officer—really? We’re gay, but we’re not dumb,” Schrock said to the crowd that gathered at the bar Sunday afternoon. “That is a lie, and I am appalled by it.”
Jeff Halstead can’t be allowed to use the Gay Panic Defense. His officers weren’t groped, no one was “touched and advanced.” Homophobic cops raided a gay bar, roughed up the patrons, and a young man is in the hospital and may die.
Some will say that this was just an ill-timed raid on a gay bar in Texas, of all places, one that got out of control. So what’s the big deal? But this is exactly the kind of state-sponsored violence that gays and lesbians fought back against at Stonewall 40 years ago. Gay men all over the country are going to have to speak up and defend the patrons of the Rainbow Lounge. We can’t allow the chief of police in Fort Worth to use the Gay Panic Defense or exploit stereotypes about gay men—so sexually reckless that they can’t even keep their hands off cops during a raid!—to get away with violating the civil rights of gay men in Fort Worth or murdering Chad Gibson.
UPDATE: More on Chad Gibson’s condition:
Chad Gibson, the 26-year-old Fort Worth resident who wound up in John Peter Smith Hospital in the intensive care unit after a law enforcement raid on a gay bar over the weekend, remains in danger with a blood clot on his brain. Dallas Voice senior editor Tammye Nash reports on the newspaper’s blog, Instant Tea, that Gibson’s sister, Kristy Morgan, told her a CAT scan had revealed the blood clot has quit growing, but it is still considered a life-threatening situation. Until the clot dissolves, there is a danger that the clot could break off and cause severe brain damage or death. A rupture of the clot could also start bleeding again.
The blood clot could take from six months to two years to dissolve, according to the update. Gibson, shown in a picture from facebook.com, will likely remain in the hospital for the rest of the week and will be referred to a neurosurgeon for follow-up treatment. Surgery is reportedly not being considered at this time.
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.
UPDATE 2: Someone needs to put this follow-up question to Fort Worth’s police chief:
If Chad Gibson—the 160-pound, 26-year-old gay man that it took five of your officers to subdue—groped one of your officers, and if it was Gibson’s lewd action that caused your officers to go absolutely apeshit, then surely Gibson—who is in an intensive care unit and may not survive his injuries—was charged with assault, right?
Officers then went to the Rainbow Lounge, which had opened about a week ago. They encountered two drunk people who made “sexually explicit movements” toward officers and another who grabbed a TABC agent’s groin, according to the police report.
No one was arrested for assault but about half a dozen people were arrested on charges of public intoxication, according to police records. Police Chief Jeff Halstead said Gibson was the patron who grabbed at the agent’s groin.
So… Chad Gibson sexually assaulted a Fort Worth police officer and, according to the Fort Worth’s chief of police, Gibson’s assault not only prompted but justified the actions of his officers at the Rainbow Room, but… Gibson wasn’t charged with assault.
Can someone please ask the chief of police to explain how that works?
UPDATE 3: Via Slog commenter jasonzenobia: The Fort Worth Police Department’s email address is fwpdweb@fortworthpd.com and the number for FWPD’s internal affairs office is 817.392.4270. That’s the number to call to report officer misconduct. Joel Burns is the openly gay member of the Fort Worth city council and he’s been all over this. You can reach him at his email is Joel.Burns@fortworthgov.org.
UPDATE 4: I’ve heard from folks in Fort Worth that Joel Burns’ office is being slammed with furious phone calls and emails about the raid on the Rainbow Lounge and the assault on Chad Gibson. Burns, however, has taken action on this and has called for an investigation and is doing everything an openly-gay elected official is supposed to do in a circumstance like this. If you’re itching to send an outraged emails, Sloggers, I’d urge you to send emails to the six Fort Worth councilmembers who haven’t joined with Burns and two of his colleagues in calling for a full and independent investigation into the appalling raid on the Rainbow Lounge.
