I respectfully disagree that protesting accomplishes nothing. I believe it is team work that achieves the desired goals.
ref. Protesting is the Most Patriotic Act Anyone Can Do
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/211482/protesting_is_the_most_patr iotic_act.html

I think the statement by Jon Nelson from Fairness Fort Worth , to be informative " Nelson said that “every right people have today” came about because of angry protests,“but protests alone won’t solve the problem. …"
in the DallasVoice of 07-10-09,VOLUME 25 ISSUE 08, page 11

We do not yet know the reason for the raid or who gave the orders to nine officers to go after the newly opened Rainbow Lounge, but evidently they where not afraid of any backlash by our GLBT friendly elected politicians. I believe only outrage by the Fort Worth GLBT community can cause real change and improvement. Fort Worth GLBT must find their voice and let it be heard loud and clear.

This is the same song and dance that has taken place between QL and Stonewall Dems for quite some time. Neither organization believes that the other organization's tactics are effective. To compose commentary discrediting each other is insulting.

As a member of QL and a friend of Stonewall Dems, I just would like to one day see some collaboration between the two forms of activism. Is QL the answer to direct action activism? That is to be determined but for now it's the only organization I know in the area that is ready to get to streets at the drop of a hat. That form of activism is needed. Do we need to have organizations to actively work with politicians and secure election of LBGT friendly officials? Of course!

Why do I feel like I'm talking to idiots?! I just wish that both organizations would do their chest-thumping in a more private setting instead of going for the jugular through print.

I don't think anyone is served by the constant internal bitchfest that goes on in our community as we tear each other down instead of focusing on the real problems. I'm personally much more in line with the Harvey Milk, John Thomas, ACT UP line of activism the QL offers, but I see the need for the suit & tie approach too.

The bottom line is that at the end of the day, QL has a failed strategy.

It is all about anger and direct action. But what happens when your anger and direct action actually work and the other side is willing to sit down and listen to you.

Well, then you have to be able to sit down and talk to the other side at some point.

QL does not seem to ever want to sit down and talk to the other side.

Harvey Milk was angry, but he was also hopeful. He also got elected to city government and sat down with those that would oppress us and talked to them.

QL offers nothing but anger, which we need. But they offer no hope. They don't know when their direct action has worked... they don't know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.

And a large part of that is because QL is led by a very angry, bitter, young man whom everyone in town that has tried to work with can tell you.... it is his way or the highway....

and that is the problem with QL in a nutshell.

Daniel Coats - Please tell David Mixner that WE LIVE IN A NEW WORLD. His comments about what has worked in "his 50 years" isn't "today." Plus, read up on the National Equality March (aka the Cleve Jones Gathering) planned for October - NOBODY IS GOING.

The problem with so-called "direct action" groups is that there is a time and a place for direct action. If and when it is necessary WE ALL consider ourselves "activists." So, many of us are offended that they consider themselves the only "direct action" organization in Dallas. That's dumb.

Many of us take action very directly, every day. Not with markers, poster board and megaphone, but with thoughtful consideration.

QLs problem is they are trying to invent reasons to take direct action or just interfering in efforts that are ongoing and then trying to take credit for them. Perhaps Blake should think of activism as an activity and not a job or profession.

Tisha said: "Why do I feel like I'm talking to idiots?"

Because you are.

Many of us have had very thoughtful and considered comments about the whole QL embarrassment. This most recent Viewpoint was another. If anyone is unsure of the community-wide rejection of QL and Blake's antics - just look at his thoughtful reply above. No "substance," and very little form.

I agree with you that the conversation should take place, but it is difficult when the "attention grabber" is unable to communicate. Look at the Fort Worth Council Meeting video and listen closely for the "shut-up and sit down(s)" in the background. WE were saying that - not the other side.

Brian,
I have never seen, and do not anticipate seeing, the guys from the Northpark bathroom taking to the streets to try and convince the American public that what they did was acceptable and just a part of the gay lifestyle. In the same respect I do not seen any openly gay elected official trying to push an agenda of legalizing public indecency. I am certain that when my family or old fraternity brothers heard this story on NBC, they never associated the action with me just because I am a gay man. Why don't we stick with comparing apples to apples?

@Brian -- There are plenty of sex scandles to go around for the straights and the gays. You are barking up the wrong tree. But then again, you seem to have a personal grudge against the QL folks.

@All -- As for this whole debate, I think QL had done a fine job. We need both styles of activism. It's a petty waste of our time to fight amoung ourselves. QL *did not* embarrass the gay movement. They may have made people uncomfortable, but that's not the problem of QL.

"The results came about through many years of hard work by longtime activists and well- established organizations in the community to get the right people elected to office so that when an event like this happens, we not only have a voice but more importantly the political clout and leverage necessary to implement changes in policy and to see that investigations take place and that various departments and agencies are held accountable."

