- Protesters head down Main Street on their way to the Fort Worth City Hall during Sunday’s rally at the Tarrant County Courthouse.
Queer Liberaction held another rally on the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse Sunday evening, July 12, and I would say about 150 to 200 people were there.
(No, Andrew, I didn’t personally count each and every person. I did count about 85 people on one side of the steps, and there were at least that many, or more, right in front of the steps and on the other side. This is my estimate, not QL’s and I haven’t even talked to them about how many were there.)
Speakers included Rick Vanderslice and the Rev. Steven Sprinkle, who called on the LGBT community to stand firm in demanding answers regarding the June 28 raid on The Rainbow Lounge.
After about an hour at the courthouse — which included Rich McPhee reading and he and Blake Wilkinson of Queer Liberaction posting a list of demands on the courthouse door — the large majority of the crowd marched down Main Street to the Fort Worth City Hall on Throckmorton to post a copy of those demands on the door there.
Here are more photos of the event:
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- Daniel Cates
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- Stephen Sprinkle
While I did speak, I did not post the demands on the Courthouse Door. Glad to stand with the whole LGBT community for this great rally. Please correct this information, because it was Blake Wilkinson who posted the demands on the Courthouse Door, and who also placed them on the Fort Worth City Council door, after joining the march of hundreds of LGBT protesters and allies right down Main Street. Glad to see that some coverage is happening.
Stephen Sprinkle
Brite Divinity School
It was a great event, and I hope NO-ONE lets this story get pushed under the rug or set aside to be forgotten. This is our stonewall. This our generation’s time to stand up for equal rights. This is our time to initiate change in our community. Bring out the queers and lets stir some shit up!
If you’d like to get involved in Queer LiberAction, join us tomorrow (Wednesday) at Buli in Dallas at 7pm for our meeting.
http://WWW.QueerLiberAction.Org
Rev. Sprinkle. I apologize for that mistake and I have corrected it on the blog.
Thank you, Tammye. Good to hear from you. I would have considered it an honor to post the demands on the Courthouse Door…kind of gets my queer protestant blood up. But it is good that the record of this landmark moment is corrected.
Stephen Sprinkle
Brite Divinity School
Tammye,
Thanks for the report. I’m glad someone actually counted. The number sounds about right. But, math aside, isn’t it about time that we had some meaningful conversation about the “effectiveness” of protesting, marching, demanding, etc.
I have read in many of the comments a desire for truth, tempered by understanding and patience. Years ago people marched – today we have the internet and the internet is the “march.” Blogs are the “march.” Comments are the “march.”
There are times when outrage and spontaneous shows of strength and solidarity are necessary. I think we diminish the power of the gay community when “big demonstrations” turn into poor showings. Obtaining equal rights and, more importantly equality takes creativity (not creative posters) and a shrewd strategy (not megaphones).
The truth is that the vast majority of Americans don’t like us and they’re not supposed to like us. Religion has defined us – sinners, deviants, perverts, unnatural, etc. Marching, protesting and demanding doesn’t change THAT opinion of us. What are people in the gay community doing to change the meaning of homosexual? Have you asked your Church to stop making gay wrong?
Sasha Baron Cohen, Bruno is getting some flak from a few people who don’t understand the Movie. GLAAD called it insensitive. It’s funny, and telling. The movie does provide an honest portrait of what the majority of straight America thinks of gay people. They hate them and are even afraid of them. That’s what Religion taught them.
Here in DFW we must expect answers regarding the Rainbow Lounge. If we don’t get them, of course we should DEMAND them. But, instead of marching around with our angry demands, WHERE are some good ideas, maybe a strategy or a even Plan to actually WIN equality.
I think many people who want to protest are angry about HRC and other organizations or some politicians they’ve supported, more than the idea of gays being oppressed. It is sad that there is nothing to bring all of us desiring equality for the GLBT community together. Nothing to rally us.
There are as many as 50 million adult Americans who would gladly join such an effort. It won’t be a March. Well, not in the streets anyway.
