As we anticipated, the city of Fort Worth is receiving another round of horrible national publicity over its decision to move forward with prosecutions of Rainbow Lounge patrons. Here’s a sampling of what some national LGBT blogs are saying:
From Queerty: “As if the Texan city couldn’t bungle its Stonewall-style attack on the gays even more, prosecutors filed charges against Gibson and another civilian for their actions that night. … This is a nightmare for the two men charged. But if their legal bills can tolerate it, it will be a nightmare for Ft. Worth Police, the TABC, and their sympathizers.”
From Joe.My.God.: “Good for the two men for refusing a plea deal. This bullshit needs to go to a VERY public trial.”
From Towleroad: “Hasn’t Fort Worth’s image been damaged enough by this raid? Now they’re prosecuting the victims? Despicable.”
9 Comments
I didn’t know Fort Worth every had a good image. At least not in regards to being an open progressive city. I’ve only lived in Dallas for three years and have never been to Fort Worth. But I’ve mostly heard it was redneckish, racist, slow, and backwards. The Rainbow Lounge incident summed that up for me.
I can see that the police are maybe thinking that they’re just trying to follow procedure and that the law is the law, but there have been other cases where the police have obviously f*cked up and the charges were dropped. Why isn’t that happening here? And they’re still charging that Chad made advances towards one of the officers? Give me a break!
Calling Joel Burns. Calling Joel Burns……..
It’s not all chocolate and roses from the Fort Worth GLBT community either. The Rainbow Lounge in not exactly trying to downplay the incident, which I would safely say is being done for their own benefit. In fact there is a large banner posted inside the bar proclaiming they had been raided and at a recent Saturday night dragathon, the MC proudly and repeatedly egged the audience on that they “like to see weiners and booby’s” (or something to that nature.) SO before everyone starts ganging up on the City of Fort Worth or the Police, and makes the community look like a bunch of crying babies yelling discrimination, lets make sure we, the GLBT community, has done all we can to help the situation come to the CORRECT conclusion.
As I said in my blog this morning, Fort Worth styles itself as a cosmopolitan mecca, but it’s still governed by a bunch of bigoted hicks. Nice “Opry House”, pity they still ain’t got the mentality to go with the culture.
>>>Calling Joel Burns. Calling Joel Burns……..
Sadly and unfortunately, that isn’t likely to happen and even more sadly, the Dallas Voice seems reluctant to call Joel out for not taking a leadership role supporting the victims of the Rainbow Lounge Raid.
Mr. Haberman…do you live in the City of Fort Worth? I do, and the last time I remember hearing information about you, you did not. Therefore, before you start calling the kettle black I think you need to be able to vote in this city. OH, and when I was in school, in Fort Worth, I was taught there is no such word as “ain’t” Mr Cultured.
Mr Bear,
I apologize for painting with too broad a brush. I intended that cheap shot at the Ft. Worth Police Dept and not the city as a whole, however I would hope the LGBT citizens of Fort Worth might have a little righteous indignation about this event.
I will be happy to remain in Dallas and let the folks in Ft. Worth work out their own problems. It will save me a lot of gas driving back and forth to protests.
dfwbear: so are those of us that no longer live in ft worth not allowed to have opinions on this matter? am i wrong for being pissed off at the backwoods attitude the ft worth government has shown in this whole debacle? should we not concern ourselves with our brothers and sisters to the west?
also, i believe that the “ain’t” in question was probably another jab at the hick-attitude exhibited by the ft worth government. perhaps you missed that.