Councilmember W.B. “Zim” Zimmerman
817-392-8803
District3@fortworthgov.org
Councilmember Danny Scarth
817-392-8804
District4@fortworthgov.org
Councilmember Frank Moss
817-392-8805
District5@fortworthgov.org
Councilmember Jungus Jordan
817-392-8806
District6@fortworthgov.org
Councilmember Carter Burdette
817-392-8807
District7@fortworthgov.org
And send an email to the mayor, Mike Moncreif, who has yet to make a statement:
Mayor Mike Moncrief
817-392-6118
mike.moncrief@fortworthgov.org
Tell them the whole country is shocked and outraged and that you’re appalled by their failure to join their colleagues Joel Burns, Sal Espino, and Kathleen Hicks in calling for an investigation into the raid on the Rainbow Lounge and the assault on Chad Gibson.
oh ps. this world was started with extremist and extremists are the only ones who have ever made a difference. go extreme or be brutally beatin for your beliefs.
Dan: I appreciate the coverage, but the headline is deceptive. Police chief Jeff Halstead did not use the word “faggot.” I agree that his defense may imply many things, but he did not say that word.
Thought I’d post the email I sent to the Fort Worth police department and others. Thanks to Dan for the addresses.
To:
fwpdweb@fortworthpd.com, District3@fortworthgov.org, District4@fortworthgov.org, District5@fortworthgov.org, District6@fortworthgov.org, District7@fortworthgov.org, mike.moncrief@fortworthgov.org
Bcc:
Joel.Burns@fortworthgov.org
As a lesbian who happily, and safely, celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall in my hometown of New York, I’m horrified that the same shit is happening, just in a different part of the country.
I agree with the owner of the Rainbow Lounge that these men who were assaulted probably didn’t sexually molest the officers. Most gay people are at least a little wary of cops, why deliberately put ourselves in danger?
In any case, it’s a flimsy excuse for attacking a man in such a brutal way that he is in intensive care and might die. This is not his fault, not gay people’s faults. This is the fault of the people who did this to him, the police who arrested and attacked people who weren’t doing anything wrong.
If the police department of Fort Worth doesn’t want to have thousands of activists ramming this point home, just take responsibility. Discipline those officers who assaulted citizens. Apologize to Chad Gibson and his family when he recovers (I hope) and pay for his medical bills.
The world isn’t the same as it was 40 years ago. When the same thing happened at Stonewall, pretty much only gay people in New York knew about it. Now, this news is all over the country and gay people aren’t used to being treated like 3rd class citizens anymore. I wouldn’t be surprised if public opinion turned against the mayor if he doesn’t do the right thing here. Mayor Moncrief, listen to the people and your conscience, and speak out against police brutality in the gay community.
Councilmembers, stand with Joel Burns, your colleague, against hatred and violence. If any of you call yourself religious, ask yourself if God wants his creations almost killing each other over this. It’s an easy answer. Now do the right thing.
Saddened but hopeful for humanity,
Leonora Stein
Brooklyn, NY
Being very pro-gay rights, I still have to side with the officers on this unless a single piece of evidence sides with the assumption making author of the article. The only lines in this article that show a hatred of gays is when the author places words in the mouths of the officers, with lines such as, “Allow me to translate the chief’s comments…” ANY article that puts quotes around a line where the author is assuming the thoughts of an individual is NOT an article to be taken seriously. No hatred of gays has been proven here, the bias of the author is unreal, made especially obvious with the lie about most people in Fort Worth not knowing where a gay bar is even located. For the record, Fort Worth is fairly close to the single largest gay community in the entire country, and having lived in the area for six years I can guarantee that a huge percent of the people there can give directions to at least a dozen gay bars all within a short drive of the area.
The only facts listed in the article are that the police came into the bar and some people ended up being injured. Police say a man hit his head outside, author ASSUMES the injury happened intentionally based ONLY on his own personal bias. Not a single piece of evidence exists to show that the injury was caused by anything other than what the officer said happen. Unless a security video or a camera phone or ANYTHING is provided to show that the officers are lying, then to actually write a post claiming something else happened is among the poorest of tastes and the reason why today’s young writers are so often not taken seriously. Extremism in support of gay rights is still extremism, and making assumptions of the innocent (if they are innocent of course, but nothing exists to show otherwise) only widens the rift. The author sounds just as hateful of straight people as anti-gay extremists are of the gay community.
