Comments on: More on Dallas Eagle situation

By: More Harassment Of Texas Gay Bars? « Daily News

More Harassment Of Texas Gay Bars? « Daily News — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 07:37:47 +0000

[...] as a continuing harassment of Texas gay bars, yesterday the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission closed the Dallas Eagle during its grand re-opening due to the presence of a minor. TABC agents had visited the club [...]

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:21:31 +0000

I lived in Houston for 7 years and always had the fear of tho’s Nazi’s at the TABC comeing in the place you work and terrorizing your customers….THANK GOD I moved to Chicago…The TABC are crazy and should be shut down…..

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:31:16 +0000

If wearing masks and walking into an establishment, as stated, this could also be taken as a robery or attack upon individuals. As many stated, idf the identities were to be kept sectret, send in the police, not undercover agents. We were there and ID’s were being checked.

By: Carl Smith

Carl Smith — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:40:24 +0000

The reason I state that I used to wonder if TABC was anti business, is due to a lot of the stupid rules they have, like not allowing a business to take their liquor with them to a new location rather than requiring them to pour it out. Can be very expensive. I do not think the TABC agents are anti business. They are just doing their job. If you don’t like the rules then try to get Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commision (TABC) to change them, don’t ignore them and just do your own thing.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:56:48 +0000

I believe the TABC is not anti-business, it is anti-bad business. If bars watch their bartenders and check ID there should not be a problem. Maybe everyone is just reading way too much into the whole situation. I’m sure the TABC is not targeting the gay community, after all there are gay TABC officers out there.

By: Carl Smith

Carl Smith — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:06:29 +0000

Jon Garinn, yes one does wonder if TABC is anti business. I used to wonder the same thing when I owned my nightclub. Bars and nightclubs pay 14% sales tax on all liquor sales plus also pay tax on all other sales at a different rate. Bars and nightclubs put a lot of money into the treasury of the State of Texas and one would think they would be jumping over barrels to help businesses open up to generate more tax dollars rather than making it so difficult to open a business. Be that as it may, rules are rules, and a responsible business owner follows the rules and dots all the i’s and crosses all the t’s, because if they don’t, you end up with problems like the Eagle has. I built a nightclub from the dirt up to the roof, and can attest to the fact that opening a club up is no easy matter because even the City of Dallas makes you jump through loops to get the building open, which is probably why the City of Dallas is broke, discouraging business!

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:05:08 +0000

Thank you Carl. I think the alarmists or protest-pushers can benefit from your experience and knowledge in this matter.

By: Carl Smith

Carl Smith — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:27:49 +0000

Perhaps I should have added more in my last post to clear up some questions some may have. Whenever a new liquor license is issued , even if it is a change of address, TABC sends out officers to do an inspection to make sure everything is in order. I have to believe that this was an inspection and not a “raid”. What may have made it seem like a raid was the actions the officers took after an undercover minor agent was served an alcoholic drink. I owned a very large gay nightclub in Dallas for 12 years so I am familiar with TABC procedures and was inspected by them many times over the years with no problems. I suspect that since the Rainbow Lounge was newly opened, that was the reason for the inspection there that went terribly wrong by what I would suspect were some bad cops and bad TABC agents. I don’t think it is something we will continue to see, especially after the Rainbow controversy.

By: Totts

Totts — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:26:23 +0000

The Grand Opening at The dallas Eagle was really nice. JD and Staff really went the extra mile to put on the event. Fresh Flowers, Food and Champaign Samples. I did see two masked men as I was leaving the restroom. The lights were raised, music stopped and people got quiet as TABC checked out the licenses and what not. I didn’t see anyone get arrested. TABC also check the Bartenders IDs and so on. Seemed very official and peaceful as they sorted things out. Bar Patrions were very respectful as well. I didnt see any violence. As I left the front door I saw two Dallas Police Officers in the Parking lot talking with a man. HOWEVER. Thats stupid for the TABC to come into the Eagle of all places in Masks. Hello A Leather Bar. Too Funny. I wish those guys had gotten thrown into a sling. I bet they woudn’t come back LOL Sorry that it happened on a great grand opening. The Bar was packed.

By: Queer Liberaction

Queer Liberaction — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:23:46 +0000

Rainbow Lounge Raid Rally
Tarrant County Courthouse
100 E Weatherford
Sunday, July 12
7:00 PM

Almost two weeks after the raid on the Rainbow Lounge we are still left with lots of questions and very little action by city, police and TABC officials. We are pleased that that TABC officers involved have been placed on desk duty and that calls for independent investigations have been made, but this is not nearly enough. On Sunday, July 12 the LGBT community of N Texas will stand together to call for answers from the Fort Worth Police Department, the TABC and an independent third party. We demand swift action condemning homophobia and violence against LGBT people!

Dr Stephen V Sprinkle associate professor of practical theology at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, Chuck Potter witness to the raid at the Rainbow Lounge raid and Rick Vanderslice local radio and television personality are some who are set to speak. This powerful event will recount the raid at the Rainbow Lounge, illustrate the injustices behind this incident and call out for action.

For more information please visit our website at http://www.queerliberaction.org

Queer LiberAction
lgbtliberaction.org