Blake Wilkinson, founder of Queer LiberAction, said the group’s Milk Box community forum in Fort Worth on Sunday was crashed by surprisingly aggressive anti-gay counterprotesters. Wilkinson said when about six or seven QL members arrived for the Milk Box, the counterprotesters had already seized the planned site, at the corner of Houston and Third streets. To avoid a confrontation, the QL’ers moved down the block, but then the group of about 15 counterprotesters started coming toward them in a threatening manner. “It got to a point where we just had to leave,” said Wilkinson, noting that there were no Fort Worth police officers present. “I think people were getting concerned for their safety. We definitely felt outnumbered.”
Wilkinson said the counterprotesters were from Kingdom Baptist Church of Mansfield. This appears to be the same church that’s led by Pastor Joey Faust, who sent out a press release earlier today encouraging anti-gay protesters to attend tomorrow night’s City Council meeting, where an LGBT protest is planned. In fact, it appears as though Faust may be one of the men in the above video from yesterday. After the jump, read QL’s full press release about the incident.
Anti-Gay Group Crashes QL’s Milk Box
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11-09-09
Fort Worth – Sunday evening Queer LiberAction held a Milk Box in Fort Worth’s Sundance Square that was met with numerous anti-gay protesters from Kingdom Baptist Church in Mansfield. Their message was the tired old line of “if homosexuals don’t repent for their deviant lifestyle, then hell awaits.” Worse than their anti-gay message was the aggression exhibited towards LGBT activists.
Anti-gay activists set up on the corner of Houston and 3rd with signs and a megaphone before members of Queer LiberAction had arrived. QL moved the Milk Box to the corner down the street to put distance between the two groups. As the Milk Box event progressed anti-gay activists began moving down the sidewalk towards Queer LiberAction. A few anti-gay activists positioned themselves behind the Milk Box as well.
The tone and posture of the anti-gay protesters grew more confrontational as they closed in on Queer LiberAction.
This group along with other anti-LGBT foes will be out in force at Tuesday’s Fort Worth City Council meeting where several important issues affecting the LGBT community will be heard. Queer LiberAction is asking the LGBT community of North Texas to turn out en masse so that anti-gay forces such as those from the Kingdom Baptist Church are not able to block pro-LGBT gains.
“I was shocked by not only the amount of anti-gay bigots that crashed our free speech event, but the ‘in your face’ tactics they were using. They invaded our side of the sidewalk and equated every LGBTQ person with pedophiles and people who practice beastiality. It was a sick and perverse use of their free speech. I feel sorry for anyone who attends Kingdom Baptist church in Mansfield, I don’t think anyone should be allowed to spread that kind of hatred and bigotry. Our fight is not against religious organizations, they can have their beliefs. We only ask to be treated with the same dignity and respect as any other law abiding, tax paying human being.” says Corban Bates, leader of street activism for Queer LiberAction.
“The city of Fort Worth loves to tout how inclusive and non-discriminatory the city is, but I think the actions and bigoted speech of the fundamentalists last night shows a more accurate picture of what LGBT citizens face in this city.
“The Fort Worth police failed to do their job to separate the fundamentalists from harassing QL. Even if the Fort Worth Police disagree with or dislike QL, they still need to be professionals and do their sworn duty to protect all citizens,” says LGBT Activist Kevin Crook.
David McFatridge of Queer LiberAction says, “Last night members of Fort Worth’s Queer LiberAction where confronted by a radical religious group during a free speech event held in Sundance Square. Original planned to be held at 3rd and Houston but was moved to 4th and Houston in order to avoid a direct confrontation with the group. At which time the religious group ,not getting the direct confrontation desired moved toward 4th and Houston. Fort Worth’s Queer LiberAction held their ground. This religious group may be the first to be prosecuted with the newly passed hate crimes legislation if violence occurs in any future events. The free speech event ended peacefully, this time.”
Just me or is the bald counter-protester/bear daddy totally hot?!? Also, I love the prairie lady who looks like she just escaped the compound…
I object to the use of “Christian” in describing this “religious” group.
