A Call To Arms

"Caress"

While the President is over schmoozing with the Russians today, here in America we as Gay people are still being subjected to bull shit in our daily lives. Towleroad posted this graphic tidbit (via After Elton) showing all the crimes committed during the time of the now infamous Rainbow Lounge raid in Fort Worth. Meantime the Chief of Police is busy pandering the typical Gay panic defense and trying to blame the TABC for the rough handling of the patrons at the Rainbow lounge. Fortunately the Mayor, our openly Gay City Councilman and several state Representatives are howling for a proper investigation of the events of that evening. The Mayor is even calling for the feds. The Rainbow Lounge at 651 Jennings is in the same location as another long time Gay bar (now defunct) called the 651 Club. I have been there in its former incarnation though not in it's present one. While I have never experienced a raid of this type here in my hometown, I grew up here and am very familiar with the culture that breeds this type of behavior from the mafiosos ... er I mean the local boys in blue. There is still much work to be done to finally achieve equality in my lifetime. I realize that Texas will probably be the last state in the Union to grant full equality to us "lower life forms" simply from the entrenched Red Neck Conservatism that exists here. However that does not deter me from raising my voice in protest at the inequity of the treatment a lot of us have experienced here. I feel Fort Worth has progressed, but these latest events show how far we have yet to go. I will not be silent any longer and I will not put up with this bull shit from anyone. As a businessman in this city, I have a lot of police officers who frequent my location, in fact the vice squad hold impromptu meetings at my coffee bar. In my professional life I am grateful for their cooperation and protection, but in my private life I am appalled that such actions can still happen in this my home town. I know for a fact they have a lot more serious crime to deal with rather than harassing innocent bar patrons who were bothering no one. We as a community need to continue to raise our voices, march in the streets and do what ever is necessary to make those powers that be realize that they really should not fuck with us any longer and pass the legislation necessary to provide equal protection and equal opportunity for the only minority left in America that it is okay to discriminate against. I am extremely disgusted with the current stagnation of our issues on the federal level (see Friday and Monday posts) and battle daily the stigma and fucked up attitudes of the less than understanding and hopelessly derelict public officials in regard to our battle for equality. I urge you, where ever you live to Act Up and make it impossible to ignore our visibility and our fight for the basic Civil Rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of this less than perfect union. While the Constitution is the idea, the reality sucks big time and it is time the reality became one with the idea. I call on all of you to do your part to secure those just and equal rights in whatever manner is necessary to get the job done. Turn off the money, turn up the heat and apply liberally to those assholes in charge of denying us our humanity. I am not a "lower life form" nor am I due any disrespect just for being Gay and it is about time those mother fuckers came to realize we are mad as hell and not going to take it any more. I hope you will join me in a concerted effort to get this vitally important job done as quickly as possible.

Now that I have temporarily finished ranting, I guess I should move one to more pleasant thoughts like how much I would love to bring one or two of these Outdoors Men indoors for some real sporting times. Which one(s) would you choose? Until next time as always, Enjoy!