Dear Jason:
You said “This is our stonewall. ”
Please read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots
“The Stonewall Inn, at the time, was owned by the Mafia. It catered to an assortment of patrons, but it was known to be popular with the poorest and most marginalized people in the gay community: drag queens, and representatives of a newly self-aware transgender community, effeminate young men, hustlers, and homeless youth. Police raids on gay bars were routine in the 1960s, but officers quickly lost control of the situation at the Stonewall Inn, and attracted a crowd that was incited to riot. Tensions between New York City police and gay residents of Greenwich Village erupted into more protests the next evening, and again several nights later. Within weeks, Village residents quickly organized into activist groups to concentrate efforts on establishing places for gays and lesbians to be open about their sexual orientation without fear of being arrested.”
What part(s) of the Stonewall Riots is like the Rainbow Lounge event? There was no RAID and there were no RIOTS. How is it similar?
The rally was great. I was particularly glad to see so many people from the leather community show up. It takes real dedication to brave the 100 degree heat in leather, and many of those who came were straight allies. Thanks for the great coverage.
Hardy’s right: There were a large number of leathermen and women there. Hell, I was burning up in my shorts and t-shirt, and they were there in leather!
Tammye,
Rich McPhee read the demands and we posted them on the doors of the courthouse together.
I really wonder why some people are so opposed to protests. There are some in the gay community that seem upset by protesting. There are, of course, many outside the gay community that oppose protests. Why?
I know the gay community doesn’t feel that we have achieved equality in this nation. I know that many people have many questions about the events at Rainbow Lounge, and more recently at The Eagle. I know that people in the gay are angry with some of the more recent positions taken by President Obama. Yet they are resisting taking their issues to the streets. President Obama told us to keep up the pressure. This is one of the ways we do that. It is empowering and liberating to be standing with hundreds of your fellow family members calling for change. I am not opposed to other forms of lobbying, I do them myself, I call, write, and lobby my elected officials. I write letters to editor. I talk to people I meet in day to day life. But I also stand on the street corners and call for change.
Why is the straight community so afraid of our presence? What is it that scare them the most? Why do they think that their religious beliefs are superior to any one else’s and should be used to create legislation? Why are they so afraid of the equality provided in the Constitution of the United States by our founding father (sadly no mothers were listened to.)
Beginning with the vote on Proposition 8 in California I have become a more and more active person in these kinds of protests. I remember singing gay Christmas carols in downtown Dallas with Elizabeth Pax — while there were only three of us it was a proud moment that spoke of our determination to bring change. I helped to gather signatures on a petition by Join the Impact calling for Obama to remember the promises he made our community during the election. I have now marched or stood in several demonstrations for answers, and equality. I am new to the movement, but I am glad to be participating.
But I am confused by those who are not just uncomfortable with direct street action, but are trying to stop it. Who can forget the power of the African American call for equality during the 60’s and the great numbers that arose. The oppression of the blacks was so vividly portrayed when the marchers were mowed down by the water hoses of the white police force. The white supremacists were trembling in their boots, but the laws changed through legislative, and judicial powers. This did not happen because the blacks stayed at home. It happened because the nation finally realized that this community should receive what they were promised in the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Women had to fight the same fight in their work beginning in the early 20th century when they were called horrible names because they began to stand up for their rights. Then they stood in front of the white house and using the president’s own words convicted him of the breaking of his promises to their community. They were arrested, force fed when they fasted in protest. It was direct confrontation that finally brought things to the hot seat and now men and women vote alongside one another, and the world did not end.
We are in the same fight. If you are not comfortable marching — so be it — but don’t speak against those who choose to. If you are straight or Christian and don’t believe that gay people are “normal” or “good” okay, but don’t tell us that we don’t deserve to be treated equally under the law of this nation. These are the laws that protect you and allow you to have and hold those beliefs. But a person’s beliefs, even if backed up by a holy book, should never ever be used in this nation to oppress others. The holy books of many religions have and still do in some places oppress women, minorities, and gays. Most holy books call upon their followers to destroy people of others beliefs — hence we have jihads and crusades. The history of this nation is filled with the used of the Christian holy book to oppress women, Jews, Roman Catholics, and people of color. You may not support our right to equality, but you should support our right to stand up for our beliefs, because those are the same laws, and principles that allow you to stand in your pulpits on Sunday and condemn us.
