Thought for sure this story would generate more comments. Maybe people have moved on to the latest outrage, but the internal report by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission shows that TABC officials were violating all types of rules when they raided Fort Worth’s Rainbow Lounge.

From failure to follow appropriate procedures for a bar inspection to not reporting that Chad Gibson was injured, TABC officers did little right that June 28 night. Agent Christopher Aller insists Gibson touched his groin and that is why he had to be arrested (and the head injury was to make sure Gibson never touched a groin area again). Gibson denies he did anything to the agent, but why take his word right? If you get in trouble with officers of the law you must have done something because the police duty is to protect and serve. And in the history of police work, has a cop ever told a fib on a report? Perish the thought!

The Fort Worth Police Department and TABC still can’t get the story straight of who was in charge of Gibson when he was injured, each department pointing to the other. That might be cleared after the Fort Worth police finish their internal investigation but with Chief Jeff Halstead in charge, I have my doubts.

What do you Fort Worth citizens think?

Health care reform. Two wars (you all better be reading the articles of Michael Yon), an economy that gives everyone the shakes. Given all this the media kept its eye on one word used by President Barack Obama in his most recent press conference.

On Wednesday night, the president was asked about Henry L. Gates’ run in with the Cambridge police. He admitted his bias upfront, described the incident, and noted Cambridge officers “acted stupidly.” The press jumped on that word and to hear some tell it Obama has something against the police.

Getting stupid on Obama’s use of the word stupid is part of the whole “give the police the benefit of the doubt” ethos. No one denies police work is a difficult job, filled with hazards of the highest order. However, police do make mistakes and often times act without thought. Don’t believe? Ask Chad Gibson what he thinks about the perfectibility of the police. If you don’t trust him what about Ryan Moats? He plays professional football and was pulled over by an officer. His crime? Rolling through a red light. Why? his mother-in-law was dying.

Okay, Moats asked for the officer’s abuse. He wasn’t being respectful enough to the cop,  who at one point in the conversation says “I can screw you over.” Want another example? How about the Oakland policeman  who killed a man on a train platform. Some of you will argue the guy didn’t follow the officer’s orders like a good citizen should. Well Oscar Grant was lying face down on the ground, but  Officer  (now ex) Johannes Mehserle pumped bullets in him anyway. Can’t wait to see how that is justified!

For the record and it irks me this has to be said,  but I know how some play here at 365: there is no suggestion from me the man who arrested Gates, Sergeant James M. Crowley, is a racist. From all accounts he is good at his job and a decent enough fellow. Yet, even after reading  his report a few times (that has been contradicted by Gates), I’m still confused why he felt the need to arrest the professor  in his house (and yes Virgina: the porch is part of the house).

It’s  hypocritical of  me to dog out the media about “Gate-gate” as I blather on about it also, so I’m done. However, this has to be said. While the Cambridge kabuki is entertaining, it  keeps us away from our serious law and order troubles. I’m willing to bet Crowley, Gates, and Obama would all agree on that.

One of the pleasures of writing here is the occasional fit some have over an entry they feel isn’t particularly gay. People will announce they come to 365 to read about gay stuff and anything else ruins the morning coffee. I’ve never understood the whole news segregation thing, but there is much I don’t get or appreciate (still wondering why anyone listens to Madonna or cares about the ramblings of a beauty pageant contestant).

Yesterday there was a lot of chatter about the Henry L. Gates post. A few wondered why it was here. Complaining about a post on a black guy’s troubles with the law is like a black guy moaning gays never had to sit at the back of the bus. Both grievances are based on the assumption that gay equals white. There were many gays during Jim Crow who could not choose their bus seats. They were gay and black. A number of black and brown gays and lesbians might want to know about the Gates saga because they too have had run-ins with the police. Like comedian Paul Mooney quipped: if you are black and live in America you have a police story.

But moving beyond the standard racial calculus, yesterday’s post is important to the “gay community” because the behavior of the police is of immediate concern to all gays and lesbians, no matter our racial backgrounds. The treatment of Chad Gibson should have made that clear. Gibson was beat down by officers of the state because he had the nerve to think drinking water in a gay bar wasn’t a crime. I’m sure those accusing Gates of bringing it all on himself, were filled with outrage over Gibson’s treatment and the initial response of the Fort Worth police chief. Those same outraged folks never called Gibson arrogant, opined  the whole affair never would have happened if Gibson just did what the officers asked, or  took the police account of Gibson’s attack as the gospel.

