Community | June 29, 2009 | 82 comments

Police raid gay nightclub on Stonewall anniversary

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hektic
TEXAS - A crowd of more than 100 protesters chanted "No more!" from the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse Sunday evening as they demanded an investigation into a police raid earlier in the day at a gay night club.
One patron was seriously injured in the raid, several protesters said, as police used excessive force in making seven arrests. Police defended their actions.
Speaker after speaker demanded an inquiry into the late-night raid at the Rainbow Lounge on South Jennings Street.
"I was scared," patron Todd Camp said at the protest Sunday afternoon. "I have never seen anything like this in my life."...
Witnesses say that police arrived at the nightclub about 1 a.m. Sunday and arrested seven people and that one of those arrested suffered a fractured skull during the take down and is at a Fort Worth hospital.

New CNN video - http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/06/29/dnt.tx.gay.bar.controversy.kdaf
Here's another link to the story as well. http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1458523.html
Another - http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2009/06/on_40th_anniversary_of_stonew...

Personally I believe this was done purposely, for them to do a "random bar check" with multiple cruisers and officers is hard to believe. They used excessive force, cracking one guys skull. To do this on the Stonewall anniversary is pretty unacceptable, I hope they get to the bottom of this.
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82 comments // Police raid gay nightclub on Stonewall anniversary

  • randomTYLERperson
  • donnyin3d
    • 0
      donnyin3d  
    • I live very close to Ft. Worth and this kind of thing has been going on there for years.The ONLY surprising thing is that the gay "community" there has finally grown a pair of balls.Some anyway.A great many of the activists and protesters are from Dallas.Watch the story on Logo TV,most of those present at the raid still hide their identities.

    • 2 years ago
  • howthefuckisthisausername
    • 0
      howthefuckisthisausername  
    • This is why self-respecting gay Texans stay in Austin. As Peter Segal says, Austin is Texas-adjacent. You can see Texas in all directions if you care to look out. Dallas should be ashamed of themselves.
      By the way, Dallas is as far away from Austin as New York is from Washington DC or as Paris is from Brussels. Texans can be as bad as people say, but we are openly fabulous as well!

    • 2 years ago
  • igordy
    • 0
      igordy [removed]  
    • That's it - NOT a gay issue! Whew, OK, everyone retreat to their cages. You boys, put your leathers back on and remember to use protection. Us men, we'll go suck face with our girlfriends, wifes, mistresses, etc.
      Everyone happy? Gay rights in tact? Wonderful. All the gay boys - get a trip out to the Gay Bay to see the rainbow flag on Castro street - to refill that gay pride of yours for another year. BTW - you people stole the rainbow from us - we want it back!!! Hahaha

    • 2 years ago
  • GodsnLiberals
    • 0
      GodsnLiberals  
    • well usuall you mix alcohol and a bunch of people who are all stocked over SOME VIOLENT event in the PAST..

      you get a pretty volitle situation..what are the cops to do??

      honestly, if law enforcement are going in to "harass" homosexuals..there would be more craked skulls..more blood..

      nah this is all bullshit..

    • 2 years ago
  • div
  • moderateweather
    • 0
      moderateweather  
    • I live close to this bar and drive by it frequently. Across the street from this bar is another gay bar that has been there a long time. Gay bars are not new on this side of Fort Worth. I will say it is unusual, having been to many bars in the area and have never heard of such a thing happening in gay or straight bars ever. This bar is very new, but this is no excuse to mistreat or abuse gay, straight, drunk or sober. To bad we lack better cops.

    • 2 years ago
  • CalgarC
    • 0
      CalgarC  
    • texas sucks. i think texas should take its chuck norris some bulldozers and simple cut the state right out of america... i am sick of religious fundies running america

    • 2 years ago
  • rickm8
    • 0
      rickm8  
    • dude, everyone is so quick to say "being gay is natural your born with it"

      are you nuts? your delaying the process of evolution by failing to reproduce...

      its our biological lifespan to live, reproduce, die...

      that simple, were just animals...

      homosexuals are delaying the process of evolution...simple statement, and no need for explanations...

      anyone with basic evolutionary principle knowledge would know this

    • 2 years ago
  • uroborus8
  • div
    • 0
      div  
    • rickm8:

      "homosexuals are delaying the process of evolution...simple statement, and no need for explanations...

      anyone with basic evolutionary principle knowledge would know this"

      Anyone with basic knowledge of evolution would know that with the large population size of humans, a mere 1/10th of people will not slow down evolution. As a matter of fact, if you're so worried about the human race and it's evolution, you'd be the first to realize that they would be evolved OUT of the race (you know, Darwin and his Theory of Natural Selection). So honestly, I don't see what you're fussing about.

