Thursday, Sep. 17, 2009

Bar Raids Reminiscent of Riots

 

 

The last year has seen a lot of successes in LGBT equality. However, as I always say, there's still a lot of work to be done.

June 28 marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City, which is seen as the defining moment marking the beginning of the modern gay rights movement. Marches, celebrations and even a reception in the East Room of the White House occurred that week celebrating and remembering LGBT history and the community's continued fight for equality.

That same day now marks a raid on a Texas bar in which patrons of the Rainbow Lounge nightclub in Fort Worth were arrested and allegedly harassed by police and TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission) agents. According to reports, five people were arrested for public intoxication and at least a dozen more were restrained. But, it's not the arrests that have people upset. Excessive force and shady reports are at the forefront of the issue. One patron, Chad Gibson, incurred a serious head injury that resulted in hospitalization with bruises, strained muscles and bleeding on his brain. Police initially said Gibson injured himself when he fell and hit his head, but witnesses reported that the police allegedly slammed him into the wall and floor and aggressively attacked other patrons who were arrested that night.

Following the raid, images and personal accounts quickly circulated on the Web and sparked anger among the Dallas/Fort Worth community. Crowds protested outside the Tarrant County Courthouse and Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks of Fort Worth called for an immediate investigation into the incident, which Fort Worth police called a routine “alcohol beverage code inspection.”

On Sept. 10, an eerily similar raid occurred at The Eagle nightclub, a gay bar in midtown Atlanta, sparking protests and outrage among that city's large gay population. According to a statement released by the Atlanta police, the city received several complaints with descriptive information about “alleged criminal conduct” at the bar. Danni Lynn Harris, Atlanta Police's liaison to the LGBT community, said the raid was a result of a tip sent to Mayor Shirley Franklin's office alleging “illicit sex” at The Eagle. The result of the raid, which included a total of 21 detectives and vice officers, was the arrest of eight employees of the bar charged with providing adult entertainment without a city permit. The raid took place on a themed “Underwear Night” and supposedly the go-ahead was given once vice officers saw people dancing in their skivvies.

Once again, several customers said they were harassed, ordered facedown on the bar’s floor, searched illegally and received verbal abuse with alleged anti-gay overtones. The Atlanta police have acknowledged “allegations of improver behavior by police officers conducting the investigation.” Ten people filed formal complaints against the department on Monday, which will now launch a full investigation into what occurred.

So what has happened? Fort Worth Police Chief Jeffrey Halstead has since apologized to the LGBT community there, and has enforced a new policy on bar inspections. Halstead has also appointed someone to be the department's interim liaison to the LGBT community and the department is working to improve the cultural awareness and diversity training among its officers. He has committed personnel, including him, to participate in the City Manager's Diversity Task Force. In addition, TABC has fired two agents and one supervisor and has disciplined two additional supervisors following the raid.

In Atlanta, mayoral candidates, including state Sen. Kasim Reed and city council president Lisa Borders, have called for an investigation of the incident there. Police Chief Richard J. Pennington has apologized for what happened and promised to investigate each complaint thoroughly.

I’ve worked in the bar industry in the past. I’ve also been a loyal patron of many LGBT establishments through the years. I've never witnessed a raid, nor was I at either one of the above establishments to corroborate any of the accusations. I have witnessed quite a few alcohol beverage code inspections like the one in Texas, however. Even a few by TABC, while I was managing a nightclub in Houston. They were all rather uneventful. Agents and police seemed kind and patient, never uttering offensive comments at customers or using excessive force. They simply verified that the laws were being followed and moved on. If something illegal was going on, they justly took care of the situation.

I've never seen anyone forced to the floor of a bar and searched. I've never witnessed someone having to be hospitalized following such investigations. Whether or not all accounts of what occurred in Forth Worth or Atlanta are legitimate – I don't know. However, it seems that obviously rights were violated and patrons were treated differently for being gay.

Forty years ago a bar raid occurred in New York City – officially over an alcohol beverage code violation as well. The LGBT community may have made many strides since then, but clearly we still have a lot of work to do. Hopefully, lessons will be learned, policies will be changed and the movement will continue just as it did so many years ago following those monumental events at the Stonewall Inn.

Out & About

Friday, Sept. 25 – Pull out the tiara and get the red gowns ready for the Miss Red Ribbon Friends 2010 pageant. Presented each year by Time Out! and Red Ribbon Friends, the annual event raises awareness and money to help with RRF's Careteam Grant Fund, which assists LGBT residents of Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties who are living with HIV and/or AIDS. Contestants are judged in three categories: talent, evening gown and on stage question. Winners receive $100 cash prize and a crown. Prizes are also awarded for first and second runner-up, along with “Best Presentation in Red.” Previous winners, including Kiki Merlot, Miss RRF 2009, will also perform. The pageant will start at 11 p.m. at Time Out!, 520 Eighth Ave. N. in downtown Myrtle Beach. For more information, visit www.redribbonfriends.com.

Sunday, Sept. 27 - Rock Church Myrtle Beach is hosting Fun in the Son, a community-wide picnic at Myrtle Beach State Park at 5 p.m. on Sept. 27. The event will take place at Shelter B6 at the park and admission is free. The park however does charge $4 for adults, $2.50 for S.C. seniors and $1.50 for children ages 6-15. Children 5 and younger are free. M.B. State Park is located on U.S. 17 Business three miles south of downtown Myrtle Beach. Organizers are asking that you RSVP to rockchurchmb@aol.com to ensure that enough food is available. For more information, call 843-283-0918 or email rockchurchmb@aol.com.

Till next week, have fun and be safe.

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