OK Mr. Nary, but just what exactly is your definition of the "right people" ??? Are they people who have money and influence in the GLBT political and corporate circles who all drink from the same crony trough, or people (irregardless if they are GLBT or not) who will actually get in there and get the job done and help make the system equal for everyone ??

Just because a person is from our community, that doesn't make him or her an instant "voice" for the community or guarantee that they will do the right thing for us.......Look at what happened with HRC and other organizations. What did they do ??? They have an entire staff of elected GLBT political activists and they sold the transgender folks out on ENDA and royally disenfranchised GLBT couples with Prop 8.......

So Mr. Nary, I feel that your assumption that getting a GLBT democrat elected to office means instant legislative reform is a bit unrealistic.

Also, how can we hold our agencies accountable if our very own GLBT officials who serve in them won't take responsibility for their behavior and who shun and censor folks who do try to hold them accountable ??? You can't hold agencies accountable when the GLBT power people with "clout" all drink from the same trough.

I have listened to many of these comments and I agree whole heartedly with Mrs. McDaniel, Jake and Brian. There is entirely too much grandstanding and horn tooting from these political "activists" who all claim that each is better in their approach than the other and run their pride of their agenda into the ground with endless articles on blogs and in the GLBT media, often to the point where it becomes sickening.

As one commentor once put it "check your egos at the door" because this abuse of power and continuous reminder to everyone about your political "clout" to compete for media fame and glory and community recognition only hurts those in the community who are kicked to the curb, the very people you all are supposed to be fighting for........ How many of those people have you invited on board to help your agendas ???

Gee, I'll see how long this comment stays up before it too gets removed or censored by those who have "clout" in the community media.

Thank you for your time

Well said Guinea Pig

Brian, interesting observation you had made earlier which I'd care to expound upon.

"......activism as an activity and not a job or profession."

I couldn't agree more !! Unfortunately however, that's not what is currently going on these days in the GLBT community. In fact, let's look at how political activism has developed over the past several years in our community.

Years ago, activism and non-profit work was just that. It was solely grass roots, composed mainly of volunteers who liked to give back to their communities. It was simple really. Go volunteer your time or pick up your picket sign, finish up and then go back to work your day job.

Of course times have changed and we now live in a society of uncertainty, and none more affected by it than our GLBT community. The fact is, many of us in the GLBT community struggle with unemployment, unless one has money or was fortunate enough to be embraced into the corporate circle by the GLBT corporate elite. For the most part though, many GLBT people remain without jobs and poor.

Enter a few politically savvy and business-minded entrepreneurs who most likely couldn't find jobs in the real world like everyone else in the community and who came up with the idea to change the then political activism and non-profit "model" to a new corporate based "business model". And boy was this system successful (well at least for them....)

So this change over the past several years has given rise to political activist organizations and non-profit organizations being run like mini corporations, complete with boards of directors, corporate sponsorship money and handsomely paid "executives". Have a look at how lucrative some of their salaries are:

http://www.washblade.com/2007/3-23/view/editorial/10280.cfm

And as Mr. Nary so clearly implied that these "power" figures use their political and influential "clout" to help get other like-minded "entrepreneurs" hired to run these organizations.


The result, an entire cottage industry of business-minded executives running mini corporations instead of the community non-profits and grass roots volunteer activist organizations that they were originally intended to be........... And since corporate dollars are so closely tied with this new system, the entities involved will protect the system "at all cost".

So Brian, to finally get to your point, today's upcoming "activists" and non-profit "leaders" are adopting the same business mindset, the very same mindset that they got from their high profile and high income "mentors" who are currently in the drivers seat. I mean it makes perfect business sense. Why would they go out and try to find a REAL job paying $8-$9 an hour when they can do political activism or non-profit work full time and make $50K +, have opportunities to hobnob with corporate "executives", obtain free tickets to lavish political fundraisers, being forever given publicity in the GLBT media for spouting off their political views, and lastly becoming a virtual untouchable in the community who is protected by the political/corporate and media "clout" circle, from any criticism, scandal or public investigation..........

Political activism and non-profits is BIG BUSINESS these days in the GLBT community and the "leaders" in it as well as the entities who are making money off of them will stop at nothing to protect their "careers" and their business partner's / sponsor's quarterly sales benchmark.

I am saddened that our GLBT "leaders" of years past have set such a self-serving example for today's new activists coming up after them........ folks who see this as a profession rather than community service volunteer work........ so very sad.

Guinea Pig:

Thankfully nobody is providing any financial support to Queer Liberaction. I agree they are trying to "create a new business model" but it goes against two simple principles:

1. Activism needs to be HONEST and not contrived. We are ALL activist when the situation warrants. The whole idea to "respond" to a situation is very "personal." We each handle our own response in whatever fashion we believe most effective.