      And this: "ts our biological lifespan to live, reproduce, die..."

      Well, I guess I should stop doing anything outside of this little triangle you've made now, since my purpose in life can be easily fulfilled. I should probably not bother getting married or entering a relationship and should off myself once I've given birth. cuz you know, It's all down to biology.

      "that simple, were just animals..."

      Yeah, and there is evidence of homosexual tenancies in non-human animals.

      "everyone is so quick to say "being gay is natural your born with it""

      Do you honestly think that a bunch of people just got together and said: what the hell, i feel like being persecuted and oppressed today, why don't we be gay for shits and giggles?
      No one who is HONESTLY homosexual chooses it.

    • 2 years ago
  • metalcookiesxy70
    • 0
      metalcookiesxy70  
    • rickm8:

      Besides that there will always more children to be adopted, and that is very helpful, not only that BUT this is the simplest FACT that humans these days just need to die...

      This Earth are getting overcrowded with humans, not UNDERcrowded...

    • 2 years ago
  • rickm8
    • 0
      rickm8  
    • rickm8:

      the earth is not overcrowded

      honestly i was praying for someone to say that...

      do some research on exponential population growth, all of the US could fit in texas.

    • 2 years ago
  • metalcookiesxy70
    • 0
      metalcookiesxy70  
    • rickm8:

      No, you must understand that there is more to that...Its not just the U.S. I'm talking about the world, you assumed I was talking about the United States of America...

      Again, there is way too many humans, by far, it does not even matter if all humans can fit into such large areas, because that is predictable, the matter is, however..

      How can you possibly supply, transport, and maintain efficiency with all of these humans?

    • 2 years ago
  • Thargor19
    • 0
      Thargor19  
    • rickm8:

      anyone with up to date evolutionary research would know that it is strongly suggested that homosexuality is natures response to a) overpopulation, b) to help raise children with no parents just as they do in the animal community and further research suggests that this also diversifies our culture actively shaping the path of all humans evolution. we are all connected truly in physical mental and spiritual aspects and im not saying just gays can fulfill these roles, but suggest that ALL types of people are important because we all evolve together in our respective regions.

    • 2 years ago
  • curtisreed
  • div
    • 0
      div  
    • curtisreed:

      curtisreed, that's sad you think this is censorship. I figure it's more like you have the right to say what you like, but not when it's on someone else's money. Make your own current.com and you can say whatever the hell you like to whoever you like.

    • 2 years ago
  • randallr01
  • dcuisinot
    • 0
      dcuisinot  
    • I've unlocked the thread- let's keep the discussion respectful everyone. However, if you see a comment that you feel may violate our community guidelines, go ahead and flag it for us to review.

      Thanks!

      Danielle

    • 2 years ago
  • dcuisinot
  • metalcookiesxy70
  • igordy
    • 0
      igordy [removed]  
    • What if I told you that the bar was raided because it was a bar - not because it was a gay bar? Just like black people play their "race card" - you people play your "gay card". The longer you keep it up - the longer you will be treated as "special" and otherwise abnormal.
      @jkurodog - re-read my statement - I didn't say I dislike every gay I had ever met - but just the flamboyant queer ones. And why shouldn't I say it if it is true - so I can appear more "tolerant" to you and other PC appeasers? Fuck that - I like saying the truth. I don't care what people do behind their own closed doors, but by the same token - if I had to witness a public display of homo-affection - no matter what "stage" of it - I would feel disgusted!!! Sorry - that is a true emotion - and I do not care to hide it. No, I am not a homophobe - it's more than that - I don't fucking like to see two men kiss or worse - in fact - I refuse to see it - it is extremely unpleasant for me. Why can't you understand that?