Queer Liberaction leader Bates seems to have a problem with being equated with pedophiles. Why? Doesn’t he support the rights of 12 year old’s to express their love for their soul-mates, even if they happen to be 40? Who is Bates to denigrate a conception of love that is different than his?
I thought it was only the fundamentalists that had an old-fashioned conception of moral absolutes.
Grow up Mod. This was a terrible situation
Queer Liberaction states on it’s web site that they must publicly confront groups or individuals that promote discrimination against the queer community. Looks like they can’t take the heat and ran away like scared schoolgirls. If you want to be a confrontational organization as you protest that you are, you should get some members with some balls or else you just come across as some whiny pussies who would be better off staying in the gayborhood where you feel safe. Did you really believe that in TEXAS, you can go out on a street corner in a redneck city with your megaphone and not eventually be confronted or fell threatened? In your face activism is not for the lighthearted or those without courage willing to take the risk involved. You can’t expect the police to provide you with an escort every time you want to go to a street corner and protest. If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
The unfortunate losers are the surrounding businesses who do not get a say in this.
Just for the record. The Milk Box in FW lasted 45 min. The video footage is of the last 6 min.
More dumb. just when we think it can’t get sillier – the girls run away from the Christians. Why not just DEMAND they go away?
Remind us why this milkbox charade helps us?
David,
Why object to the term “Christian” regarding the fundamentalists? Don’t try to pretend that God as presented in the Christian bible can somehow be made friendly to this cause. The Christian bible refers to alternate lifestyles as “sodomy” and “sin”. The fundamentalists are just taking that book to its logical endpoint.
DJ….err BRIAN. Get over yourself. You were rejected because you provided nothing of value. While you had potlucks which were poorly attended, you did nothing of value. Truly. You are a waste of breath.
David, While I agree that many times we use the word Christian loosely, they identified themselves as such.
It just goes to show you that the GLBT community is full of people who call themselves leaders but do nothing. All of these bloggers can do is use fake names and bitch about QL, the ONLY group to effecively use direct action. I have come to believe that all of you, including those who operate the dalls “voice” are a bunch of faggots, and nelly queens who cannot think outside of the box. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. DFW is a joke. YOu all are jokes. I hope you find pleasure in the opression you choose to do nothing about. Go f-ck yourselves. Enjoy your oppression!
Well it seems that everyone here is a critic.. In that case I have questions for you..
1) How could DJ…err BRIAN have gotten his potluck better attendance?
2) So a buddhist lifestyle is with sodomy and sin because it’s not christian?
3) Since Carl Smith isn’t a whiney pussy who would be better off staying in the gayborhood, does this mean he volunteered to participate in the next non-gayborhood event?
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It would seem that everyone reading this has a lot of critical commentary, but not a single one offered a suggestive solution to the issue. Why is that? Are they too selfishly wrapped up in their own drama that they can’t even take a moment to offer a “constructive” criticism? Instead they take the easy way out with more verbal bashing instead?
It’s no wonder the confederates lost the civil war… If they hated each other as much as you people do here, then they deserved to loose.
Easy Joe, slow your roll!! Though I see this as a problematic situation too, one can’t help but also see the humor in this…a handful of lefties provoking a handful of righties and vise-versa.
Also, judge as you may Joe-Baby, but I’d love to be the James Carville to that Bear-Daddy’s Mary Matalin… 🙂
I tried to respond to your questions but am not sure if I understand them.
1) How could DJ…err BRIAN have gotten his potluck better attendance? HOW THE HELL SHOULD I KNOW? I KNOW THAT HE WAS ANGRY AT QL BECUASE HE FELT LEFT OUT, AND FELT THAT HIS POTLUCKS WERE IMPORTANT.
2) So a buddhist lifestyle is with sodomy and sin because it’s not christian? HUH??? I AM NOT PRO CHRISTIAN. IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN?
3) Since Carl Smith isn’t a whiney pussy who would be better off staying in the gayborhood, does this mean he volunteered to participate in the next non-gayborhood event? NO CLUE, PLEASE EXPLAIN
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It would seem that everyone reading this has a lot of critical commentary, but not a single one offered a suggestive solution to the issue. Why is that? Are they too selfishly wrapped up in their own drama that they can’t even take a moment to offer a “constructive” criticism? Instead they take the easy way out with more verbal bashing instead?