2. If an organization has a good idea, strategy and plan they WILL receive financial support. Many people "organize" many events in the gay community as volunteers. There is no need to be set up like the military and then "hurry up and wait" for the next offense. We have already seen this leads to over-reacting just to get the gig.

Perhaps they can redefine QL as a poster-and-banner-making business. Most of us are too busy . . . working AND contributing.

"Blake -
I actually admire your passion a great deal...
I just think your talents can be put to better use than just direct action events. Protests and Marches in the streets or a park outside are fine -
in fact I wish we had more of them in the U.S.
With that said however,I think you'd be more effective in meetings if you spoke in a normal tone of voice when you are indoors - just like having a regular conversation. This gets your point across much more effectively and people
would be more receptive to your message
as well.
Best wishes -
JAY "

Mr Narey.. it would seem you are now trying to play nice.. if only you had written an article like this instead of making mean spirited, malicious attacks against an entire group of hard working activists. You owe an apology, not only to Blake (who has NEVER made such distasteful statements about your organization) but to the many dedicated members of QL and THOUSANDS other activists in Texas and the US who choose direct action techniques over partisan politics or backroom palm greasings. What you have written is absolutely childish. "QL doesn't DESERVE credit for progress in Fort Worth" Maybe not ALL of it.. there were other organizations like Fairness Fort Worth who helped gathering statements, the Stonewall Dems who spoke to our elected folks... BUT It was QL who held rallies, who gave a voice to the general community- not just a group of Lawyers and UNELECTED "community leaders" It was QL who generated the noise around this, kept it in the news and gave much needed visibility to our community here in Fort Worth. Maybe some are put off by what happened at the City Council Meeting.. but the rest of the organizations were surely not going to stand up- if you feel Blake was too abrasive then maybe you should have made a more professional stand?
This kind of childish finger pointing is exactly what has held us back ESPECIALLY in Texas for so long, and I for one am not going to harbor an ounce of respect for a "leader" who chooses to trash another organization this way. You should be ashamed.

Speaking of homophobia, what out the homophobic comments of the Mayor of Fort Worth and the Police Chief?

Why did our LGBT member of the Fort Worth City Council (and Stonewall Democrat) not call them out on these statements?

In fact, our LGBT member of the Fort Worth Council (and Stonewall Democrat) did just the opposite in his opening statement. He stated that he had full faith in the Police Chief.

This is a completely ridiculous statement. He had a moral responsibility to call out the Police Chief on his homophobic statements.

Just another example of how our LGBT elected officials fail us and backstab us after we help put them in office.

The LGBT community needs to remember this next election season and vote for a 3rd party that respects and fights for our rights, such as Socialist, Green, or Libertarian.

The Democrats take it for granted that the LGBT community will vote for them because they are afraid of the Republicans.

Maybe if next election time, LGBT people didn't vote for the Democrats and a lot of Democrats lost their seats... well, maybe then they would get the message that they can't take our votes for granted.

Does Blake speak for Queer Liberaction?

The supportive comments on here are from the 4-5 members of QL, somebody must know.

Nothing was more damaging to the LGBT cause in DFW than the moment that Jon Nelson stood up at the FtW City Council Meeting and basically told Blake to "Sit down and know your place." Whether or not one agrees with direct action or not, the fact is that "cooperation" has gotten the LGBT community to where it is: police raids of gay clubs 40 years after Stonewall. Neither action is effective by itself, with both requiring the other to succeed. Still, the age-gap in all this is telling. It's almost as if the Stonewall Generation wants another 40 years to get things done...

On a final note, as a member of the straight community I can promise you that those who are not allies laugh with glee whenever this type of infighting takes place in a public forum. Those bigots want nothing more than a "civil war" in the LGBT community. There are certainly times to disagree, but in a struggle like this, they should not be out in the open. The Jon Nelsons and Jay Nareys of the world need to realize that attacking the younger members of the community who aren't doing it a certain way aren't helping anyone...

Carl,
I was at the meeeting in FW and NO ONE inferred "know your place." Gross inaccuracy ruins OUR credibility Carl. For what may be the one hundredth time I've posted it in these pages;
QL asked to be jumped ahead of the election for Mayor Pro Tem.
(An important issue to our most valued ally on the FW City Council, Kathline Hicks!)
They asked to be jumped ahead of 30 advocates for the homeless. (The budget for the homeless programs may be cut by 30 percent. People will be drastically affected by these cuts. The homeless, alcohol and drug abusers and people living with HIV/AIDS.)
These were impolitic and ill-considered.
TO BE CLEAR;
The raid, from the reports of eyewitnesses, was NOT predicated on it being a gay club. No homophobic remarks were made, and no one, (sadly including most of the people their according to Todd Camp), knew it was the anniversary of Stonewall!
Excessive force was used in making the arrest.
Overheated statements about our disagreements may actually be the most telling "age-gap" here. Those people who are argue for stunts and news coverage regardless of message, fail to grasp strategy and tactic. They don't know where and how things get done. The need for street tactics makes a minimal contribution. Particularly those that give the impression we are petulant and disorganized. Which QLs ridiculous tirade did TO ALL OF US. Elected officials and allies are where it happens.