    • 2 years ago
  • bombastinator
  • locutus
    • 0
      locutus [removed]  
    • How come I always here such horrible crap about the South? What is going on? It seems like Florida, Texas and various other southern points are just hell holes filled with the most ignorant and barbaric people (most of them thumping a bible).

      Is this media bias? Or is the south as scary as I have been led to believe?

    • 2 years ago
  • curtisreed
  • randallr01
    • 0
      randallr01  
    • locutus:

      Curtisreed, you are so ridiculously against the gays that it's laughable...

      What an outrageous statement! "homosexuals who can't seem to find joy in life unless they are having sex in public places"

      You are so rude. And you're helping OUR cause by being this way. So... thanks : )

    • 2 years ago
  • igordy
    • 0
      igordy [removed]  
    • locutus:

      Curtisreed, thtop it, you thilly goose... You've maid Randall laugh, and she can pee her little panties when she laughs... Thtop it... Hahaha
      Helping your cause? What's that - Randy - to spread the gay gospel to all straight America? Oh, no - not that one? To be accepted as equals? Then stop being so fucking "in your face" about it - and stop playing the "gay card" every chance you get...

    • 2 years ago
  • vous_petite_ami
  • pnuttbuttajelli
    • 0
      pnuttbuttajelli  
    • it's kinda sad how if you watch Milk or any documentary about the gay rights movement, you think to yourself, "wow, look how far we've come."

      then shit like this happens.

      but then again, i'd like to think this isn't the norm across the country and more people like this will be prosecuted as we move toward them and their backward ideology being in the minority.

    • 2 years ago
  • curtisreed
  • jkudurog45
    • 0
      jkudurog45  
    • It comes down to being smart enough as a human to realize that gay or straight it shouldn't have anything to do with how you get along with them. If you are making blanket statements saying that you never liked any gay person you met... you are dumb. Even if it is true... if you had a brain in your head you would realize comments like that make you look close minded and STUPID. In response to who cares? on the raids. I personally don't have a personal interest in gay rights, but I do have an interest in the govt. staying out of peoples private lives. If they are in the club doing whatever who cares. Leave them alone, along with the pot smokers and all the other people who are harrassed and jailed daily because someones god doesn't believe in it. These people aren't hurting anyone and no one should have any say in what I do inside my own house. NOT BUYING INTO CHRISTIAN PROPAGANDA SHOULD NOT MAKE YOU A CRIMINAL!

    • 2 years ago
  • Stever_B
    • 0
      Stever_B  
    • jkudurog45:

      Ah, THERE you are, uberdeft.

      I knew the PC you couldn't stay out front for very much longer. It's good to know your real level of both tolerance and intelligence for any future dealings with you.

      Gays are not hurting anybody but you -- and that's self-induced. They also don't recruit because they don't need to -- there's plenty to go around.

      Do the American Apparel ads make you feel funny?

    • 2 years ago
  • jkudurog45
    • 0
      jkudurog45  
    • jkudurog45:

      uber, What are you talking about with the gay pride movement trying to recruit people. I could say that the baptist church is trying to brainwash young recruits too... which is worse. You seem very close minded and misinformed... sorry about that.

    • 2 years ago
  • geije
    • geije  
    • This comment has been hidden for review.
  • Stever_B
    • 0
      Stever_B  
    • geije:

      Not knowing what they're talking about has NEVER stopped either curtisreed or igordy from talking.

      They're experts on everything they don't know about.

    • 2 years ago
  • igordy
    • 0
      igordy [removed]  
    • @uberdeft - what is this shit - you never met one you didn't like? Hahaha. Ever met anyone you didn't like? Fuck political correctness - with this, or any other crowd. We will overcome hate and intolerance only when we don't have to hide behind words that are meant to describe other words and shit. With that - I've met plenty of homo's (short for homosexuals) I didn't like - in fact, I don't like most of them - if they do their "queen" thing - talk and hold themselves like a woman. Sorry - I don't have to like it, being a heterosexual man and all. It doesn't reflect on them or on me - it just is... As to their rights to be the way they are - I have no problem with that. So you see - you don't need to appease anyone - not here, not in real life - and neither do you.
      Cops bashed someone's head in - most likely, that someone had shown resistance to arrest for doing something illegal in the first place. Do they have gay-haters in Texas? I am sure they do - just like they do in any other state/country in the world. Was this a concerted effort by the police to bust some gay skulls? I don't think so - too much publicity, too much noise... If they in fact wanted to, they would wait for some of these gay patrons somewhere on a quiet dark road and bust'em up while no one was looking, instead of letting their emotions out in a gay bar - think about it!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • igordy
  • MilchMann
    • 0
      MilchMann  
    • igordy:

      Exactly, I am glad at least one person on here can think clearly.

      I have a few gay friends (non fairy types)... they know I am strait... we have no issues... and they are very open about hating fairies as well... super funny watch/hearing an openly gay guy bash the hell out of another gay guy for acting like a retard.

      ... I also happen to live in the, from everything that I know and have seen, very gay friendly state of Texas!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • howthefuckisthisausername
    • 0
      howthefuckisthisausername  
    • igordy:

      Do their "queeny thing?" Are you nucking futs? Have you ever met a gay person in your life? That is like saying I can't stand straight guys with their chewing tobacco and huge gut hanging over their belt and their sixth grade education. It just doesn't make any sense. Most of my gay friends are indisquinguishable in a crowd. I know straight people who are indistinguishable as straight in a crowd.

      But since your picture says Buck Farrack, I'm guessing you are just a hate-filled bigot anyway. Love is.

      Get out. Meet some people. Get over yourself.

    • 2 years ago
  • Jerrigity
    • 0
      Jerrigity  
    • Did you know that Texas is still one of the few states that has a law still in tact that makes saudomy illegal, gay or straight?

    • 2 years ago
  • curtisreed
  • Thargor19
  • uberdeft
    • uberdeft  
    • This comment was removed by its owner.
  • bombastinator
    • 0
      bombastinator  
    • uberdeft:

      why are you assuming your detractors are even gay? They went on what looks one hell of a lot like a deliberate suppression raid on a minority bar on that minorities holiday. I would be just as offended if they went after an Irish bar on Saint Patricks day or a Mexican dance hall on Cinco De mayo.

    • 2 years ago
  • uberdeft
    • 0
      uberdeft  
    • uberdeft:

      I said ain't just to stroke everyone's disdain for texas and look how easy it was to get you. Try and stick to the facts at hand and your argument will be more valid.

    • 2 years ago
  • jkudurog45
  • NickerBocker09
    • 0
      NickerBocker09  
    • uberdeft:

      uberdeft. Most of the world actually despises gays. In many countries such as Saudi Arabia you can get the death penalty for simply being gay. In dozens of other countries like India, you can get life in prison.

      Btw not all gays are men, women can be gay too and they dont fuck up the butt, they use dildos and fingering for the vagina.

      The raid's justification was "public intoxification" because of a law the state passed. I imagine this will go to court and the law and the police will lose because of a number of reasons. One of course is that a club is a private establishment and secondly the police used unneccesary force and it was not random as they say. The second mite be harder to prove, but the first aint.

      We are all okay with people stating opinions, but we dont like it when people dont back up their opinions with facts and instead use hateful or wrong terms, which is evident on both sides of this argument.

    • 2 years ago
  • uberdeft
    • 0
      uberdeft  
    • uberdeft:

      Neither am I your hardline enemy. I'm more worried about obesity, disease and war than who people choose to be with. Sorry for harsh language but when the offended offend the entire state of texas, they're getting it wrong too.

    • 2 years ago
  • Thargor19
    • 0
      Thargor19  
    • uberdeft:

      btw uber, not all of us hate texas. i disagree with a certain political force that came from texas, but i dont hate the state nor the people. in fact, i vote when i disagree with something, i don't throw hate speech around though i admit when someone irritates me with their ideal of where and when gays should express affection for one another (g rated only) i can react with just as uncompromising of an opinion. i feel as if a lot of your feelings about these people on current arise from a few unevolved liberals generalizing texas and texans. if texas feels it doesnt need to be apart of the rest of the union, so be it as long as its what texans want, same with their views and laws on homosexuality.