I AGREE! PEOPLE ARE TOO HOOKED UP ON IMAGE TO COME TOGETHER. I HAVE CRITICIZED ALL OF THE VARIOUS GROUPS THAT WANT EQUALITY, BUT I HAVE OFFERED SUGGESTIONS–HOWEVER I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT THEY ALL NEED TO GET ALONG. THERE IS A PLACE FOR FAIRNESDD FORT WORTH, QL AND THE OTHERS. ALL OF THESE ARE NECESSARY. ONE IS NOT BETTER THAN THE NEXT.
I AM DISGUSED AT THE HATRED BETWEEN US ALL. WE WILL GET NOWHERE FAST WITH IT. TOO LATE, WE ARE ALREADY NOWHERE!
Ohmigod! Christians! Run away! Run away!
Potlucks? I make a great tuna casserole.
Frankly, the counter-protesters don’t seem particularly aggressive in what’s shown here.
They are as loud and as belligerent as the QL protesters. But that’s what this flavor of “direct action” is meant to provoke.
In a Ghandian sense “civil action” is meant to create an opportunity to educate. Swapping insults doesn’t affect any change. Both sides participants certainly go home as they showed up. And, no one witnessing the exchange will have been improved, educated, converted to a viewpoint, etc…
Get involved in electoral politics and learn how government works if you want to be effective. Every organization has a “choke point”. The place where the proper application of pressure can change institutional policies. Tactically broad attempts like QLs are too great a waste of energy for the concomitant benefit..
It seems clear that the group approaching Queer Liberaction probably just
wanted to “talk” or have a “conversation.” These people ARE crazy –
Queer Liberaction doesn’t talk or converse (that’s too hard)
– they just yell angry (aimless) demands.
First, for the record, Carl Smith is my real name, and I never shy away and always own up to anything I have to say. Many people in the community including those here at DV know who I am. For those who don’t, I am a 53 year old male that has been openly Gay in Dallas since 1973 and a retired owner of Texas’ first Hispanic Gay nightclub here in Dallas which was one of the largest clubs around in the State of Texas at 20,000 square feet and open for 18 years before I retired in 2004. Hope that answers any questions as to who the hell is Carl Smith that always blogs here on DV. Rick Wagner, no, I don’t plan to attend QL’s next out of the gayborhood event. I don’t plan on attending ANY QL events. I have many times here on DV given both positive and negative comments about QL. I DO believe that in your face activism does have a place and can get things done. Without ACT UP, our community would have continued to die while the government looked the other way. Our community owes a great debt to ACT UP and I for one am grateful for the work they did. I supported and participated with ACT UP, while many thought ACT UP was an embarrassment, like many do now about QL. I believe that QL has a problem with not taking constructive advice by those with more experience. I have also learned over the years, words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled. So we must do both to be the most effective. On a personal side, I owe no explanation to anyone as to why I do not attend any events, but I will give one anyway, because I wish I were in a position to attend some events and be of some help. I was involved in a very serious accident 1 year ago, breaking almost every bone in my body. I am still recovering and am now wheelchair bound and still in constant pain, while I still have broken bones that are healing and am fighting amputations, so it is difficult for me to participate in community events. I will recover in time and do plan on participating and helping where I can. But I have never been know to be a whiny pussy and never one that needs the safety of the gayborhood or to run away like a scared schoolgirl from anyone or anything. No one intimidates me.
Joe… Joe. I know that for whatever reason (probably spite) you don’t think I’m a capable queer. You’re entitled to that, but in the interest of factual accuracy, I do need to respond to your comments.
First of all, I don’t appreciate being notified by a friend that I’m being trashed on a blog entry I’ve not seen, much less read. While I can appreciate that you associate with me whatever voice is critical of QL, I’m not sure why exactly you pegged ‘Brian’ as my alter ego. I don’t indulge in mean-spirited two-liners that don’t make a whole lot of sense and offer no supporting arguments. Give me some credit. And I don’t have a problem posting my criticism of your organization under my own name, or even bringing them to your group meeting to voice them in person, as I have done before. No, believe it or not, I am not the only person in town who disapproves of many aspects of your group. There is no need for me to fabricate support by posting comments under countless pseudonyms. Brian is, presumably, his own person – and he’s in good company.