>>>No homophobic remarks were made

This is not correct. Please check the statements quoted in the mainsteam media (including AP) by the Mayor and especially the Police Chief after the incident.

The VOICE has begun to block comments and censor opinion. I will no longer read the Voice or continue to Post on the Blog.

It is unfortunate that the Voice does not allow the Freedom of Speech and free-thinking in our community.

There are many more reliable gay-content sites available.

Um, rreading my comments, it sounds like "if you don't think Moncrief will do anything he can to get the LGBT community to 'shut up' right now" is a bad thing. It's not. If the 40 years since Stonewall have proved anything, it's that too many politicians are secure in the knowledge that the LGBT community is the last "safe' target for discrimination. Moncrief is finding out this is no longer the case and QL *does* deserve some of the credit for this (though certainly not all of it).

@Carl-
You began,
"... basically told Blake to "Sit down and know your place.",

then later posted,

“... (in my mind, the words were "sit down and know your place," but it was a heated moment so I won't swear to that...",

and finally admitted,

"it's not clear in the audio. I guess eyewitness is the best I can do."

With each post you further undermined your own argument and to be frank our enemies will never “take your word”. I can’t either. Your claim requires proof. But, each correction does get closer to the truth I witnessed. What you claim was said/inferred by Jon Nelson is completely unfounded and untrue. To lamely make the claim was wrong and has failed you, I think. It is an example of a failed strategy combined with ill-considered action. It reinforces the argument that we need to be deliberate because things can backfire when we act without enough forethought and without good planning.
I'd also argue to you QL members and supporters that when you make careless public comments our enemies seize on these silly, rash remarks and you risk OUR credibility. As I’m sure you realize Carl all the backpedaling isn’t needed if you don’t overreach and make incendiary and unfounded claims in the first place. They don't disappear as you can see. (I’m reminded of the QL claims that our community was “targeted” June 28th. An equally unfounded statement that frankly only serves to makes us look like whiny victims.) So, be careful not to be hot-tempered and speak without thinking if you want to help in our civil rights movement Carl. Settle in for the long haul and keep your wits about you.

The local Fort Worth newspaper is reporting that the US Attorney's office is being nonresponsive about the Rainbow Lounge incident and possibly not even committing to performing the investigation or even reviewing it.

In the original editorial, Mr. Narey states that "... we not only have a voice but more importantly the political clout and leverage necessary to ... see that investigations take place ... "

Mr. Narey, please don't take this as a criticism or a personal attack, as it's not, it's just some friendly "food for thought:"

If this article is correct, I think this latest episode unfortunately shows a lack of political clout and leverage.

Frankly, I really, truly wish that you and your LGBT elected officials did have the political clout and leverage necessary. In reality, we simply aren't there yet. I have high hopes that one day it will happen but we must face reality as it exists today, however difficult that may be.

I hope this latest episode with the US Attorney will help you to realize that non-direct tactics unfortunately don't always work, especially when confronted with "THE Fort Worth Way" that we hear so much about these days.

Can't you simpy respectfully agree to respectully disagree with those who favor direct tactics?

Personally, I see direct action tactics as a complement, not a competition, to more the more reserved tactics. I think there comes times when both types of actions may be needed to get things done.

Maybe we will just have to respectfully agree to respectfully disagree that this was one of those times and leave it at that.

To the more direct subject of the newpaper story:

Frankly, I still don't understand the closed door back room deal that took place between Fairness Fort Worth and the Fort Worth City Council (and apparently neither do the people who actually attended based on their public comments).

First, I hate these types of meetings to begin with, as they are undemocratic and always lead to everyone coming out of the meeting with a different story. And the groups which didn't get to attend will always be suspicious of the outcome, regardless of what it is.

If the Fort Worth newspaper story is correct, it sounds like this meeting was no exception. Everyone at the meeting has come out with a different understanding and a different set of promises that were made. And the groups that weren't allowed to attend are rightfully mistrusting at this point because they were left out of the process.

I have one request of you:

Will you please use the clout and leverage you do have to ensure that future meetings are open to the public, the media, videotaped, and that all members of the LGBT community (even those you disagree with) who want to participate are given the chance.

I've heard a rumor that there is currently another closed door back room deal being cut between Fairness Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Police Department. I certainly hope it's only a rumor and not true. I would rather have heard wrong than heard right on this one.

