This is not an issue to be negotiated by a chosen few behind closed doors. We saw how well that worked with the Cinemark/Plano. The reason we never heard the result of that …was because it was never resolved…..just brushed under the table.

The tables in Dallas/Fort Worth must be full of shit being brushed under it.

Rubber chicken dinners and kissing the ass of homophobes will never move any issue forward.

If the city is too short of money to provide for sensitvity training, then FIRE THE FUCKING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS that comitted this CRIME. Take away their pensions and salary and use that as a start. These guys have been busted in one lie after another.
The bullshit line about the grope has been disputed and should be treated as slander.

As one of the speakers at Free Speech Night said………I wanted to see these guys behind bars………I agree. Slaps on the wrist vs brain injuries seems a bit inadequate.

THE RAINBOW LOUNGE RAIND – RALLY

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.

And what do we get? No apology from the police chief and a lecture from the local newspaper, the fairly influential FW Star Telegram. By throwing in a few crumbs, the Public Relations Dept. knows only too well that time will probably work in their favor with gay people being grateful that a little education program may get started some time in the future, and then it’s back to a subtler form of homophobia.

The local press has much to answer for. Imagine the following editorial in the Star Telegram:

“The Police Department informed THE STAR OF DAVID Lounge management in advance that an inspection would take place the night of PASSOVER. Why didn’t the managers educate the officers about the date’s significance? That’s need-to-know information for uniformed law enforcement officers showing up at a gay bar on that date.

It’s also need-to-know for any JEWISH bar patron that laying a hand on a police officer will result in a quick trip to jail.

Drinking to the point of intoxication is a crime even in a bar. Officers tasked with enforcing alcohol laws must make sure local and state statutes are observed regardless of the date on the calendar, PASSOVER OR NO PASSOVER. The residents of Fort Worth who share the streets with bar patrons throughout the city expect as much.

Law enforcement officers also must follow agency procedures to make sure inspections are conducted professionally and legally.

Why would a police supervisor, six officers and two TABC agents knowingly risk their own careers, the reputations of their departments and a public relations nightmare WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY by engaging in targeted or overly aggressive enforcement against a RELIGIOUS minority group? We’re not sure they would, but as we said, there are more questions than answers at this point.”

Excuse me while I go throw up my breakfast–INDEED.

as for fueling the fire with exaggerations, were you there that night? did you see these events unfold in front of you? if not, i don’t think you have the right to say the eye witnesses are exaggerating.

and the last i heard he has not gone home yet. can anyone verify that he has?

The outcry to his statements and the actions of his employees has been nationwide, there is not a doubt in my mind that this guy is trying to save his own ass right now and will say anything to keep his job.

To my knowledge he hasn’t even suspended the officers involved pending an investigation, even TABC did that. He’s trying to manipulate us just like he tried to manipulate other people with the “gay panic” defense.

He hasn’t even apologized for the statements that he made, ones that he now absolutely knows were inappropriate, premature and offensive. Don’t buy into this charade to keep power.

I am certain that Out and Equal, DFW and Sheriff Lupe Valdez would be willing to help him develop his training program!

Where we part ways are their (at least Andy’s) demands for his resignation.

Anyone out there make similar stupid mistakes in business? Spoke before you knew all the facts? Defended your employees because you trusted them? Regretted it later and tried to make it right?

I want to believe Halstead did just that and is now sincerely trying to correct his early blunders in this whole matter. I believe his recent actions and comments are taking this in the right direction.

Demanding he tender his resignation now gets us where? Nowhere fast. It ain’t gonna happen and creates further division between the straight and gay community.

Waiting to see what he will do with his recent olive branch to the gay community may just bring us positive changes. Maybe I see tend to see things half full vs. half empty, but I see this second option as the best choice for our community.

If he doesn’t follow through with his commitments, then I, too, would wish he would resign….although that ain’t gonna happen either. Get real.

Continue to fuel the outrage with exaggeration, but Chad has left the building.