We are in a fight. A fight for our lives, jobs, marriages, relationships, and existence. As we said when we marched down Main Street in Fort Worth last evening some asked, “What does democracy look like?” We answered: “This is what democracy looks like.” This is democracy in its greatest form. The founders of this nation wrote these sacred words “We the people . . .” We are the people. Each and every gay, lesbian, bisexual, trangender, and queer is a person who deserves to be treated equally before the law.
Don’t stop us from marching — if you can’t support us okay, remain silent — but don’t speak against the power of the people. When you do you speak against the power of democracy. Our marches change things. In the least it empowers a people who have suffered oppression. It pressures our elected officials to act quickly. It brings our issues to the media. Keep up the pressure. Keep up the power. Prove that, even if you don’t agree with homosexuality, you do agree with the founding documents of this nation, and you do believe in equality and respect for all.
Marlin Bynum
Irving
This was such a amazing event. I just wanna thank everyone who came out. Staying active and in the streets shows the City of Forth Worth that we will not rest until we receive answers about what happened at the Rainbow Lounge Raid.
PS. thanks Blake for the correction about who read and posted the demands
GO Marlin! Talk back to naysayers and apologists! One person can make a difference, I did in 1974 when I passed non-discrimination legislation in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties (in CA). And yes, people did complain that I did not ask their permission or input.
I have a quote to remember if you hear this BS about not enough numbers,
“I affirm that I constitute a movement. Totally. Myself. Completely. Period.”
Brian and I have already discussed Stonewall. Once again, Stonewall is a metaphor for resistance to government abuse. A riot does not have to follow. Stonewall takes place anytime citizens protest injustice and abuse by power.
As to the police raid. The definition of a raid does cover the police action that took place at the Rainbow Lounge. People were treated in a manner inconsistent with the stated purpose of the TABC inspection, one man was hospitalized and the TABC claimed their officers were responsible. Many people were and are traumatized by either being physically handled and tied, or by witnessing police abuse.
Keep meeting. Keep rallying. Hold the police, and elected officials accountable for this and other abuses of power. Demand a fair and complete investigation, preferably by a neutral third party. The TABC needs an overhaul and this is a good place to start.
Is it true the TABC officers wore masks at the inspection at the Eagle? What do they think this is, a Mexican bandido movie? Do these TABC officers think this enhances their stature? Or are they afraid of being identified? What next, capes?
Arthur,
I posted this elsewhere, but thought it answered one of the questions you asked. It was the Dallas PD, according to TABC, that was wearing the mask.
According to an article in Fort Worth Star Telegram, about a month ago, the TABC has quit using minor agents, because one of their agents had an improper sexual encounter with one of the youth..
Hi Marlin,
I’m working on some bullet points right now for the media that I’ll also send to you.
No, our agents were not wearing masks. That was the Dallas PD, apparently something they do to hide the identity of undercover officers. We don’t have masks.
Carolyn
Yes TABC FT. Worth has taken responsibilty for the injury to the customer at the Rainbow Lounge. One thing that still needs to be addressed by the Ft. Worth police department is the ridiculous remark made by the police chief that his men were groped by patrons of the bar. What a homophobic remark. We all know that did not happen and I am infuriated at such a homophobic remark.
Carl
The Police Chief not only made a prejudicial remark but he effectively ruled himself out of the investigative process.
I worked with the San Francisco Police Department in the late 1970’s in their community education or sensitivity (so California) programs. I helped develop the training module that including taking the officers out to dinner and a tour of the bars, baths, and sex toy emporia. (the officers were particularly fascinated by all the toys).
Officers came out as the work environment became less toxic and LGBT people began to be actively recruited and hired. Some of the gay officers used to stop by my house for coffee and food (guaranteed to get officers interest). I found the majority of the officers to be intelligent and dedicated to the communities they served (San Francisco Schools have identified 70 or so languages that students speak in addition to English). I gained a lot of insight to what police officers deal with and the toll the work can take on their lives.