Horrible articles like this are what further pushes apart the two communities. When an assumption can be made about gay people OR straight people, then we’re faced with biased information that can’t be relied upon. The ACLU needs to stay waaaaay the heck back unless FIRST something can be provided to show that the accusations of the writer are true, to do otherwise would be nothing other than intentionally creating a rift in order to garner attention, which never sides well with the accuser in the long run. If the Chief actually made the comments the author claimed the Chief was thinking (while in extremely poor editorial taste putting the assumption in actual QUOTES for god’s sake!), then I’d be all over that Chief. But the fact remains that he NEVER made that comment, it was a thought bubble the author assumes the Chief was thinking without any reason to make that assumption.
Yes, gay people touch police officers inappropriately when police enter gay bars. I’ve witnessed it on more than one occasion. Guess what? Gay people are just regular people too, and drunk people do stupid things like grope strangers and tease cops. I’ve seen this happen to cops in gay bars, and I’ve seen it happen in straight bars. Anyone who claims that this never happens is stereotyping an entire group of people.
Here’s the facts, ALL of the known facts. Police enter gay bar for inspection, people end up injured. Police make complaint of drunk people inappropriately making advances on them, something that DRUNK PEOPLE HAPPEN TO DO. Most serious injury, police claim man hit his head outside when they were trying to arrest him…..and that is ALL of the information. Not a single piece of actual known data suggests this had anything to do with the people in the bar being gay. Not a single piece of actual known data suggests that the Chief is against gay-rights. And that’s it, the rest of the writing was all filler, assumptions and delusions on the part of someone who tries to gain support by making false and wild accusations against people without probable cause. Prove assault from the officers, do something about it. Prove it had to do with the people being gay, then do something about it. Otherwise, stop making assumptions and only making yourself out to be an extremist biased instigator.
I think this is outrageous. We need to respect each other as people. No one has a right to hurt someone else unless their life is in danger and they are defending themselves from further attack. The police should protect not Brutalize people. RESPECT is the key word here for everyone to remember. If you don’t want to be “hit on” don’t go into a bar, wether it is a gay bar or not. If you choose to go out just say you are “NOT interested” or that you “are in a relationship” and let it go. No need for violence if we all mind our manners. I hope Mr. Gibson recovers from this terrible ordeal and that justice is served. There is already too much injustice.
Kim
I think this is outrageous. We need to respect each other as people. No one has a right to hurt someone else unless their life is in danger and they are defending themselves from further attack. The police should protect not Brutalize people. RESPECT is the key word here for everyone to remember. If you don’t want to be “hit on” don’t go into a bar, wether it is a gay bar or not. If you choose to go out just say you are “NOT interested” or that you “are in a relationship” and let it go. No need for violence if we all mind our manners. I hope Mr. Gibson recovers from this terrible ordeal and that justice is served. There is already too much injustice.
Kim
Mr. Jungus Jordan was the only local councilperson to respond to my email sent to all, including the mayor. His response to my concerns over the inequal treatment of gays and lack of support for the victim (to which I give him kudos for even bothering, when the others all ignored me):
Thank you for your email concerning the unfortunate incident at the Rainbow Lounge. I have called for a complete and thorough investigation of this matter, and that all findings be formally reported to the full City Council.
Fort Worth has earned its well-established reputation as a community where all people are treated with respect. We pride ourselves on our active practice of the “Golden Rule” because we sincerely believe and adhere to the principles of individual liberty and common courtesy.
I firmly believe that ours is the finest, best-trained professional police department in the world, and any violation of civil rights by any citizen or employee will not be tolerated. Chief Halstead has guaranteed the citizens and Council this investigation will be handled in full compliance with the highest standards of conduct, civil rights and integrity.
I personally assure you that my fellow Council Members and I will insist upon the thorough scrutiny of this incident, and fully evaluate all the facts before issuing any official rulings.
Again, thank you for your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Jungus Jordan
Council Member
City of Fort Worth
District 6
TEXAS WOULD NOT DARE TO ATTACK JEWISH PATRONS IN A JEWISH LOUNGE, BUT GAYS …?
Replace the label GAY with the label JEW and the entire western world would be in an uproar. One Jewish organization after another would threaten a boycott of Dallas/Fort Worth as conference centers for professional organizations (physicians, lawyers, teachers, librarians, etc.).