If it is true, then please help to right the wrong before it goes any further. Ensure these meetings are public and videotaped with media present and include all members of the LGBT community who want to be a part of the process, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with them.

Thanks for listening,
Kevin Crook

@Kevin, can you help me find the FW Star Telegram article you're citing?
Steve
(date, or title, etc...?!)

Marlin, to the rescue! Thanks, dude!
I don't read the Star Telegran unless forced so I missed the article.
Steve

Ok, folks. I live in Fort Worth. Enough with the whining..waah, waah, waah.

I am an active member of Stonewall Democrats and have personally worked on almost every campaign in the county to elect Democrats to office in the last four years-I am only one of many articulate LGBT community members in the city. We take pride in our legislative and senatorial officials-they made it clear they "have our back" with regard to the Rainbow Longe raid and beyond.

We like to get work done in Fort Worth-we leave the whining to others who can't be bothered with productivity. QL never asked how to collaborate with our community after the Rainbow Lounge raid. Instead, they screamed at our leaders and staged public pissing contests with members of our community to prove who was the loudest, meanest, most verbally abusive and inappropriate SOB in the room. You will never speak for me or this city's LGBT community. You aren't fooling anyone but yourselves.

Was that good for any of us in Tarrant County to have to endure while we were in the thick of a disastrous circumstance here in FW? Sorry, folks, but we don't deserve that kind of disrespect and abuse from anybody anywhere in the LGBT community. After a while. it just becomes mongoloidally homophobic to keep yelling at LGBT citizens who won't yell along with you.

Nobody in Fort Worth is under any obligation to genuflect before the altar of your approval. Could you be any more ridiculous? Bless your hearts...

The so-called Educational Forum at the FW library, as I understand it, is being done solely by people from Dallas for Fort Worth because QL operates from the guiding belief that nobody in our city could possibly speak articulately for themselves or the LGBT community.

According to QL, we haven't a clue how to function as a thriving, politically astute coalition of collaborators and communicators and writers and block walkers and political strategists and phone bank operators and exceptional citizens. Of wait, I forgot, that was never what you were working for in the first place, right?

The burden some people must have to bear to be such legends in their own minds...It's hard work being grownups, isn't it? Whining and defensiveness makes for good blogging, but none of this silliness represents those of us in FW.

We do not choose your tactics as appropriate for our intentions to create meaningful change and resolution. We do not choose to humiliate others, LGBT or straight, under the guise of any attention is better than nothing. It just gets old watching people scream for the sake of screaming....

QL folks, people in FW do not look to you for vision, for ideas, for support, for credibility, for insight. We couldn't wait for you to leave the city council meeting so that we could begin talking directly with our elected representatives to transform the course of our reality here.

You made it clear by your antics that you could have cared less what any of US in the LGBT community had to say about the Rainbow Lounge or anything else.

You came to be on television and you got what you wanted. You did that for YOU, not Fort Worth. It was all about YOU at the meeting. Bully for you-we couldn't have cared less. We were there to work and we haven't stopped since.

Screaming may make QL feel powerful, but in no form or fashion does it bring you respect. Harassing the president of Tarrant County Stonewall Dems may make you feel extraordinarily magnificent in your own minds, but we already have people, projects in the works and cannot waste our time being expected to justify our ongoing successes to you.

People in FW don't want city council meetings to devolve into the nationally famous, overblown fragile ego-driven fiascos that you folks in Dallas seem determined to maintain at any cost - one long never-ending pissing contest about who has been treated the worst the longest. So tired, so outdated, so unproductive, so self-immolating-keep that absurdity to yourselves.

We are not big on self-defeating behavior here in FW. The new LGBT liaison from the FWPD is a bright, dedicated officer who will be a great asset to the process. Several of our LGBT leaders are part of the city's new Diversity Task Force, which will address far more than that awful raid and impact every citizen in the city, LGBT or straight. Get out of our and their way-we have more important things to do. Go find somewhere else to piss on the process, please.

Subcommittees have formed, research is happening, and the entire city will benefit, which can and will create a ripple effect to cities and communities outside our county borders. None of this has happened or will occur because of QL.

I have been at protests, I believe in their value. But if that's all you do, you perpetrate every negative, whiny stereotype of the LGBT community that our opponents love to see you exercise.

Such behavior gets attention, but it does not gain respect. It makes you famous in local blogs, but you have not endeared yourself to most FW LGBT citizens as collaborators, peers or even civil human beings.

The city officials know those of us who live in FW, they know those of us who will do the research, that we will be the HARDWORKING citizens to do the lion's share of the labor in making sure change happens fairly and insightfully, and that we are secure enough in our esteem and worth to be willing to share the limelight with fairminded citizens of all preferences who walk with this movement for good.

