7/4/09

INTERFAITH COALITION FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY : Support HB 1728 / SB1687

DECLARATION OF RELIGIOUS AND FAITH-BASED SUPPORT FORMASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION,
AN ACT RELATIVE TO GENDER-BASED DISCRIMINATION AND HATE CRIMES
DRAFTED BY THE INTERFAITH COALITION FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY
AFFIRMING A MORAL VISION

No society is truly just when its members face persecution. Justice requires that a society stand by its moraal vision and act against that persecution. The signatories of this letter ask that the Commonwealth act upon its moral vision of a just society by passing An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes.
The signatories of this letter are persons of faith, clergy, congregations, and organizations of faith. Some of us are transgender persons. Others are allies and loved ones. Some of us directly serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Others serve indirectly. In our support for An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes we speak with one voice. We speak on behalf of those who are vulnerable to violence and persecution because of their gender identities or gender expressions.
Transgender people and others who do not conform to gender stereotypes face persecution in essential areas of life. This legislation adds "gender identity or expression" to the Commonwealth's hate crime laws and non-discrimination laws in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, and credit. Violence and persecution on the basis of gender identity or expression often stem from the belief that people who do not conform to gender stereotypes are unworthy of protection by the law and are outside of the Commonwealth's moral vision. By passing An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes, the legislature would speak out against such persecution.

OUR CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
People of all gender identities and expressions, including transgender people, are born into, enter into, or are called to many faiths. Our faith traditions help to ground and support us in our lifelong quests for fulfillment and responsibility to one another. All of our traditions respect the dignity of each and every human being and recognize our connection to one another.
Because of this connection, the persecution of a person on the basis of gender identity or expression is an injury, not only to an individual, but to everyone connected to that person: to the person's family, friends, and spiritual community. The oppression of one person indelibly scars all of us. It calls all of us to take account of our moral duties, stand in unity, and take action.
Yes, please add my name in support of the ICTE Declaration!
http://www.interfaithcoalition.org/

MILK BOX~FT Worth~Responds to Rainbow Raid


Milk Box
Hosted by: Queer LiberAction
Queer LiberAction MySpace
Queer LiberAction.com

When:
Sunday, July 05, 2009 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CDT (End Time Estimated)
Where:
Sundance Square, Houston and 3rd St. FT Worth Texas Google Map

In response to the raid at the Rainbow Lounge, Queer Liberaction is set to take its Milk box to Sundance Square in the heart of downtown Fort Worth this coming Sunday, July 5th at 7:00 PM. Those that were at the Rainbow Lounge Raid will speak on the events they witnessed.

Ambassadors and leaders from the Queer community will be setting up Queer Liberaction's Milk box outside of the gayborhood as a way to engage the public in a discussion on GLBT equality. Named in honor of Harvey Milk, our public free speech event is a fun and engaging way which encourages dialog regarding homophobia and the civil rights denied to GLBT people. Join Queer Liberaction as we stand up and speak OUT to our neighbors about how discrimination



6/30/09

Candlelight Vigil for Chad Gibson, Victim of Anti-Gay Police Violence July 1 2009

Ft Worth-- Queer Liberaction is organizing a Candlelight Vigil for Chad Gibson, 26, the victim of police violence last weekend at the Rainbow Lounge in Ft. Worth. The Vigil will commence around 8:30 PM Wednesday July 1, 2009 at the Rainbow Lounge at 651 South Jennings Avenue. The large North Texas Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender (GLBT) community, and their Queer Allies is outraged by the actions of the Ft. Worth Police Departments tactics in raiding the bar and arresting its customers. The GLBT community is especially concerned over the condition of Mr. Gibson who, according to eyewitnesses, sustained sever injuries to the head by Ft. Worth Police officers as they attempted to arrest and handcuff him. According to family members of Mr. Gibson, if his brain swelling and bleeding continues, surgery may be necessary.

The GLBT community, of course, will continue to search for complete answers to the many questions still remaining from the Rainbow Lounge Raid. But, tomorrow evening, Wed. July 1, 2009, at 8:30 PM, our thoughts and prayers will be focused on Chad Gibson and his family. We will demonstrate our deep concern and full support for Chad and his family in a time honored, visual way with a Candlelight Vigil.

