By Kelli Anne Busey for planetransgender
On the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Fort Worth Texas police and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (TABC) enforcement officers and possibly a State Police officer conducted what they described as a routine planned 'bar check'. According to the police report the owner had been notified earlier that a inspection was to take place at his newly open establishment. The owner was not overly concerned because in the past a bar check normally entailed officers quietly and unobtrusively checking driver license.
However this was not the case, this time.
The officers entered the Rainbow Lounge according to the Fort Worth Police Statement , to ensure the owners were complying with laws requiring them to provide "a safe environment for all", at 12:30 am on June 28, 2009.
TABC Code of Enforcement
Public Intoxication - A person commits an offense if the person appears in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that the person may endanger the person or another. [Section 49.02 Penal Code]
Public place means any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access and includes, but is not limited to, streets, highways, and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transport facilities, and shops. [Section 1.07 Penal Code]
According to Shane Wells an entertainer who witnessed the first arrest, the officers randomly picked patrons to harass and intimidate in hopes of provoking a response. They then physically assaulted and arrested male patrons.
The woman who were present offered an account which is equally disturbing. Kayla Lane said an officer offered unwanted sexual advances after being asked what was going on. "He wouldn’t really answer my questions. although he did try to grab my hand and flirt with me (which was completely uninvited)."
Tiffany offered this comment on 'Instant Tea' "It seemed like the officers were provoking their victims as well. One man that had been arrested was standing on the side walk while an officer was being very aggressive and kept pushing the man around and trying to argue with him. The man finally asked him to stop touching him because he was just trying to stand still. It was really bizarre! None of the men that I saw arrested were visibly intoxicated and they all cooperated considering the way they were treated."
"This will not deter me from going back. I hope all that were arrested are giving them hell now. An injustice was done."
KDAF-TV Councilman Joel Burns Statement Concerning "Rainbow Lounge" Raid "Rest assured that neither the people of Fort Worth, nor the city government of Fort Worth, will tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens. And know that the GLBT Community is an integral part of the economic and cultural life of Fort Worth."
"Every Fort Worth citizen deserves to have questions around this incident answered and I am working aggressively toward."
