Fort Worth’s Stonewall

Filed Under Homophobia, Police Beat, WTF? | June 29th, 2009 

On the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, patrons of the newly opened Fort Worth, Texas bar the Rainbow Lounge experienced an eerily similar raid that was reminiscent of the events at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village forty years ago.

Sometime in the early hours of Sunday, June 28 (after 12:30 AM), Fort Worth Police Officers and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) agents arrived at the Rainbow Lounge to conduct what they’re calling a scheduled inspection. The so-called scheduled inspection resulted in seven arrests; it’s not known at this time if all were arrested for ‘public intoxication’ (in a bar). At least one person thought that a number of the men that the police were targeting were effeminate looking men.

In a press release, the police state: “While walking through the Rainbow Lounge, an extremely intoxicated patron made sexually explicit movements toward the police supervisor. This individual was arrested for public intoxication. Another intoxicated individual also made sexually explicit movements towards another officer and he was arrested for public intoxication. A third individual inside the lounge assaulted the TABC agent by grabbing the TABC agent’s groin. He was escorted outside and arrested for public intoxication.” Several patrons dispute this account.

Numerous people have reported that the Fort Worth police and the TABC agents were looking for trouble and were extremely heavy handed. It’s also been reported at the Dallas Voice blog that one of the patrons, by the name of Chad Gibson, was hospitalized as a result of being thrown to the ground by police during the raid. According to his sister, Kristy Morgan, Gibson’s injuries include bleeding in his brain. “It doesn’t matter who you are or what kind of bar you are in,” Morgan said, “none of this should have happened, to anybody. It’s excessive force, and it shouldn’t have happened.”

Early Sunday evening, a crowd of 100 people gathered at the Tarrant County Courthouse and demanded an investigation into the Rainbow Lounge raid. Speaker after speaker demanded an inquiry with some recounting the events as they saw it. After the 20 minute rally some of the crowd proceeded to march down Main Street waving flags and holding signs reading “Give us Answers Now”, “We Have Rights Too”, “40 Years Is Too Long”. A second protest is scheduled for 7 p.m. next Sunday at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Reverend Michael Piazza, Dean of the Cathedral of Hope, in a statement condemning the raid said, “After more than a generation of progress, this action shows that there is still much work to be done to ensure that all Americans enjoy ‘equal protection under the law.’ It is tragic that lesbian and gay taxpayers are still abused by the very people who are paid by our taxes.”

Fort Worth, Councilmember Joel Burns, called for an immediate and thorough investigation of the actions of the City of Fort Worth Police and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in relation to the incident at the Rainbow Lounge.

In a press release, Burns said: “It is unfortunate that this incident occurred in Fort Worth and even more so to have occurred on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall protests. Unlike 40 years ago, though, the people of this community have elective representation that will make sure our government is accountable and that the rights of all of its citizens are protected. I am working together with our Mayor, Police Chief, the City of Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, and our State Legislative colleagues to get a complete and accurate accounting of what occurred.

Rest assured that neither the people of Fort Worth, nor the city government of Fort Worth, will tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens. And know that the GLBT Community is an integral part of the economic and cultural life of Fort Worth.

Every Fort Worth citizen deserves to have questions around this incident answered and I am working aggressively toward that end.”

Related News Update:
- Dallas Voice: Gays, lesbians rally in Fort Worth over bar raid.

Sources / Related News:
- Star Telegram: Upset Fort Worth residents protest raid on gay nightclub
- Dallas Voice Instant Tea Blog (They have lots of updates)
- Cathedral of Hope
- Facebook: Rainbow Lounge Raid
- Councilman Joel Burns Statement Concerning Rainbow Lounge Raid
- Fort Worth Police Statement Concerning Rainbow Lounge Raid