If we never end up on television, fine. We are in it for the results, not the cameras. It's about the process, not the limelight. But rest assured that when any of us is in front of the camera, we will speak frankly and productively for ALL citizens of Fort Worth, not just those who support our personal egenda. The LGBT scommunity will get our due, but the outcome will always be more important than any one person, or any one agenda. That's what democracy is meant to reflect-what is the greatest good that we can do for the greatest number of citizens, without hurting people in the process?

Equal opportunity verbal abuse of LGBT people is counterproductive and, quite frankly, just plain mean. Keep your catfights to your self - we have more important work to do, like changing the world.

And we will. Fort Worth will set a standard that will be respected and copied by others. That's just how we do things here in our city. We respect people. We think smart and work supportively for change.

Sometimes bad things happen in our community. When it does, we make darn sure in Fort Worth that what commes from such events creates profound change for the long-term good of the entire city.

Yall keep fussin' and whinin' in this blog. Don't be a part of the process. Keep whining and fighting, if that's what makes you feel powerful. But, if you really want to change the world, come to the next Tarrant County Stonewall Democrats meeting. We'll be happy to put you to work.

Rest assured, I won't be holding my breath...screaming is so much easier and gets you so much more attention, right?

It takes virtually no thought process whatsoever to pick a fight, make a scene, BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION. That's your agenda, it seems. Have at it...we can't be bothered.

You do not speak for us.

Nobody asked you to, nobody in FW respected your abuse and dysfunction, and nobody imagines you will be available to do the actual work of making Fort Worth even better. You make it clear you simply can't be bothered.

Hey everybody, take a look at this article which seems to give its own "spin" on what is happening here in our city other than the REAL story what the residents of Dallas and Ft. Worth are saying:

http://edgedallas.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=&sc3=&id=94604

Pam Rogers,
Well said, except I take excption to this part:
"People in FW don't want city council meetings to devolve into the nationally famous, overblown fragile ego-driven fiascos that you folks in Dallas seem determined to maintain at any cost".

Let's not make this a battle between Fort Worth and Dallas- I live in Dallas and QL does not speak for me.

Community awareness happens outside gay bars, too, folks.

The Diversity Task Force in Fort Worth is so completely not a back door meeting of "elites." Anyone ever suggest to you that talking that way just makes you sound paranoid, not to mention un-informed? Give it up, will you?

If you think block walking precincts in 105 degree Texas Summer weather to get fair-minded Democrats elected is what people in Fort Worth do to join the alleged "elite" gay community, perhaps you need some tutoring in the Democratic process and what makes a productive, astute, civic-minded LGBT community leaders. The job description entails a far broader scope of influence and experience than you seem to realize.

Fort Worth's Diversity Task Force, in a nutshell, is comprised of city employees, appointed members (both LGBT and straight)of city committees that address diversity and fairness, members of the police dept, LGBT community citizens who have spent years working on issues of this kind, among others.

Five city managers were at the first meeting, for instance. I think their presence alone speaks volumes about Fort Worth's intention to address our concerns head on with the most talented people they have on the payroll.

These people also know what it takes to create change in city policies, which involves legal research and writing, city ordinance oversight and far more than I can elaborate on here...I can't begin to imagine all that's involved.

This work is not for novices and inexperienced volunteers. Your suggestion that LGBT seasoned professionals and well-regarded community activists are somehow "elite", merely for being exceptionally qualified to work on our behalf but unknown to your small-scope of LGBT community consciousness, smacks of a lack of awareness about how far the reach of our community has extended in the last 10-20 years in our city.

Being active in the gay community no longer stops at being the person organizing the float for the Gay Pride Parade and having bartenders know your drink choice when you walk in any bar.

Those elements of our community are great, but they are only a tiny part of the expanse of insight, input and seminal change happening in Tarrant County because of the political and civic work being done in our community as we work alongside straight citizens to change our city for everyone, not just LGBT folks.

Groups like Stonewall have almost as many straight members as they do LGBT. People who get tired of whining and being furious at what they don't like in government have dedicated tens of thousands of hours knocking on doors, talking to voters, registering new voters, working phone banks, talking to EVERYONE in the city whom they believe want a more open, more diversified approach to city issues and policies. You will not find one single part of that work that qualifies as being "elite"; it is tough work, but the rewards are truly remarkable to experience as an individual and collectively as a community of productive citizens.

The homophobic bigots in the world are a small portion of the general population. Active, articulate LGBT community activists are also a small portion of the general population. HMMM, wonder why these two groups of people have trouble finding common ground?

Here in Fort Worth, dozens and dozens and dozens of LGBT citizens work alongside straight folks to elect gay and straight officials to office who will care enough to get answers from state agencies when those agencies don't choose to speak directly to the LGBT community.