And what do we get? No apology from the police chief and a lecture from the local newspaper, the fairly influential FW Star Telegram. By throwing in a few crumbs, the Public Relations Dept. knows only too well that time will probably work in their favor with gay people being grateful that a little education program may get started some time in the future, and then it’s back to a subtler form of homophobia.
The local press has much to answer for. Imagine the following editorial in the Star Telegram:
“The Police Department informed THE STAR OF DAVID Lounge management in advance that an inspection would take place the night of PASSOVER. Why didn’t the managers educate the officers about the date’s significance? That’s need-to-know information for uniformed law enforcement officers showing up at a JEWISH bar on that date.
It’s also need-to-know for any JEWISH bar patron that laying a hand on a police officer will result in a quick trip to jail.
Drinking to the point of intoxication is a crime even in a bar. Officers tasked with enforcing alcohol laws must make sure local and state statutes are observed regardless of the date on the calendar, PASSOVER OR NO PASSOVER. The residents of Fort Worth who share the streets with bar patrons throughout the city expect as much.
Law enforcement officers also must follow agency procedures to make sure inspections are conducted professionally and legally.
Why would a police supervisor, six officers and two TABC agents knowingly risk their own careers, the reputations of their departments and a public relations nightmare WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY by engaging in targeted or overly aggressive enforcement against a RELIGIOUS minority group? We’re not sure they would, but as we said, there are more questions than answers at this point.”
Excuse me while I go throw up my breakfast–INDEED.
For the original editorial from the Star Ledger, identical with mine, except for the Jewish references, courtesy of Mark Reed, posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 7:27 am, click here:
http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2…
How many straight bars (mostly white patrons) were also subjected to the police state actions that day?
This is absolutely disgusting. have people got no brains or soul anymore? Morons like that should not be aloud in our society. We dont have to LEARN to accept each other, as it should be already in our brains as a normal thing. Dickheads like that who are uneducated,television-raised and ignorant should be put into the shoes of people who were at the club. I can continue to bring out their stupidity for the rest of day but im just not going to waste my time. I think we should LEARN by now that people like that are to be avoided at all costs. WTH are you guys doing in conservative Texas anyhow? Come to Australia! We dont care at all! We will show you the best time.
The FWPD has a history of picking on defenseless groups who they feel are vulnerable and prone to abuse. It is packed with the KKK element and Neo-Nazi wannabees, and minority officers have no ability to tamp down the discrimination for fear of their careers and harassment against them. Consequently, they go along with the KKK element in the department.
There is a built in conflict of interest in law enforcement. The FWPD is beholden to the criminal defense lawyers for petty criminal offenses who rely on the PD for “business”. The Judges, PD and Lawyers are in a triangular relationship which relies on these bogus arrests for “income”. Consequently an investigation can only be conducted by the DoJ which is questionable since they also have a vested interest in not disrupting the steady, orderly flow and application of “the law”.
I was arrested by the FWPD for “public intoxication” which was just an excuse to “generate income” for the triangular system of fraud. I told the Police Officer I was going to file a Federal Racketeering lawsuit against him, the department and the Judge (the county judiciary) and would dismantle their fraudulent operation. He tried to intimidate me by pointing to the camera inside his vehicle and saying, “You’re comments are being recorded”. I said, “Good, I want the Police Chief and the Judge to see this tape so they know based on your actions and this fraudulent arrest, I am going to haul them into Federal Court under federal racketeering law, Civil R.I.C.O. alleging damages beyond their ability to pay. Needless to say, even though I was compliant and orderly on the way to jail and in jail I got roughed up pretty bad (civil rights violations) for my comments. A Judge was called in, in the middle of the night and asked me to enter a plea which was not guilty. I was released on the spot and waited for the summons for trial. You guessed it. Now all records of the arrest, and my plea of not guilty etc has disappeared and no summons ever came in the mail. So you see entire thing (arrest) was a complete scam to generate income for a bunch of greedy racist (anti gay) chronic underachieving frauds.
@257, Mr. Jordan is also the only one who has responded to my emails.
You guys can drop District 6 Councilmember (Jungus Jordan) from your future emails and mails b/c he fully supports the independent investigation.
I guess we could all email/mail him with Thanks, though, as well as Joel Burns and the other Councilmembers supporting the investigation.