Second, I won’t get over myself because ain’t nobody else hung up me. I make no pretense.
Another thing: I’m not sure how your fantasy of my ‘rejection’ from QL plays out, but I can tell it involves potlucks. I was not ‘rejected,’ a fact that is clear in your second post about how I was ‘angry at QL.’ Let’s set the record gay: I had certain, specific grievances with certain, specific QL ‘leaders’. When I brought these up at your group’s very own meeting – you know, face to face (imagine!) – it was displayed quite spectacularly that my concerns were well founded and I decided I could not participate in such a group. Neither potlucks nor any sense of entitlement had anything to do with it – at least on my end. I will not go into detail about my views, as you’ve heard enough of them at that meeting. If you got any other impression than what I have stated, you should have listened more attentively.
Now let me turn to your own statements.
“While you had potlucks which were poorly attended, you did nothing of value. Truly. You are a waste of breath.”
“I AM DISGUSED [sic] AT THE HATRED BETWEEN US ALL. WE WILL GET NOWHERE FAST WITH IT. TOO LATE, WE ARE ALREADY NOWHERE!”
There is a certain level of arrogance that goes along with publishing such a hateful comment as ‘you are a waste of breath.’ And I have enough confidence to believe that no one needs to point out to you the glaring hypocrisy of your own statements.
If you have any question why other groups are hesitant to work with QL, you need look no further than what you have written. I’ve heard enough of your complaints to understand that your vitriol is born of a feeling of victimization. However, it’s difficult to present your organization as a victim in the community when your modus operandi is to personally and publicly trash anyone who disagrees with you – particularly those who had not even presented a criticism. This arrogance and hypocrisy seems at times intrinsic, and each comment you make evidences this. If you are sincere in your call for unity, stop sowing division.
All this said, you are entitled to live in whatever wikiWorld you would like to inhabit, and far be it from me to disturb your personal fantasy about me. If you have more to say to or about me, you are welcome to send me a message on facebook or get my number from someone and call me. If you must defame me publicly, we could try to set something up at Buzz Brews and get the Dallas Voice to cover it.
Sincerely, and with all DUE respect,
Joshua Douglas (DJ) Anderson
@Joe: Joe you know I love you but you damn well better back off of my DJ. He a wonderful guy and didn’t do anything out of line here. I don’t know why you felt the need to attack him. DJ is not the type to slink around and hide behind false names. He has always been an open and forthright person. His decision to leave QL (he was not rejected or thrown out, he left by choice) had nothing to do with potlucks or any such nonsense, He had actual real objections to the group and while I don’t agree with his positions I love and respect him and won’t stand to see him slandered and bullied like this.
GRRR!!!
-Mama Bear Pax
DIGNITY AND RESPECT IS BEING BY ASKED QL? -Could QL please respect the methods and efforts of the other LGBTQ organizations, albeit they are not one in the same as the way QL believes is “direct action”?
QL IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION THAT DOES DIRECT ACTION? -Why did Joel Burns and Wendy Davis respond and pursue answers in the wake of The Rainbow Lounge Incident? It is because of the relationship with the DFW Democratic groups, the Stonewall Groups and other close LGBT groups, voters and close friends of these public officials that ensured answers and changes were made. That is direct action by having a civil relationship with the public officials and ensuring that pro-equality (democratic) candidates are elected.
THE QL MILK BOX MEMBERS WERE CONFRONTED BY “CHRITSTIAN” COUNTER PROTESTORS? -By virtue, a milk box is confrontational and a protest. You confront people, you should expect in the least to be protested in a “confrontational” manner by and number of differing citizens.
EQUALITY? – Equality is valuing each and every member of society as equal and as a valued human being. STOP putting down the efforts of other groups. We all fail as groups and as people to always do the right thing but in an effort to do so, hopefully we do the least amount of harm to others.