House Rep Lon Burnam met with TABC within days of the Rainbow Lounge Raid. We don't have that kind of power and access, but he does, and so did State Senator Wendy Davis. TABC had to talk to these elected officials, by law-they don't necessarily have to talk with us. These two community leaders, among others, got answers and released an important statement to the press.

If that's not having our back, then I haven't a clue as to what that term means to you.

Symbolically, their open support for our community, along with Kathleen Hicks and our own LGBT official Joel Burns, among others, spoke volumes to the less-informed and less willing power base in our city government. Their stance did not go unnoticed, whether you realize that significance of that point or not.

Finger pointing anytime a response doesn't fit within a contrived, personal set of expectations in the world according to you isn't productive. But it is easy to perpetrate when your only real involvemnent in the situation is to complain in a blog---it's great to get in touch with feelings, but that's not going to change public policy.

If mistrusting every straight person on the planet is your goal, have at it. If bashing LGBT officials and leaders who talk about issues beyong just gay ones makes you feel powerful, whatever! I'm not supportive of that limited way of thinking. I know these officials and they do excellent work on our behalf.

Some police officers made poor decisions at the Rainbow Lounge and our complaints will be answered. No doubt about it. Are all cops bad? I have to respond with a resounding "NO". I know some of them, some who are LGBT, and these are hardworking people who care about the same things you and I do, and they have no more use for paranoia than any of us who are active in the community.

Police keep me safe in my neighborhood, they help me when my car breaks down, they loan me their jacket when I'm cold at a polling station on election day (even when we are supporting opposing candidates!), and they work hard to operate with integrity and fairness. I also do my part to be respectful of their job by not driving drunk, stopping at yellow lights, yielding to pedestrains and being a law-abiding citizen. I also thank them, whenever I can find the right moment, for doing hard work that you and I simply are not cut out to do.

Was fairness the case at the Rainbow Lounge? No. Is that the case every time an officer interacts with an LGBT citizen? Generally yes, sometimes no?

Do questionable things happen to people who are Hispanic, or African American, or Asian, or disabled? Do they asked these same questions of police officers? Of course they do. Do white folks feel this way about officers? Of course. What happened was about bad choices. It is the exception, rather than the rule, with the officers of FWPD.

What's necessary to move beyond this event and to be sure that such things don't happen anymore starts with finding common ground. Where do all the people in the room agree? Where do we concur on what really matters in our city?

Public forums will probably happen in the coming weeks and months, for several months to come, from what I have been hearing. Folks, people want this process to be handled professionally and fairly. That takes weeks to get organized, to get the money to fund the space, to schedule the speakers and organize volunteers. Clearly, you have no idea---you just don't throw something together and hope for the best!

I don't serve as a leader this year in the groups who work as a team to set up such an event, but I'll darn sure volunteer to work the event so I can play a part in making sure LGBT citizens are heard and respected. I will feel the same about how straight people who speak are treated.

Straight people aren't the enemy here. Poor judgement is the problem. Creating more concise and appropriate policies for integrating better judgement is the goal here. Bashing police officers isn't any more appropriate than beating up queers.

Sometimes, if you are lucky, you will talk to other people, voters like you, who share their hearts and fears and eagerness to be sure their vote is part of true change in our city. At those moments, be the voter queer or straight, it is a privilege to be a part of the process.

It is the most compelling civic work I have ever done and I will do it for the rest of my life.

Being pissed off and argumentative and paranoid takes no effort whatsoever---becoming astute about what matters to voters, which likely matters to each of you, too, takes time, patience and a willingness to think to think beyond your own needs and comfort zone. I guarantee, you are never the same and that's a good thing. You can learn from some of the most talented GLBT and straight politicl strategists about how you win over voters and win public support and succeed with this diversity and fairness initiative. You can remind them of what matters to you and your friends. And nobody has to scream to be heard.

If all you intend to do is blog about the Rainbow Lounge, then you are missing out on a remarkable opportunity to join the movement to transform our city. You will meet strangers, you will disagree with some, but you will also find many more people in the world who care about what you want and what you think, than your safe, carefully carved out scope of consciousness can even envision.

It will be your loss. And it will be a loss to Fort Worth. Have something to say beyong epithets and accusations and self righteousness takes insight and investment of your time and good judgement.

Calling people "elite" is actually code for "I don't know these people, or the process, so they are inherently suspect. I am not particularly astute about how work gets done, so I'll attack anything and anyone who is unfamiliar."

Thank goodness we have lawyers and civic strategists to do this hard work on the diversity task force, because you and I would likely be way in over our heads.

But hundreds of us LGBT folks will continue to find ways to be part of this process, to play a part in supporting open discussion and constructive dialogue among EVERONE, and those leaders will be grateful for all of us who choose to be the hardworking support sytem within the LGBT community.