I’m going to hell for suggesting this, but do you think they had an undercover homophobe cop in there who actually was groped?
I have to work at a somewhat gay bar, and from what I can tell. The super drunk gay guys get pretty grabby. I have nothing against gayness, AT ALL! And minor assault isn’t something to justify sending someone to the hospital for in my book. But throw in some angry self concious Texans, and you never what you can get.
I live in Pittsburgh, PA What can I do to help?
I would love to take a bat to all of those officers knees, tell them to bring that shit to Kansas City, and see what happens. TOTAL RIOT! I used to be pacifist, but it just doesn’t work.
Being gay is not the point! They were not attacked because they are gay; they just happen to be gay. The same situation in a straight bar would never get this ridiculous publicity. Speaking as an officer I am certain the officers handled the situation accordingly. Fort Worth PD is one of the finest departments in this country. Six officers (give or take) went in to enforce laws and caused an uproar amongst probably hundreds of patrons. I’m certain the officers responded as trained. You people have no idea how it is to have to go in amongst a crowd of drunks whose behavior is being fueled both by alcohol and the adrenaline of a rambunctious crowd. Don’t be so quick to judge or dismiss the possibilty that Mr. Gibson’s injuries weren’t self inflicted and/or alcohol related.
What happened to Chad is sad. I have worked with many police officers and many police departments. I have worked with straight and gay officers, male and female. I have a great deal of respect for what they do, and the situations that the shear nature of their job puts them into. I have been a bouncer at bars where things roll into chaos as quickly as the front door opens or the bottle cap flips off the next cold one. This does not in any way justify brutality against anyone.
What I find equally disgusting is the general reaction that some commentators here have regarding the general population of the city and state. I have lived here in North Texas for 40+ years. Yes, there are those among us that are intolerant of others; I have known some who are intolerant, judgmental, bigoted, racist, homophobic, anti-Semite, and whatever other group you can throw in there …. I have no tolerance for these people and as soon as I realize I have someone like that in my personal life, I expel them as quickly as I realize they are there, like stepping on a roach running across the floor. However, not everyone who lives in Texas is a redneck homophobe.
In my observation of the comments, what I am seeing from many of commentators is exactly what I described in the previous paragraph. Only in many cases, it is directed toward Texas and Texans. I am a Texan, and do not fit the mold of ANY of the hate-filled, judgmental comments made about us. Why are there so many attacks on someone’s faith? Or where they live? Or if they are straight? Or education? Why is one set of bigoted, judgmental behaviors wrong, while the others are justified? I just do not get double standards…
My thoughts are that every bar, gay or straight, should have surveillance equipment… we all have video camera phones now anyway so that should not be a big deal to anyone. The video should be digitally archived off-site so no one can ‘confiscate’ the recordings (easy to do with broadband these days). And patrons and LEOs are made aware that the premise is being recorded… Inside and out… Such awareness may make others, patrons and LEOs, think before acting inappropriately.
Bottom line, if the FWPD is found negligent, then the officers involved in this incident need to lose their job, and their commission, and the right to carry a weapon. Just firing them is not sufficient. They need to NEVER be able to be a police officer again.
My prayers go to Chad, his family, his friends, and our community… there needs to be a lot of healing, but, yes it is cliché considering the timing, as the Michael Jackson song title implies, look at the man, or woman, in the mirror to start making changes. This is true for everyone.
This is what you get when you mix ignorance with fear, and put a uniform on it! What do you expect from a state that drives trucks with rubber “balls” hanging from the trailer hitch. This would explain the complete “pig ignorance” of these pin head haters.
I believe this passage says it all……
You can safely assume that you’ve created god in your own image, when it turns out that God hates the same kind of people you do!
My thoughts n prayers with this man and his family…..
As far as the police go..they shame the badges they wear..and they should be removed!!!
Anne-Marie
Canada
You guys have no idea what you’re talking about. Everything I’ve read in the blog and most of the comments are nothing but fiction. I live in Fort Worth. I KNOW the Police Cheif. He would never even THINK of saying the things you atribute to him. Had you done your homework on Cheif Halsted, you would discover that the things you accuse him of saying and doing are not in his character.