    • 2 years ago
  • metalcookiesxy70
  • bombastinator
    • 0
      bombastinator  
    • uberdeft:

      the comment that these particular officers do not in fact represent Texas as a whole is apt. Texas does seem to produce a preponderance of this sort of behavior though, which i think is the basis of the comments. The reputation is imho both developing and deserved.

    • 2 years ago
  • igordy
    • 0
      igordy [removed]  
    • While I am not defending anyone - you all should first find out what, why and how - before chanting your hateful accusations. Were there drugs sold in there? Was there other illegal activity? Was there force used against the officers?
      You see, short of appearing biggoted yourselves - you need to know all the facts - not just the mere incidence of cops going into a gay bar and arresting homosexuals.

    • 2 years ago
  • hektic
    • 0
      hektic  
    • igordy:

      No, their statement was they went for a "routine bar check", which means to make sure they have a liquor license and not selling to minors. Why would you need so many police officers for this? They arrested the 7 people, including the one in which they cracked the skull, for "public intoxication" in the bar.

    • 2 years ago
  • olddaesu
  • uberdeft
  • hektic
  • betruelarue
    • 0
      betruelarue  
    • I despise that such ignorance, hate and brutality seem to define the state I live in. I love Texas for so many reasons (I've lived here for 25 years), but I doubt I would feel the same IF I were gay or another race. I am a white, straight woman, so I know I'll never feel that side of Texans.

      I DID however hate the state of Texas back during the election. The ignorance of most of these conservative, close-minded tyrants spoke volumes when a name like Barack Obama was on my bumpersticker. Ahh the death-looks I received. I still almost throw-up in my mouth a lil when I drive thru Highland Park with the HUNDREDS of kiss-ass "Welcome Home George & Laura" signs are STILL portrayed firmly on the lawn. Gag.

      Maybe that's why I'm an OU fan.

    • 2 years ago
  • MilchMann
  • Lecti
    • 0
      Lecti  
    • A few years ago, I remember Texas passed a law wherein they can go into bars and arrest people they believe to be intoxicated. I'm not excusing this raid at all, but that will probably be their legal justification for this.

    • 2 years ago
  • MilchMann
    • 0
      MilchMann  
    • Lecti:

      They did not pass a law, it was the TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission) who decided that they could just start going into bars and arresting people who were drunk, it was supposed to keep drunk drivers off the streets, but there was an outcry and they were forced to stop within a week... though I do not know what happened to the people there were arrested...

    • 2 years ago
  • dreamsenvoy
  • n4ture
    • 0
      n4ture  
    • Stupid cops. Wonder what sort of excuse they can come up with for a guys skull being fractured.

      They are just hurting their own ignorant cause.

    • 2 years ago
  • hektic
  • NickerBocker09
  • Thargor19
  • jkudurog45
    • 0
      jkudurog45  
    • I agree with the remarks toward Texas and the police. F 'em, we don't need either of them. Let all the Texans have Texas and stay there (uberdeft) along with their guns, badges and tiny self-esteems. I support Texas breaking away from the US, I think the US would be a much better country without that crap.

    • 2 years ago
  • joaarias
  • curtisreed
  • igordy
    • 0
      igordy [removed]  
    • jkudurog45:

      @joaarias - wait up, wait up - not fair. I am in Cali - and I don't want to lose my real American friends from Texas. Don't leave me here with all these leftards, Obamoids and homos - hahaha... I mean c'mon - Cali voted to uphold the ban on gay marriage - there are more normal folk here than the nuts and fruits, hehahahehe

    • 2 years ago
  • rickm8
    • 0
      rickm8  
    • well i mean the raid was successful...

      ROTF at the guy who says "i was scared"

      try getting pulled over with 3 ounces in your glove box

    • 2 years ago
  • hektic
  • luthreads
  • rickm8
  • EmperorThan
  • Xion
  • randallr01
  • Mafioso
    • 0
      Mafioso  
    • EmperorThan:

      Man, every time I want to say I hate Texas, I remember that no other state has good Mexican food... And Tex-Mex, come on! It's hard for me to hate a state who's very culture of hate has bred some of the most open-minded and intelligent people I've ever met. Unfortunately, most of them move away as soon as they can. I'm sticking around and hoping my unmatched wit and undeniable charm will enable me to turn this bitch around!

