Stonewall ‘09- a litany of sorrows: Rainbow Lounge Raid, Anti-Queer Assault, and the SF Pink Triangle Arson

stormcoming — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:09:51 +0000

Yup, I said 2009, not some date plucked from the past. Read ‘em and weep.

Happy fucking Stonewall 40 everyone.

(I’ve been doing some of my “brighter” or “happier” writing about the Stonewall anniversary primarily elsewhere, but wanted to pull these three sorrow and rage inducing events out and document them over here.)

The TX cops celebrated the Stonewall anniversary by raiding Fort Worth Bars- including the (Queer) Rainbow Lounge

(picture taken by Chuck Potter, from the Dallas Voice “Instant Tea” blog section)

The DallasVoice.com “Instant Tea” blog section has ongoing coverage, including a number of accounts and some pictures. Their coverage begins with Raid on Rainbow Lounge. Then, in chronological order, see this page and this second page.

Rather than trying to write a summary, I’m simply going to point readers to articles, blogs, and first person accounts (here, An eyewitness account from the Rainbow Lounge raid, for example)

The blog section also contains an Update on Chad Gibson, injured in Rainbow Lounge raid.

Mainstream ‘news’ coverage-

For what it’s worth here are several Star Telegram articles- Upset Fort Worth residents protest raid on gay nightclub

Witnesses say that police arrived at about 1 a.m. at the Rainbow Lounge on South Jennings Street and arrested seven people. They said one of those arrested suffered a fractured skull during the takedown and is at a Fort Worth hospital.

and

Fort Worth police released a statement Sunday that the Rainbow Lounge was not the only bar targeted by six Fort Worth police officers and two agents from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and a supervisor. The group first went to the Rosedale Saloon and Cowboy Palace on Rosedale Street. Nine people were arrested, police report.

Demonstrators protest police raid on gay bar

WFAA-
Dozens protest ‘violent’ raid of FW gay bar

wfaa-tv

Queer Media-

On Top Magazine-

Patrons Allege Abuse In Ft. Worth Gay Bar Raid

Statements-

Fort Worth Police Statement Concerning “Rainbow Lounge” Raid

Councilman Joel Burns Statement Concerning “Rainbow Lounge” Raid

From the Blogs-

kenneth in the (212)-
Stonewall Revisited?

The patron said: “It felt so very Stonewall, but without the standing up for ourselves.”

Towleroad-

Gays in Texas Arrested for Public Intoxication in Stonewall-Style Raid

The Petrelis Files-

Cops Raid Texas Gay Bar on Pride Sunday; Protest Planned in Ft. Worth

The Stranger/SLOG-
“It felt so very stonewall, but without the standing up for ourselves.

America Blog-

Fort Worth Gay Bar raided — on 40th anniversary of Stonewall

There are also a few diaries on the Daily Kos, this one has made the rec list-

Breaking: Raid on Fort Worth Gay Bar (Update x6)

Facebook-

And naturally, what passes for fucking “Activism” these days is a group on facebook-

Facebook page: Rainbow Lounge Raid.

Vicious Anti-Queer Assault in NYC Leaves Joe Holladay Bloodied, Beaten

Village Voice-

Gay-Bashed on Pride Weekend on the Upper East Side (Updated)

Towleroad-

Pride Weekend Anti-Gay Assault in NYC Leaves Man Bloodied, Beaten

The arson at Twin Peaks (San Francisco)

KPIX-

SF’s Pink Triangle Burned, Possibly Vandalized

(see connected video with the segment at the right hand side of the page)

(photos KPIX CBS channel 5)

Also be sure to see the Pink Triangle homepage explaining the meaning behind the annual display, it serves as an

annual commemoration of the gay victims of the Holocaust and a reminder of the on-going inhumanity to repressed minorities going on now around the world

The Petrelis Files-

SF Pink Triangle Burned on Pride Sunday

Perhaps when so called “Gay Rights Advocates” meet with Obama tomorrow they might care to mention the (literal) burning hatred we still face, and 40 years on, the violence and bullshit we still endure., not that I expect anything out of this White House, but those with access have a moral obligation to hold his feet to the fire, (so to speak.)

Couldn’t have said it better myself

stormcoming — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:39:32 +0000

Yeah the YouTube? Usually not so much with me, but this is a useful little thing to keep handy. Never know when you might have need of it, there are just so many occasions for use.

Music by Lily Allen, set to uploaded video collaborative montage, Big Fat Gay Collab, organized by Stevie. See this in particular, from the video description-

theres a disgusting amount of hate on the internet (especially on youtube!) directed at minority groups (especially the LGBT community) so i was inspired to organize this collab video. i never set out to “change the world” i simply wanted to make something light hearted to put a smile on the face of any hate-victim watching. you’re not alone! stevie loves you

the song is “f#ck you” by “lily allen” and i believe it was originally written about george bush. however, this video is not against bush. this is our interpretation of the meaning behind the lyrics and i think that our video gives a slightly different meaning to the lyrics and makes a different point than the original song had specifically intended. this video has nothing to do with george bush!

Definitely one for the ‘couldn’t have said it better myself’ files.

Here’s Stevie’s original request for collaboration video that led to the above-

stormcoming » Queer

Stonewall ‘09- a litany of sorrows: Rainbow Lounge Raid, Anti-Queer Assault, and the SF Pink Triangle Arson

Couldn’t have said it better myself