Chad Gibson is not on his death bed but is in fact, home from the hospital. It’s interesting that originally, there were threats of lawsuits from Mr. Gibson but now he’s backed off from the idea. Maybe someone let him know he would have to tell the truth about what REALLY happened if he had to testify.
There are and will be several investigations by different agencies. Let’s see what they discover before we pass judgement on these law enforcement officials.
Oh, and by the way, I AM a GAY man in Fort Worth, Texas.
If you actually knew him, you wouldn’t have spelled his name wrong.
You’ve proven that you don’t understand the severity of clots in the brain or how delicate cerebral tissue is. Gibson was on his potential deathbed.
Do we really not know what we’re talking about? Cause it seems like we aren’t alone in reporting this story.
http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2…
http://www.towleroad.com/2009/07/chad-gi…
http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?sto…
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/…
The mayor has issued a public apology, and I received this statement in my email today from Ms. Michelle Reynolds who is the Council Aide to Councilman Frank Moss District 5, which says:
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
7/14/2009
FORT WORTH, TX –
Chief Appoints Interim Liaison
Today during the City of Fort Worth Pre-Council meeting Fort Worth Police Chief Jeffrey W. Halstead announced his appointment of an interim liaison to the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender community. Officer Sara Straten stepped forward after learning of the chief’s request for a volunteer to serve the GLBT community in a liaison role. Officer Straten is a 17-year veteran and has served in previous assignments such as patrol, North Division Crime Response Team, East Division Zero Tolerance Unit, the Gang Unit, and the Training Division as a background investigator. She is currently assigned to the North Division as a Neighborhood Police Officer (NPO) serving the Fossil Creek, Summerfields, and Arcadia Park neighborhoods. Her duties will now include being a liaison to the GLBT community which means attending meetings, events, functions, etc… and being a direct conduit to the chief’s office.
Officer Straten will act in an interim capacity enabling the police department to evaluate and search for possible funding for a full-time position at which time Chief Halstead will seek input from various community leaders to ensure their involvement in the selection process.
“We’ve acted with urgency to quickly bridge the communication gap between the police department and the GLBT community. Our intent is to move forward in establishing a new relationship that consists of mutual understanding and respect.” Chief Halstead
Officer Straten will be available at tonight’s city council meeting to answer questions.
For additional information, or to download any included attachments for this post, please login to the FWPD Public Information Portal at: http://www.fortworthgov.org/applications…
I’m not saying it’s enough, but I am saying that they’re taking steps to acknowledge the disconnect between the LBGT community and the hetero community.
My prayers are with Chad, even though he’s doing better. It should never have happened.
@11-“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’m from Denver and very insulted by this. Maybe this applied to rural Colorado (much like any state, including Washington and Oregon), but Denver (and Boulder) are both very progressive cities and given the combined metro areas contain half of the state’s population your ignorant generalization is very unfounded.
And don’t ever lump us in with the south and Texas.
There was a time that if I had seen an officer being atttacked by a thug, I would have tried to help in some way. No more. I would now assume that the pig deserved it and would move on. There is great hostility toward cops now, and it is well deserved, I’d say.
Regards, Sildenafil
Please God, why didn’t AIDS kill all of the disgusting homos?
If they were all dead, this would never have happened! 🙂
You people [liberals and homos] all make me sick! You really need to commit mass suicide or something… Really, you would think in this day and age science would of come up with a cure for the gay disease (mental disorder).
Thanks! 😀
I guess that’s the price you pay for being a faggot ass funny bunny.
That’s watcha get for bein a faggot.
Penni Carroll Penni Carroll what a trip. Read your story. I am a Pre-med student at O.S.U. The bleeding ulcers are not caused by stress,thats an old myth. This Penni Carroll should be told they are caused bacteria called Helicobutes Pylon and the use of NSAID painkillers. This Penni Carroll should stop using homophobic terms and start taking care of her health. I hope her doctor is not telling her to have a stress free life,because no one does. Take care Rick and hopefully this Penni Carroll stops this behavior. Eric
Penni Carroll would never lie. I know Penni Carroll, and Penni Carroll is not the lying type. Penni Carroll is a great women. You are the woman who is bad. Bad. Bad. I love Penni Carroll, she makes my heart sing – buh duh buh duh. Penni Carroll and I are best friends and will always be so stop badmouthing her you Penni Carroll hating sonuvagun. Penni Carroll and I are getting married in the spring. Lesbian love, I’m just so gay for Penni Carroll. Don’t like Penni Carroll? Well get over it! Love, “Big Buella” Bertha.