I know there is an out lesbian Sheriff in Dallas. Are there many out LGBT officers and supporters in the Ft. Worth and Dallas Police Departments? These would be obvious people to invite to events to discuss their work and responsibilities and what is an effective response when there is police abuse.
I applaud the work that is being done by everyone to insure that justice is served. I am concerned that citizens have confidence in their police officers when they do have an emergency and need assistance.
“Rich McPhee read the demands and we posted them
on the doors of the courthouse together.”
It’s very easy to mail, call or email. Here’s the info:
Fort Worth City Hall
1000 Throckmorton St.
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Mayor Michael Moncrief
Telephone: 817-392-6118 Fax: 817-392-6187
E-mail: mike.moncrief@fortworthgov.org
Find phone numbers and email addresses for all City Council Members here:
https://www.fortworthgov.org/government/
Arthur, I’m afraid all your comments are “speculating.” Can’t we wait and see what ACTUALLY happened?
Brian,
You are just too cute! Wink and Kiss again.
I am sure that was done also. but the march was even more powerful for the community. We will overcome!
I don’t find protests, rallies, or angry demands to be an effective use of resources or time. But I want to thank you, Marlin and Arthur. I appreciate your passion and all that you’ve done and continue to do in pursuit of equal rights for all LGBT Americans. But equal rights is not the same thing as true equality.
Marlin, you wrote an appeal for tolerance to the religious communities of America. They think that homosexuality is a sin, a choice, and a pervsion. So you have asked them to be quiet about that, keep those beliefs private and separate from the legal sphere so that we might all have our rights. But tolerance is not enough. That means that in some parts of town, you still feel uncomfortable holding hands with your partner because you’re straining tolerance. It means you have to think twice before mentioning homosexuality in front of someone else’s children. They may tolerate you, but they certainly don’t like you and who you are. I certainly don’t plan on tolerating anyone who uses ancient religious beliefs to treat me with disgust.
Instead, we should try to change those discriminatory beliefs. Maybe it seems too insurmountable, ending the discrimination instead of suppressing it. Don’t give up. If we harness the time and money the gay community has been turning towards lobbying groups like HRC, legal groups like Lambda, and angry demonstrators like Cleve Jones, and yes, even welcoming churches, we can eliminate the shame that young gay people feel as they struggle with their identities.
While those organizations do work on behalf of our community, all of them are unfortunately focused entirely on obtaining our rights, and only tangentially on getting rid of the religious perception of “wrong.” No doubt our circumstances will be better when HRC finally pressures politicians into passing a repeal of DADT, but religious people on the streets will still look at us as deviants. Of course I will celebrate when a legal organization finally gets DOMA overturned. But that will be little comfort to a gay, rural teenager considering suicide because of the shame.
Yes, there are some welcoming, open and affirming congregations of various denominations. But ask them for a formal declaration of policy that homosexuality or homosexual behavior is not a sin and not wrong. Don’t expect to receive it. See if it’s on their website, under “Our Beliefs.” You will only find a complicated semantic dance about context and what exactly sin means.
Start there, but leave that comfort zone. Break the religious taboo and talk about it. Tell everyone who will listen that there is nothing wrong with you. Challenge that belief.
You can demand your rights, and perhaps you’ll finally win them for us. But you cannot demand that anyone respect you. It won’t happen. Bigotry will still exist. Winning legislative battles will calm the fires – and thank you to HRC and others for that – but those fires will still smolder. You can look to the other equal rights struggles for that evidence. Under pressure, bigotry simply goes into the closet. Just as homosexuals forced into the closet will still act upon their homosexuality, so will bigots and their bigotry. And just as the closet leads to risky, dangerous behavior for gays, so too for discriminatory beliefs.
We have a real opportunity now. We can break the stranglehold that religion has had on the definition of homosexuality for two thousand years. We can convince our friends and fellow Americans that we are not wrong. We can win our rights by a popular vote instead of losing them, one by one, through popular referendums. The next generation of gay kids can grow up completely free of the baggage of coming out to a hostile society. That is the dream, and it’s achievable. We just have to approach it with a smarter strategy. We can push and demand our way to equal rights, but let’s do more. Let’s have a goal of complete equality by ending the wrong.
