Comments on: Withers: Fort Worth police chief shows his homophobia

By: Links & Resources for July 5th, 2009 Show « Dina Gregg Show–The BLOG

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:43:13 +0000

[...] Ciara [...]

By: John the Prophet

John the Prophet — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:44:37 +0000

Quit bashing Texas Boohoo Boohoo Get over it They arent bashing texas theyr bitching about FW police and TABC. Y’all so full of yourselves(Sometime wish the Rio was further north. BTW Fred Flintstone is better off playing with his pebbles with that thought process. FWPD is way out of line based on the reports TABC is required when in Uniform to Identify to management upon entering the facility (as they are under arms) Rule 303 Git er Done

By: Mercedes

Mercedes — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:35:59 +0000

Sensitivity training on LGBT issues is a merely a way for the city to give the appearance of taking some meaningful action, all the while using it as a means to avoid future civil liability and to avoid enacting real punishment upon the officer(s) who caused brain damage to a citizen do no more than having a social drink among friends.

If someone touched an officer inappropriately the officer is still required to use the proper escalation of force….brain damage would not be indicated in this scenario as proper escalation of force.

How about we hear these officers are on unpaid administrative leave pending internal investigation and possible criminal charges of attempted homicide or aggravated assault?

Until this occurs they are just white washing the entire event hoping it fades from the headlines and gays forget about the patron with the brain damage. I hope this patron sues the Fortworth City for millions for violating his civil rights.

By: gay boy

gay boy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:02:26 +0000

Yes, I agree with Jen Marcus that the civil rights of the bar patrons were violated. This agregious incident needs to be investigated by the FBI and a Sec 1983 Federal Law suit filed against both law enforcement agencies, the city of Fort Worth and the state of Texas for violating the civil rights of these victims as stated in the United States Constituion.

By: btinc

btinc — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:12:25 +0000

It looks like the FW police dept is getting a lesson in how fast news spreads in the social media age. Maybe they, and others, will treat people better now that they see that they operate more in the light of the day than in anonymity.

By: john

john — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:46:06 +0000

I did my part and e-mailed the Fort Worth Chammber of Commerce and asked what they plan to do to prevent this type of behavior. I’m waiting for a reply. If everyone does this, it might help heal this wound. Be safe and know we will overcome this.

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:38:35 +0000

I agree with Jennifer and others that the Texan bashing is unfair. We do have a pretty reactionary governor, but we’re also a state with a slight but growing democratic voting majority. All the big cities are predominantly democratic and have gay or LGBT civil rights protections. Houston has an LGBT tourist outreach, and I think Dallas does as well.

Austin is a famously progressive center for education and the arts. It’s known for its live music and has thoroughgoing LGBT civil rights protections. Texans have recently elected several gays and lesbians to prominent public offices.

Granted, rural Texas tends to be markedly conservative. The state has hate crimes protections, but also an anti-marriage amendment. Texas is a political and attitudinal mix that’s difficult to characterize simply or sweepingly.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:26:10 +0000

Can someone stop the Texan bashing. Please. Not all of us can pack up and move to New England, and not every city is homophobic. I live in San Antonio, and it’s not that bad. We have our GLBT liaison, and Chamber of Commerce. And that’s a lot for a smallish Texas city.

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:19:52 +0000

fr fred flintstone:

>… want to say that the chief has handled this case very well. I work at a gay bar and when someone gropes me, I still dont want to act with restraint sometimes…<

Then I suggest you find some other line of employment, where the only question you need to ask is “Do you want fries with that?” If you can’t see that the FW “police”, esp the “police chief” all need to be FIRED and then brought up on criminal charges of assault.

By: Fred Flintstone

Fred Flintstone — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:10:45 +0000

I want to say that the chief has handled this case very well. I work at a gay bar and when someone gropes me, I still dont want to act with restraint sometimes. I work with a lot of Fort Worth Police officers, and they have all been very positive to be around. This whole incident has been very unfortunate. Hopefully it will finally lead to some law changes in Texas. Where it is against the law to be drunk in a bar. Yet if you leave the bar drunk the bar is on the hook.
I hate to see the Fort Worth Police department get a black eye over something that they had little to do with.They are as a rule a good department that seems to treat all aspects of the community quite well.