6/29/09

North Texas Queer LiberAction Gears up for – 'STONEWALL 2009'


THE RAINBOW LOUNGE RAID – STONEWALL 2009

An update of upcoming events from Queer LiberAction

"This past Sunday, June 28th was the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellions, the moment which sparked our civil rights movement. At Stonewall we were indignant and outraged. With this anger we got energized, got creative and got organized and stood up to society to proclaim that we are not going to be treated like any less than the human beings that we are."

"Forty years on, GLBT people are still being harassed and brutalized within their own bars and clubs. At about 1:00 AM on the exact anniversary of Stonewall, the Fort Worth Police, along with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), raided the Rainbow Lounge. A patty wagon along with several police cars were parked outside as the police entered with plastic handcuffs ready to make arrests."

"The Fort Worth Police are claiming that arrests were made for public intoxication. You can’t get drunk at a bar in Texas anymore? The police are also claiming that customers made “sexually explicit movements toward the police supervisor” and that other officers were “groped'."

"Customers from the Rainbow Lounge have a sharply different account of the events. First hand accounts indicate that this raid was a clear-cut case of police brutality and harassment. These sorts of vile intimidation techniques must not be allowed to pass without angry condemnation from the North Texas LGBT community. "

"While there is still uncertainty as to the exact number of arrests made, those who were present at the Rainbow Lounge that evening are reporting that about fifteen people were arrested."

"Violence was used to such an extent that a Rainbow Lounge customer, Chad Gibson, is still in the ICU suffering from internal hemorrhaging on the brain. His condition is reported to be worsening. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chad and the Gibson family."

"Please visit the Dallas Voice Instant Tea blog for a more complete story and for the latest developments. "

"LGBT North Texas will rally again at the Tarrant County Courthouse on Sunday, July 12 at 7:00 PM. If in the next two weeks there is city-wide condemnation of the Rainbow Lounge Raid then the rally will then be one to congratulate the city on their swift and sharp action. On the other hand, if first hand reports still contradict the official story, if arresting officers are not seriously disciplined, if the officer responsible for Chad Gibson’s brain hemorrhage is still an active member of the Fort Worth Police Department, if apologies are not issued by the mayor, Mike Moncrief, and the Fort Worth Police Chief, Jeffery Halstead then the tone of the rally will adequately express the indignation from our community regarding the City of Fort Worth’s less than aggressive response to homophobia and police brutality. "

"All the information coming out regarding the Rainbow Lounge Raid is all very new and a single consistent story has been difficult to establish. Please keep checking Queer Liberaction’s website for the latest steps we will be taking in the coming weeks."
Queer Liberaction
lgbtliberaction@gmail.com

Walk With Me

I needed to be reminded how wondrous and beautiful our lives are. Reverend Eric Folkerth from Northaven Methodist in Dallas Texas sings!



enjoy

Rainbow Lounge Raid ~ Routine Inspection or Stonewall Retaliation Gay Bashing

WFAA TV VIDEO "Man hospitalized after inspection of gay bar"

By kelli Anne Busey
planetransgender
kellibusey@yahoo.com

Mayor Mike Moncrief
Mike.Moncrief@fortworthgov.org
817-392-6118

On the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Fort Worth Texas police and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (TABC) enforcement officers and possibly a State Police officer conducted what they described as a routine planned 'bar check'. According to the police report the owner had been notified earlier that a inspection was to take place at his newly open establishment. The owner was not overly concerned because in the past a bar check normally entailed officers quietly and unobtrusively checking driver license.

However this was not the case, this time.

The officers entered the Rainbow Lounge according to the Fort Worth Police Statement , to ensure the owners were complying with laws requiring them to provide "a safe environment for all", at 12:30 am on June 28, 2009.

TABC Code of Enforcement

Public Intoxication - A person commits an offense if the person appears in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that the person may endanger the person or another. [Section 49.02 Penal Code]

Public place means any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access and includes, but is not limited to, streets, highways, and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transport facilities, and shops. [Section 1.07 Penal Code]

According to Shane Wells an entertainer who witnessed the first arrest, the officers randomly picked patrons to harass and intimidate in hopes of provoking a response. They then physically assaulted and arrested male patrons.