Travis, excellently put. Thank you.
Brian –
We do know that Chase Gibson suffered a fractured skull, bleeding on his brain (can be life threatening), and treatment in ICU (listed as critical),
we do know another person had a broken rib(s),
we do know but I have not seen confirmation that someone broke a finger,
we do know the officers arrived with nylon ties, and a wagon for transport (shows intent), we do know there were arrests and allegations of excessive force,
we do know there were 2 TABC officers wearing state police shirts,
we do know there were Ft. Worth Police involved, likely 6,
we do know there are a lot of witnesses, and
we do know the police chief has made a homophobic and unprofessional statement (see above).
Add all this up and this seems to indicate something serious and premeditated occurred. The investigation will, hopefully, illuminate what actually happened.
AND, oh, by the way, have you heard one word about when the investigations will begin or who the investigators are, what questions will be asked, and how long this process might take? Is this an open or closed investigation? Is there an appeal, if needed?
Brian, We know a lot about what went down at the Rainbow Lounge. Combine what we know with the TABC history and a healthy suspicion of why the FT Worth Police did not stop any alleged abuses and you have a game changing investigation.
I agree with Marlin, you are too cute for words.
Travis!
Right on! But I would go further, lets eliminate religion and advocate atheism.
But we have to win the legal battles, because we won’t win the heart/mind battles.
African American were freed in 1865. They didn’t receive the benefit of that freedom until 1965 and beyond. Yet even today, there are racists. I have them in my own family. They truly believe that people of color are somehow inferior. They won’t give up their racist language. Even after one of my relatives (I am white) married an African American the “n” word was used in my family. I fought it and fought it. The only real power that African Americans have, even with an African American president, is their ability to use the law to force racists to comply.
Women have been asking for and fighting for equal rights and representation in this country from the beginning with Abigail Adams who asked her husband to think about equal rights when they were constructing the Constitution. Women had to fight for the right to vote. They have had to fight for the right to be lawyers and doctors. Even though better than 50% of our population is female, they still are not represented equally in most professions (excluding maybe teachers and nurses). There are still people who believe that a woman’s place is at home. The only power that women have is their legal power. The power to enforce equality because minds and hearts have not changed.
I used to work as a minister in a conservative Christian denomination. I worked hard to overcome prejudice against women and minorities. I tried to introduce more forward thinking ways to understand the Christian Scripture. After twenty years, I woke up. It took coming out of the closet. Loosing my job as a minister. Attending a couple of liberal churches. Figuring out that I was atheist. Observing my own interactions with my family and friends. I realize now, in very few cases do people change who they are with rational logical thinking.
I don’t know how to change people’s minds. That is sad to say about a person who spent twenty plus years in the pulpit trying to convince people they were supposed to turn from the sins and embrace God. But even a liberal interpretation of Scripture, which I don’t quite get, but that is another dialogue, doesn’t remove away the reality of the holy books that continue to oppress people.
I do what you suggest, at the risk to my job, all the time. I talk about who I am. It takes every bit of courage I have, to have been closeted and celibate for twenty years to come out over and over again. It never gets easier. I still choke on it every time but I tell all that I am gay. But even with the people I work with, there is very little knowledge and understanding. And no change. People say they are okay with it but I get looks and words that tell me homophobia is still present. Just like racism is present in my family.
So I no longer suggest people change their hearts and minds because I am not sure that is possible for better than 90% of the population. My experience maybe wrong, but most people hear what they want to hear. They don’t go through real internal dialogue to see who and what they are. They don’t examine competing philosophies and try to find why one makes sense and another doesn’t. People believe what they believe, and congratulate themselves on their enlightenment.
So I am to the point where I say bring on the law, change the rules. If the bigots, homophobes, and racists don’t like it, so what. They will be forced to live with us. Then we can kiss in a eating establishment and no one can say a word, even if they cringe inside or get up and leave the establishment. We can have big weddings and celebrate our love, and they may stand in their private organization (better known as churches) and harangue against us, but we will still be married.