    • 2 years ago
  • ras_menelik
  • uberdeft
    • uberdeft  
    • This comment was removed by its owner.
  • luthreads
  • uberdeft
  • luthreads
  • uberdeft
  • bombastinator
  • Mafioso
    • 0
      Mafioso  
    • uberdeft:

      Natural laws of the universe? Get a clue... Homosexuality is prevalent in all species of animals and we, even though human, are a species of animal... We think therefore we are human? , I'd rather say, "We think therefore we are more evolved."... Animal instinct is as human behavior, our ability to reason what is right and wrong in every sense of the words is what separates most of us from the realm of the animal kingdom, however we are animals in other ways... acting on emotion and our own sense of righteousness.

      I don't knock you for your opinion, but at least be intelligent and evolved enough to know it is just that, an opinion, not a fact... I would encourage you to educate yourself. Don't speak based on what others have spoon fed you, or a baseless religion brought about by fear mongering. Your "opinion" is more of a formed conclusion of the majority, indented into your brain from such an early onset that you really feel this is something you believe is right. Don't feel bad about this, most human brains are malleable and impressionable, there are a few of us who have been blessed with the ability to not only reason but question, and think for ourselves even when that option wasn't given or offered.

      I hope you decide to begin to think for yourself... As someone once stated, "I once prided myself for being open minded, but the more open minded I find myself to be, the more evil I encounter... However, I do prefer it this way, it helps me be aware of what to beware, instead of being a victim to something I didn't notice or know to be true."... Knowledge may be power, but the ability to discern what is fact and what is fiction isn't as easy to learn. Sometimes you have to take yourself out of the equation and factor in all sides and opinions, to realize there is always something to be learned or realized.

      I hear what you are saying. It is understandable. To accept what is foreign and what to you seems unnatural may seem like a stretch, it occurs on both sides, gay & straight (some gay people are as repulsed by straight sex as most straight people are of gay sex), however if you really did look at sex as a natural act, then you'd realize it is less about love and more about a mechanical function. To be repulsed by a sexual act is to be very small minded, it is rather the intent behind the act that should be looked at when deciding what is repulsive about it.

      I just hope one will be more intelligent in the future. And although asking someone to be more open minded is in itself an inadequate request, it should be seen more as a promotion of thinking rather than a change in opinion. The change, if one in fact needs to take place, will occur naturally once all information is had and taken into consideration. Assuming of course, one is open to learning objectively.

    • 2 years ago
  • uberdeft
  • uberdeft
  • Mafioso
    • 0
      Mafioso  
    • uberdeft:

      Ever heard the phrase, "Don't knock it 'til you try it..."... Well, I won't delve into details, but anatomically speaking, there are more nerve ends that incite sexual/sensual pleasure in both men and women in the anus and for men in the prostate. So, I can argue one would need to be pretty well versed in medical and anatomical handbooks to know exactly the position and reflexes needed to increase the intensity of the pleasure. Think about it... ;)

    • 2 years ago
  • atomiclegion
  • Thargor19
    • 0
      Thargor19  
    • well the most amusing aspect of this is that such petty incidents like this are bringing down those who oppose equal rights. it only hurts them worse in the end, especially when the rest of the world is being informed about such crimes. i wouldn't worry too much, desperation is a sign of failure.

    • 2 years ago
  • Thargor19
    • 0
      Thargor19  
    • Thargor19:

      its a crime to basic human rights to have your skull cracked whether or not drugs were involved or whatever. so instead of trying to generalize the LGBT community for trying to change violent opinions and unbalanced laws, try voting for your beliefs like we all do. You have as much right to post an article on how gays are "in a huff" as we have the right to support those who feel victimized by such irrational occurrences such as this questionable raid on such a specific date commemorating those who have struggled against past police atrocities. i really do respect your right to free speech, but the question arises whether or not you have unconditional love for your species, or is it selective to those who fit into your ideal mold of the universe?

    • 2 years ago
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