State Representative Lon Burnam and Senator Wendy Davis are at it again. Calling out for what is right. They have requested an independent investigation of the Fort Worth gay bar raid. The outpouring from the gay community has spread across the country and put Fort Worth in the negative media limelight.
CBS 11 talked to city leaders this week:
Many at Fort Worth City Hall worry there is a rush to judgement against Fort Worth. After all, some city leaders say, the photo from the raid apparantly shows TABC agents on top of a man, and that agency remains silent. And city leaders say, many of the online articles quote people demanding an investigation that is already underway.
"I'm concerned that people are getting the wrong impression," said Fort Worth mayor pro-tem Kathleen Hicks. "Obviously, we called for an investigation and that's exactly what's occuring. We will get to the bottom of this. And I don't want anyone to feel like they are not welcome in this city and we're not an inclusive city, because that's simply not the case."
One other worry city leaders express is that the officers are being judged in the public eye before an investigation is complete. Lounge management doesn't share that concern. "They know they did wrong," Norman said. "There's no question in my mind that they did wrong. So, I can't see them coming back and saying that at all."
We don't really understand why you raid a new gay bar. After hearing witnesses and seeing pictures, we don't want to be raided in any bar. Thanks anyway.
We respect officers and the job they do each day, however, if they were out of line, it needs to be addressed by someone other than themselves.
Although Kathleen and other city leaders don't want people to get the wrong impression, the damage is already done. Too late. The message has been broadcast nationwide that FW is unfriendly to gays. Too bad for the Chamber of Commerce folks who were advised by a leading urban consultant to use gays to promote the city.
ReplyDelete...Which reminds me of that gas well at Beach St. and E. Lancaster that was drilled less than 500 ft. from a gay bar but without getting the required waiver. Someone at the city didn't bother to measure the distance until AFTER the well was drilled. The city's reply to the outrage was, "Sorry, we made a mistake." The damn thing should have been shut down.
...Which reminds me of the final dialogue spoken in the classic film, Chinatown. I paraphrase slightly:
"C'mon Jake, let's get outta here. This is Dirty Ol' Town."