Being a part of events like the protests have empowered me more and more in ways that writing a check to HRC never would. It makes sure that we no longer are the invisible people, but are the visible people who demand equality.
Travis – you are next on my list
You sound a lot like Andrew. Are you twins?
Cleve Jones is a life long friend and not an “angry demonstrator.” Cleve speaks loudly when appropriate. You do remember he conceived the Names Quilt with Gilbert Baker? You want “angry demonstrator”, try Harvey Milk, or Jonathan (unable to recall his last name) , or ACT-UP, or any of a dozen groups and individuals I can think of. Cleve is a respected and admired elder of our tribe and second guessing him shows the same type of discrimination you rail about.
Your are correct to point out the difference between oppressed and hated, tolerated and (sometimes) abused, and appreciated and assimilated. A healthy society would look at people’s character, contribution(s), and ability to create and share love, not sexuality.
Check your history, try Martin Duberman, or The Columbia Anthology of Gay Literature. Then you can avoid mis-statements like, “We can break the stranglehold that religion has had on the definition of homosexuality for two thousand years. ”
There is a rich tradition of the homoerotic in literature and in the lives of gay people throughout history. oppression has not been a consistent force. Churches were marrying gay men in the Middle Ages.
There is also a big difference between homosexuality (acts) and gay or queer (identity) and gender (a construct?). Religious fascists have deliberately used the word homosexual to describe us as a (successful) way to dehumanize us and to support the myth that we are solely identified through sexuality. This is unvarnished propaganda and a subtle form of terrorism.
Language and words have power. Gay Liberation, including those “angry demonstrators” you are so fond of, was about taking back our ability to name and identify ourselves. Gay Liberation was a continuation of the Civil Rights struggle for self-determination. LGBT people would create, and live the lives that met our needs and concerns as law-abiding citizens, a task largely accomplished. And Cleve Jones was one of the thousands of people that did the heavy lifting that made for lasting and positive change.
Religious belief has deep roots and pulling out these roots will take sustained dedication and effort for 20 to 30 years. Resistance to change will be ferocious and personal.
Is MCC part of the problem and the shaming of LGBT people? or the Unitarian-Universalists? or the Quakers? Just checking what religious groups you might include in a pogrom.
Finally (I do eventually calm down), there is a whole generation that is LGBT neutral, please recognize them and encourage their example. I am meeting lots of age 30 and under (my niece and nephew among them) who are appreciative of LGBT people.
Keep writing, keep demonstrating, keep acting up. All good and positive. Along the way, fall in love, have a cupcake, and watch a sunset. kisses and hugs
Arthur –
I have read some of Andrew’s writings here and there. I think we agree on quite a bit, and the things he’s written have encouraged me to do some more thinking and advance my own understanding of our real problem and it’s very achievable solution. I hope that you and others will do the same with these comments.
Marlin –
I would be so disheartened if I thought you had actually given up hope of achieving anything more than comfortable tolerance. I would be saddened if you actually felt that the next generations of gay kids won’t be able to come out without the long, painful process that too many of us are familiar with. Fortunately, I don’t believe that you feel “we won’t win the heart/mind battles.” That would require too low an estimation of humanity. If I’m wrong, then please read on, and don’t give up.
All –
It is completely possible to end the wrong. The world is more globalized than ever. People, especially younger people, are recognizing more and more just how many different religious “absolutes” there are, each one claiming to be the sole, complete, inspired Word. Access to information – science, history, nature, the mind – is unparalleled to any time in history. Check out Pew’s latest research and see how the ranks of the non-religious are multiplying, especially amongst Americans 18-29. People coming into adulthood in the 21st Century are less willing to commit with absolute certainty to beliefs based on faith when those beliefs conflict directly with provable science.
