I want to make it very clear that I do not know exactly what happened at Dallas Eagle last night or why it happened. I have not heard from anyone with TABC nor from any of the management at Dallas Eagle who could confirm or deny any rumors.
One thing that has been consistent throughout the day is that there was an issue with the Eagle’s liquor license resulting from the bar’s move to its new building across the parking lot. It also seems apparent that this was not the same sort of situation that occurred June 28 at the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth: There were few, if any, arrests (I have heard of only one possible arrest, although I don’t know how accurate that number is); officers did not arrive with a paddy wagon nor fistfulls of zip-tie handcuffs; and, most importantly, there were no injuries and no one had to be hospitalized.
There are some saying that the “raids”or “routine inspections” or whatever you choose to call them are proof of selective enforcement by the TABC: 3 LGBT bars in a month. I don’t know if that’s true. But I don’t know that it’s not true, anyway.
In any case, comments by those reading this blog make it very apparent that emotions are running quite high and that people’s opinions on what happened, as well as what they have heard or seen, are in some cases vastly different, And that means that some of the comments are going too far. Those that do go too far – and right now, that’s my call to make – will not be approved.
We are going to keep on trying to get as much verified, factual information as we can, and when we get the info, we will pass it along as quickly as possible.
Tammye,
Thanks for staying with this. I spoke with Dan who owns the leather shop at the Eagle. He said the raid was not the kind of thing that happened in Ft. Worth. He specifically said the police were pretty well mannered.
He, too is not completely filled in on the details. If I hear more I will let you know. The timing, though in my opinion is suspicious, I would never assume anything until I hear from more folks. I have gotten a steady stream of calls and emails from people who want to “do something”. Doing something would be appropriate once we know what really went on. For me, I plan to be in Ft. Worth tomorrow with a few hundred close friends. The Rainbow Lounge event was apparently much different than what happened at the Eagle, but until we have all the info, it’s just a guess.
Just tell us what happened, instead of what “may have happened.” That’s when things get a little crazy. It’s clear some people are trying to sew these isolated events into some kind of conspiracy. I think the Eagle inspection was a non-news-event.
Two “inspections” of the same bar on the same night is not a coincidence. They got the license thing worked out and then came back to teach ’em a lesson. Sending in an undercover minor with a fake id to get in the door then closing the bar due to “serving an underrage minor” is not an inspection. It’s freakin’ entrapment.
I’m glad the police were “polite.” Wake up, people. Where are your photos and videos? Get in their face with flashing cameras. Photograph their vehicles. Scream. Get rid of your fake Texas politeness and be defiant.
TABC does not send in minors with fake ID’s to entrap establishments. If the bartenders would have asked for and ID, they would have been shown a correct ID. Come on people, stop being so quick to throw TABC under the bus when you don’t have the facts.
I’m sorry but I choose to respect the law. The Eagle deserved what it got, it sold to a minor. If the bartender had done his job and the management watched its staff then this never would have happened.
Yep, blame the targeted group, not the TABC. Sure, that’s brilliant! zOMG, it’s the same Texas from whence W. got his stategeries. Now it all makes sense.
The paddy wagon was there and they did use the zip-tie handcuffs on the gentleman that was detained.
I am not sure what good would have come out of photographing the “nice” officers. I do not think that anyone else in attendance wanted to join the man in the paddy wagon.
From what I observed, the officers were very matter of fact/business like. The whole experience still seemed very surreal. Perhaps even a bit extreme.
So, this is Queer Liberaction:
“Get in their face with flashing cameras. Photograph their vehicles. Scream. Get rid of your fake Texas politeness and be defiant.”
Our Texas politeness isn’t “fake.” Where are you from New York?
*** Please Forward Widely *** Please Forward Widely ***
Rainbow Lounge Raid Rally
Tarrant County Courthouse
100 E Weatherford
Sunday, July 12
7:00 PM
Almost two weeks after the raid on the Rainbow Lounge we are still left with lots of questions and very little action by city, police and TABC officials. We are pleased that that TABC officers involved have been placed on desk duty and that calls for independent investigations have been made, but this is not nearly enough. On Sunday, July 12 the LGBT community of N Texas will stand together to call for answers from the Fort Worth Police Department, the TABC and an independent third party. We demand swift action condemning homophobia and violence against LGBT people!
