Press Release - July 2nd, 2009

 

The Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus (TSDC) and local Stonewall Democrats chapters in Texas strongly condemn the police raid that was carried out in a gay bar, the Rainbow Lounge, in Forth Worth early Sunday morning, June 28. The TSDC calls for a prompt investigation of this incident and the immediate resignation of the Chief of the Fort Worth Police Department and the Administrator of the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC).

While the Fort Worth Police Department and the TABC have a duty to ensure that licensed liquor establishments operate in accordance with the law, it was no mere coincidence that the raid in Fort Worth occurred on the very night and almost at the very hour that the Stonewall Inn was raided by police in New York City 40 years ago. Not only does the Fort Worth raid constitute a mockery of justice that is symbolized by the Stonewall riots, it also involved brutal tactics resulting in serious injury to and the hospitalization of a bar patron who was arrested.

“It is unbelievable that this is happening in a day and age when lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) citizens have experienced enormous civil rights advances over the past 40 years,” said Daniel Graney, President of the TSDC. “Up until now, many LGBT people had consigned police raids on gay bars to the dustbin of history,” Graney continues, “but apparently the Fort Worth Police Department and the TABC decided to revert to Jim Crow tactics when it comes to their treatment of LGBT citizens.”

The TSDC is the official LGBT caucus of the Texas Democratic Party. There are 10 Stonewall Democrats chapters in Texas and they are located in Austin, Collin County, Dallas, Denton County, Houston, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio and Tarrant County.

You can read the TSDC statement on their website here.