I’m not asking anyone to convert to atheism. Not being atheist myself, that would be hard. Atheism fails the same burden of proof as Christianity, or Islam, or Scientology. If I can’t prove one version of God, I can’t very well disprove him either. I have my own personal beliefs and encourage others to have theirs, but not to approach them with such baseless certainty, and of course not to use them as justification that other people are lesser or worse. The numbers of people in this category are growing. Perhaps your niece and nephew are among them, Arthur. In twenty to thirty years, progress may take its course and we’ll be near to 50%, or even a slim majority. But why not take on the challenge, work for positive change, and achieve that majority in ten years? Or five? These are our lives in the balance, and the lives of unhappy gay teens yet to come. If we know that change is possible, how can we do nothing but demand tolerance? How can we be satisfied with a forced smile when we should be striving for love?
Look at the youth movement that championed Obama into office and tell me that youth don’t shape and define culture. Try to tell me that young people aren’t the key to a progressive future. Tell me that this idealism is impossible, and that the only way forward is through the same ways of the past.
No one has conquered the religious definition of homosexuality not because it’s impossible, but because there has never been a strong, unified movement that challenged the belief. The taboo has been too strong – it’s not something we’re supposed to talk about. Too many people will get angry. Too many people will get hurt. Too many people within the activist community pledge allegiance to a modified form of the same beliefs that make them wrong, so how could they start challenging them?
Sure, some Medieval churches blessed gay unions. Some churches do today, too. That doesn’t change the fact that religion is the only thing that makes homosexuality wrong. Thank you for the reading list, Arthur. I’d like to add Robert H. Allen’s “Classical Origins of Modern Homophobia.” Note the seeds of bigotry in the Pythagorean religion and its superstitious beliefs. Take a look at how homosexuality was embraced and celebrated in Greek and Roman times – until Constantin made the shift to Christianity. Those are the beliefs, the religious beliefs, that make us wrong today. And sure, around 1% of America’s congregations today are “open and affirming.” But if they’re unwilling to fully support us by changing their doctrine, then we have no business supporting them.
MCC, UU, Quakers, UCC and the rest of the welcoming congregations are a part of the problem because they aren’t a part of the solution. Until they move past acceptance and welcoming, the help they provide is marginal. Until they are bold enough to make sure the world knows, unequivocally, that they do not consider their homosexual members wrong, they are not addressing our problem. And until they lead by example, and actively inspire their heterosexual members to move past “tolerance,” they don’t deserve LGBT as members.
The world is changing, and we can help it find its direction. We can steer it towards a near future when gay is not a dirty word. We can’t give up because it’s hard, or because it’s more comfortable to accept tolerance and say that it doesn’t matter as long as we have legal protections. People who break laws in order to hurt gay people aren’t going to be stopped because there’s suddenly a new law. So won’t it be great when they stop because the very notion of hating a homosexual is so foolish, so juvenile and superstitious, and so beyond the scope of reason? Don’t you look forward to the day when a gay child isn’t afraid of coming out because Jesus doesn’t turn society against him?
I know this future is possible, and I look forward to every second of it. “Yes we can.”
The rally was heartening, uplifting. (Is heartening a word without “dis” in front of it?) I debated hard-core about going into the heat (the MGM really knocked me for a loop), but it turned out that the area was shaded, and as the sun set, the temp was merely sauna instead of pizza-oven.
I wish I had walked around more to look at everyone – just to see and remember the faces, the signs, but I am still new at being counted at these things.
Loved the marching to city hall, even though I didn’t expect it beforehand. It was quite a trot to keep up with the vanguard. Would have loved an a/c limo ride back to the courthouse after, but hey, can’t have it all, right?
While I can’t make it to Tuesday’s FW Council Meeting (child with birthday dinner), I sincerely hope that the queers pack the house.
My point to this comment is actually to say that even if no one “on the outside” hears or is moved or takes action based on seeing a rally or protest or march, I know from personal experience that it motivates the people in it. For myself, one person encouraged me to take steps into this kind of activism, I’ve encouraged others, and I hope they each in turn, go one to one to one, one conversation at a time, to be seen, heard, counted as LGBT.
So yeah. Bring on the cupcakes.
The Ft. Worth City Council meeting tonight is important. Please attend. Bring friends & family.