I didnt agree with the raid but yes that faggot had it comming , how dare he grab a cop by his balls, that club is just trash and so is management…I went a few times and seen drugs and people doing stuff sexualy for money .. Rainbow lounge should be shutt down forever. pss , im also gay.
Faggot got what he had coming to him. Good job Fort Worth Police!
I am an Australian who was coming to Forth Worth for the upcoming Pride Celebrations.
I have been reading with concern the information about the assault at the Rainbow lounge – not only the extent of the assault but also how it came to occur.
I find it both disturbing and extreme that such violence can occur within the realms of a modern U.S City with such disdain from so many in official office.
I love visiting the USA with all its cultural differences and the freedom we so often speak of these days. Especially with the anniversary of 9/11 coming up.
I cant help but wonder how much hatred and or extreme discrimination there is in place to make / allow this type of situation to occur. I have travelled to many cities in the USA and never been subjected to any issues, but I must admit that reading the articles about this incident make me question whether Dallas / Fort Worth is a place worth visiting other than to support the local gay community. Certainly I would not want to subject myself to the type of discrimination and “abuse” that seems to have taken place.
The events at Stonewall (which I am sure you are aware of) took place nearly 40 years ago. Has nothing been learnt from that or in the time since ? Maybe the Police Chief should attend Sydneys Mardi Gras Parade & Party to see how the Police there seem to control the extremely large crowd with respect and very little issue.
Certainly the day to day affairs of a (gay) bar need to be “controlled” but – walk throughs ? Police inspections? Do the brothels of the city and the food outlet places have as stringent inspections and controls and receive the same amount of discrimination or moral persecution ? I suggest maybe not ? Remembering – it is the USA – not Russia or some Taliban controlled region.
It saddens me to read of these issues still occurring anywhere. I was looking forward to seeing all the big hats and the Rodeo events, but, not at the expense of threat to my personal safety by those in authority, when I am only looking to enjoy myself responsibly.
I hope that you are able to move forward with this issue to enable it to become a positive force for the future.
Seeking justice and equality.
With regards and Concern
P J
sent to the local mayor and councillors / chamber of commerce
Melbourne / Australia
I am an Australian who was coming to Forth Worth for the upcoming Pride Celebrations.
I have been reading with concern the information about the assault at the Rainbow lounge – not only the extent of the assault but also how it came to occur.
I find it both disturbing and extreme that such violence can occur within the realms of a modern U.S City with such disdain from so many in official office.
I love visiting the USA with all its cultural differences and the freedom we so often speak of these days. Especially with the anniversary of 9/11 coming up.
I cant help but wonder how much hatred and or extreme discrimination there is in place to make / allow this type of situation to occur. I have travelled to many cities in the USA and never been subjected to any issues, but I must admit that reading the articles about this incident make me question whether Dallas / Fort Worth is a place worth visiting other than to support the local gay community. Certainly I would not want to subject myself to the type of discrimination and “abuse” that seems to have taken place.
The events at Stonewall (which I am sure you are aware of) took place nearly 40 years ago. Has nothing been learnt from that or in the time since ? Maybe the Police Chief should attend Sydneys Mardi Gras Parade & Party to see how the Police there seem to control the extremely large crowd with respect and very little issue.
Certainly the day to day affairs of a (gay) bar need to be “controlled” but – walk throughs ? Police inspections? Do the brothels of the city and the food outlet places have as stringent inspections and controls and receive the same amount of discrimination or moral persecution ? I suggest maybe not ? Remembering – it is the USA – not Russia or some Taliban controlled region.
It saddens me to read of these issues still occurring anywhere. I was looking forward to seeing all the big hats and the Rodeo events, but, not at the expense of threat to my personal safety by those in authority, when I am only looking to enjoy myself responsibly.
I hope that you are able to move forward with this issue to enable it to become a positive force for the future.
Seeking justice and equality.
With regards and Concern
P J
sent to the local mayor and councillors / chamber of commerce
Melbourne / Australia