Dr Stephen V Sprinkle associate professor of practical theology at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, Chuck Potter witness to the raid at the Rainbow Lounge raid and Rick Vanderslice local radio and television personality are some who are set to speak. This brief but powerful event will recount the raid at the Rainbow Lounge, illustrate the injustices behind this incident and call out for action.
For more information please visit our website at http://www.queerliberaction.org
Queer LiberAction
lgbtliberaction.org
Ok, i admit that i don’t know all the details either, but I am very concerned. From what I’ve heard, the bar opened at it’s “new” location using the liquor license from their old location… while the real liquor license was pending.
If this is the case…
The owners would have known this and they jeopardized their employees and customers by opening the new location prematurely. That is EXTREMELY irresponsible and irreprehensible.
I hope to hear the facts and find out IF this was the case.
“Getting in their faces with fashing cameras and Screaming” will not solve a thing. Perspective must be kept here. TABC has conducted almost 300 inspections in our area over the past mont and 3 were on gay bars. That’s 1%. Everyone needs to calm down and get the facts before promoting foolishness.
Thanks, Dr. Wayne, for the 300 inspections statistic. I didn’t know that. I only know about the four inspections on gay bars in DFW in the last couple of weeks that were on the news.
That does give scope to the waste of taxpayers dollars and priorities of budgeting within the state.
The TABC has already proven that they can’t be trusted and use excessive force. They need to know that their actions are being monitored. Passive actions just enable them. I do understand that a lot of people there are too scared to be outed. I find that pathetic.
A point of clarification. In my comments I stated 300 inspections in the past month. According to WFAA that should be in the past week.
I, For one, fully support TABC and any other law enforcement agency in their efforts to regulate bars (gay or straight) and do not see it as a waste of taxpayers money. Can you imagine the carnage and lawlessness if there was no accountability? Please do not condemn an entire organization due to the insensitive actions of a few officers. Were we to do that I dare say none of our organizations, bars, or restaurants would survive.
I just returned from a week in New York City where I attended the 40th anniversary of Stonewall and want to emphasize that the issues that the Eagle have with the TABC are in no way comparable to the injustices faced in NYC 40 years ago. The situation in Fort Worth at the Rainbow is another matter entirely and should have us all, gay or straight, alarmed. .
Thank you Tammye for allowing this forum.
Thank you Dr. Wayne for telling the truth. We should beware, but not bewitched when something happens that requires our attention and concern.
Answers are coming. Please put down your markers.
The only thing that concerns me is that it does not appear that the TABC has any type of standard to their inspections. They simply pick and choose the bars to shut down based on bias. Everyone that frequents the Eagle knows that they card VERY heavily, even regulars that are their every weekend. It is impossible for me to believe that a masked person was not carded at the door, it is even harder for me to believe that they sent this same person into any other bar for instance The Loon in Uptown or the Lizard Lounge in Deep Ellum. (or one of the 300 other locations) I have been in bars before when TABC has arrested the bartender for serving a minor, they did not shut the entire bar down. It is right that we question officials, especially if there is a hint of bias. We the people have they DUTY to hold them accountable. I want to see them do a random inspection at Cowboys Redriver or Purgatory and shut them down when they do not card the mole or “over serve” an individual.
RE: Jacob Says:
The only problem with your email is that (to my understanding) TABC didn’t shut them down for serving a minor. They shut them down for serving liquor in a building that did not have a liquor permit for that building. The Eagle was using their permit from their OLD location, while the liquor permit for the NEW location was still pending. Both were most likely shut down as they should have been in this circumstance.
Assuming my understanding is correct, TABC did the right thing. The bar is the one who screwed up and put their employees and customers at risk.
I strongly support the protest against TABC’s handling of the Rainbow Lounge and have added my voice with theirs by getting the word out to others. Unless some “earth shattering” news comes about, the Eagle appears to be totally at fault in this case.