I suggest talking with your council member today or sending an e-mail with your concerns.
I suggest an even tone of voice and a moderate position if you speak. You can express anger much more effectively with a level, moderate voice.
There are 4 concerns I have,
1) When will the investigation of the Rainbow Lounge raid begin?,
2) What is the purpose of this investigation? (the questions you ask affects the answers you get)
3) Who are the members of this investigating body?.
4) What options are available to the members of the investigative body at the end of the process?, suspension, probation, termination, more training, different training, financial payouts. et cetera…
I believe the Police Chief should not be a part of this investigation. His homophobic remarks are prejudicial to the process and to the spirit of a fair and impartial investigation. The Dallas Sheriff might be a good choice.
I would recommend some gorilla theater since sign, and banners seem out (this infringes free speech by the way). I leave it up to local folks to come up with something unique and eye catching. Color coordinated T-shirts are obvious, rainbows are obvious, whistles are less obvious and used as a last resort when you hit a stone wall, face paint is good particularly for media, you get the idea.
Bringing children and relatives reinforces the message that families are important to LGBT folks.
An ethnically diverse group of supporters is a big plus. The Council needs to understand that no one group stands alone, what happens to one group can and often does happen to another group.
Have patience with this process. City of Ft. Worth attorneys are going to advise council members to avoid any speech that suggests guilt or innocence of Ft. Worth Police Officers or of the department. The attorneys will recommend controlling the speakers and comments as much as possible within the law.
Understand this is your city council and they must respond to your needs and concerns. Challenge any council member that makes a statement that you consider out of line. Applaud any council member that shows an appreciation for your concerns. Personally thank the council members for their participation in this difficult, emotional process, preferably at the end of the meeting.
I believe the Mayor and the City Council are sincere in their desire to determine what happened at the Rainbow Lounge and to take appropriate action once the investigative process ends. I am unsure of what the Police Chief expects from this process.
What is our goal here? Is it “Put the political fear of God into the act of jacking up a gay bar? “ That’s dumb. 70% of the people around here would look the other way on a gay bashing, 20% would help. There’s no shortage of redneck cops, and we’re not going to change that in the short term. If the blue wall closes around this and nothing happens we’ll be in a hole. The cops would have impunity and a grudge. They’ll be busting heads from here to El Paso.
It’s tempting to try to turn this into another Stonewall, but that’s neither apt or a good idea. The blowback from the straight community is like “Stupid gays want special treatment. Resisting arrest and yelling police brutality.†Many people see this as whining and reverse discrimination. Not a good way to promote tolerance.
The headline is not “queers beat up by cops†but “innocent people assaulted by cops and jailed for no reason.â€
Wouldn’t it be a better idea to change the PI law? You know, something like requiring the cop to make his case, and allowing the victim to challenge the charge. If you could take a breath test and walk, the cop would have to think twice before indiscriminately arresting people for bad attitude. Wouldn’t it be fun if you could produce witnesses in court and jack up the cop?
Tammye:
I thought we had the “count” for this Rally at “about 200” and then Queer Liberaction sends out an email that says:
“After a list of demands of the North Texas LGBT community were posted on the Tarrant County Courthouse’s doors, the crowd of 300+ marched down Main St, stopping traffic, on to City Hall. LGBT North Texans should be proud for taking such a strong stand on Sunday and grabbing the reigns of history.”
It is imperative that the voices in our community at least TELL THE TRUTH. Credibility IS an issue.
Perhaps, the email should have read “200 people marched AND we wish there were more.”
Maybe, next time.
@Brian: As I stressed in the post, the 150 to 200 estimate was MY estimate. I do not determine QL’s estimates. My estimate was based on a partial head count, and was probably on the conservative side. I don’t know how QL devises its estimates of crowd sizes
Apparently they count and then double or triple it.
Brian:
Why don’t you just attend an event so you can count yourself so you can be the accurate, bi-partisan count?
I invite you to join Queer Liberaction at Buli tonight (Wednesday) at 7pm.
Jason,
Nobody is joining QL after the childish behavior last night.