No tears for Gates though. He has access to power that Gibson can only dream of (is the Fort Worth case even known outside of the LGBT orbit?); however, it’s naive, and dangerous, to think the kerfuffle in Cambridge is not connected to our gay lives.

Protestors have frequently been speaking out about the questionable raid that resulted in sending Gibson to the hospital for seven days with head injuries. The incident occurred on June 28 when two TABC and seven Fort Worth police officers raided the newly opened Rainbow Lounge nightclub. This is the first time Gibson has spoken about his arrest.

According to witnesses, Gibson was manhandled by officers and slammed to the ground, even though they were unprovoked. Police have constructed a different story, saying an intoxicated Gibson grabbed an officer’s groin.

Gibson finally broke his silence last night to WFAA-TV in Fort Worth. He told a WFAA reporter that he wants the officers involved in the raid to be prosecuted, saying the response by the city of Fort Worth has been a cover up.

“They have blamed it on me, that I was drunk [and] that I hit my head,” he said. “I groped the officer. I did this. I did that.  You know what, no … Accept responsibility.”

Gibson is still fearful of a blood clot located behind his right eye.

“I’m scared that something might happen,” Gibson said. “It might start bleeding.”

The incident is currently being investigated by Forth Worth police.

Read the full WFAA-TV story and watch Gibson’s interview here.

1. I would say something about Sarah Palin and her drama but I’m scared of being sued. So let me say that Alaska never had a better governor, her speech on Friday was not the rambling, disjointed, cluster freak show as described by media elites, and she resigned because she is a good point guard.

2. Carrot cake is starting to beat my love for cherry pie.

3. How can you not love this country after listening to Marvin Gaye’s rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner”?

4. What’s the deal with Marion Barry?

5. Is there anyone out there going to the Michael Jackson memorial service tomorrow?

6. My future husband Beau Breedlove is now saying Portland Mayor Sam Adams kissed him twice when he was 17, a contradiction of what Adams has said. Beau. Beau. Beau. Give me a call if you want to talk baby. Like I said before, if we had a relationship I wouldn’t lie about it!

7. Chad Gibson is conscious now and saying Fort Worth police authorities are spinning tall tales about what happened at the Rainbow Lounge.

8. Surprised the coup in Honduras isn’t getting more news play.

9. Roger Federer proved this weekend why he is the king.

10. If only bacon could do what coffee does.

If you saw Boys Don’t Cry, it’s difficult to forget the scene when Brandon Teena is recounting his rape to the town police. They surround him and the officer asking questions wears the standard shades and talks to Teena as if he is a suspect. The officer’s day has been interrupted and his disdain for Teena can only be missed by those who accept the myth that the police are always your friends.

It should surprise no one that scene came to me when I read about the aftermath of a raid on a Fort Worth, Texas gay bar. On Sunday, the Rainbow Lounge was under siege from Fort Worth police and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. These authorities stormed the establishment, as has been reported by bar patrons, and Chad Gibson continues to be in the hospital with a serious brain injury, an injury caused by either the TABC representatives or Fort Worth officers. How does the city’s police chief Jeff Halstead explain harm coming to a guy who had the nerve to think he could go to a bar and drink without being harassed by arms of the state?

“You’re touched and advanced in certain ways by people inside the bar, that’s offensive,” he said. “I’m happy with the restraint used when they were contacted like that.”

I’ll leave the translation of this line to Dan Savage. He does it better than me. By the way: Halstead’s version of what happened to Gibson has been called a bold face lie by many witnesses.

Apparently someone has informed the chief about the big stinking mess that came out of his mouth and now he is all about reconciliation and community dialogue. Says he will appoint a LGBT liaison and have his officers go through training in how to deal with the gay community (I know a police chief who needs to be sitting in the front of that class). There is also an internal investigation and calls for an independent committee to find out what happened that night.

Hopefully Gibson will pull through this and the residents of Fort Worth will continue to keep the heat on a police chief who sees a brain clot as “restraint.”

PS: RIP Karl Malden.

UPDATE: Gibson was injured while in the custody of TABC agents. Two have been assigned to desk duty pending an investigation.