The woman who were present offered an account which is equally disturbing. Kayla Lane said an officer offered unwanted sexual advances after being asked what was going on. "He wouldn’t really answer my questions. although he did try to grab my hand and flirt with me (which was completely uninvited)."

Tiffany offered this comment on 'Instant Tea' "It seemed like the officers were provoking their victims as well. One man that had been arrested was standing on the side walk while an officer was being very aggressive and kept pushing the man around and trying to argue with him. The man finally asked him to stop touching him because he was just trying to stand still. It was really bizarre! None of the men that I saw arrested were visibly intoxicated and they all cooperated considering the way they were treated."

"This will not deter me from going back. I hope all that were arrested are giving them hell now. An injustice was done."

KDAF-TV Councilman Joel Burns Statement Concerning "Rainbow Lounge" Raid "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."



*************************************

Media Contact:

Sergeant Pedro Criado

817-392-4214

Pedro.Criado@fortworthgov.org


PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

6/28/2009
FORT WORTH, TX -
PRESS RELEASE:

DETAILS AND SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LEADING TO A BAR CHECK AT THE RAINBOW LOUNGE:

On Thursday evening, June 6, 2009, a TABC Agent entered into NPD2 and teamed up with a patrol officer in order to conduct alcoholic beverage code inspections of area clubs. While they were out, they performed these inspections into the Friday morning hours. At approximately 10:00 p.m., Thursday evening, they stopped by the Rainbow Lounge located at 651 S. Jennings in anticipation of conducting an inspection as this club is newly opened and has not received an inspection before this date. While waiting on the supervisor to arrive, which is standard operating procedure, the owner of the Rainbow Lounge approached the officers asked if there was a problem. The TABC agent explained they were waiting on a patrol supervisor to make the scene before conducting an inspection of his establishment. An inspection at the Rainbow Lounge was not conducted on this date (Friday). Other locations, however, were inspected as a continuing effort to educate and enforce over serving alcohol to intoxicated individuals.

On Saturday morning, June 27, 2009, a person identifying himself as the owner of the Rainbow Lounge called the local police station and spoke with a supervisor to ascertain if there was a problem at the Rainbow Lounge. At approximately 3:30 p.m., a Fort Worth Police sergeant spoke with the owner of the Rainbow Lounge and explained they were conducting alcoholic beverage code inspections in the area. The owner advised the sergeant officers were welcome anytime to conduct an inspection of his establishment. The sergeant advised the owner of the Rainbow Lounge that officers would return to the area this evening to continue inspections and would inspect his establishment.

On Sunday morning, June 28, 2009, at 12:30 a.m., six (6) Fort Worth Police Officers, two (2) TABC agents and a supervisor conducted inspections at 160 W Rosedale (Rosedale Saloon and Cowboy Palace). This inspection resulted in nine (9) arrests. Once the inspection was completed at these locations, officers proceeded to the Rainbow Lounge.

Officers arrived at the Rainbow Lounge to conduct the scheduled inspection. Some officers remained outside while some entered the club. 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. The decision was made to release him to paramedics due to his extreme intoxicated state as he was repeatedly vomiting. While dealing with this person, another officer requested assistance from inside the club as he had an intoxicated individual that was resisting arrest. This person was placed on the ground in an effort to control and apprehend. A total of seven (7) arrests were made from the Rainbow Lounge during this inspection. The total arrest count for the entire evening totaled 16.

Alcohol beverage code inspections are conducted frequently at establishments located within the city limits of Fort Worth. These are conducted in order to ensure a safe environment for all. A thorough internal investigation into the allegations made is being conducted as all allegations against officers are investigated.

Facebook Rainbow Lounge Raid

Instant Tea An eyewitness account from the Rainbow Lounge raid

KDAF-TV 33 Fort Worth Police Statement Concerning "Rainbow Lounge" Raid

Instant Tea Raid on Rainbow Lounge

Anyone who has any difficulties contacting mainstream media please email me at kellibusey@yahoo.com and I will make every effort to make sure your voice is heard.