This work goes beyond words. It goes beyond mere action and reaction. It takes intellect, and timing, and HEART and hope and willingness to take one step, then another. It does not have a specific timeline, we can not know how long the process will take, but the people of Fort Worth will go the distance to make sure the work done is visonary and far-reaching in its excellence. That's how we work in Fort Worth.

Many of us will be on that team, in the best ways that we can use our skills and humor and encouragement and strength, and you can hold me to my word. we will give time-evenings, weekends, months, moments-whatever it takes. And there will be others who will do more than I can even imagine at this moment.

Will we be able to say the same about any of you? Or will you just keep blogging ad infinitum and do nothing more?

As a long time fan and loyalist of this community I'm quite appalled that the Dallas Voice would publish such an article whose only purpose is to drive a wedge in the middle of our community. Is this the Dallas "Voice" or should we now refer to it as the Dallas "Silencer"?

There is plenty of credit to go around for everyone that has worked to correct and put to rest this very disturbing incident that has taken place in our DFW community.

QL and the other activists are not the ones responsible for creating this embarrassing situation. It was the TABC and Ft Worth Police Dept. that have now been proven to be at fault for acting in appropriately and not in accord with their own departments. They are the ones that have given Ft. Worth and the state of Texas this "black eye".

There really seems to be a great deal of hypocrisy expressed here. We should all accept and be grateful for all the brave young men and women that have taken time out of their lives to make their voices heard. We are all entitled to our opinion and "right to free speech". Many of these young men and women have taken valuable time out of their lives and some have taken time off from their jobs to voice out for what they feel is our right to be treated fairly and equally under the law.
I hope that no one has forgotten that a young man, Chad Gibson was severely injured in this incident. I hope we're not saying that his family and friends shouldn't be outrage by what happened here. Do we think they should be silent? What about the others that were also victims? Should they all keep quite. Remember that it was many of the people that were out on the street protesting that were interviewed by the media not the Stonewall Democrats.

Let's keep in mind that protests have always proven effective throughout history to make sure all our voices are heard. We can't assume that every one in this country is wired to the internet or some other type of communication device. And not everyone watches TV news stations. I personally attended one of these events and witnessed many passersby stop to listen.

Did some of us forget that most noteworthy beginnings of the gay rights movements and civil rights movements all started with protests. Remember "Stonewall" was a public protest a "riot". Is Mr. Narey saying that it is no longer necessary for Gay Pride Parades, that perhaps we should stay home and celebrate online? Come on? What about the outcry and marches in the streets in California and elsewhere in the country in regards to "Prop 8", should those people stay home too? Should the people in Iran not make themselves heard in the streets as a result of what they believe was an unfair election.?

I think we all appreciate the work of Joel Burns, Stonewall, and everyone else that has worked to bring fairness and closure to this unfortunate incident. But it was Blake Wilkerson, QL and other very vocal activists in addition to Joel Burns that I saw on the news channels and read about in the newspapers. How could they not have been effective when their images were spread all across the nation and brought nation wide attention to this incident that is becoming more clearly a action of prejudice and homophobia targeted at the gay community. Don't rest just yet either, an investigation is supposedly still being conducted.

I hope that the next time QL grandstands I would hope that members of our Stonewall Democrats and any other organization supporting our rights would show up and voice support for our community as well. I know that Blake Wilkerson and QL would gladly share the "Milk Box" with them. Let's stop this bickering and start working together. We really are all fighting for the same thing and together we will certainly be much stronger. Please someone call a truce, we have far more in common than that which separates us!

If there is anything about this incident that has embarrassed our community it is the need to publish this disagreement among our community leaders of whom all have "good intentions"! Please, let's move forward now and work together!


I've got some big hugs for everyone! ;)

Well Said Jay Maggio.

Tori, as a transgendered person, are you aware that the Fort Worth anti-discrimination ordinance does not cover you?

Today, any business in Fort Worth, can legally tell you to leave simply because you are transgendered. If you don't leave, they can call the Fort Worth Police and have you arrested for trespassing. They could even put up a sign saying that transgendered people are not welcome and the sign would be legal.

Personally, as a long term resident of Fort Worth, I find this wrong is so many ways.

Tori, I certainly hope that you will be able to use your new roles to gain rights for LGBT people, but especially for the transgendereed people who have been totally left out.

I'm not transgendered, but I find it so offensive that gay men and lesbians are so willing to throw transgendered people under the bus at the first sign of trouble.

Gay men and lesbians who are so quick to leave transgendered people out should be reminded that it was transgendered people (and drag queens) who led the Stonewall Riots of which we just celebrated the 40th anniversary. What many wrongly dismissed as the weakest link rose to the occasion and became the strongest link.

I also think it's strange that our Democatic politicians, even the gay or lesbian ones, always tell us to just "wait a few years" until the time is right to include transgendered people. How can some people in good conscience accept rights while excluding others? Don't they see the hypocracy in that?