An Item of Great Interest

Growing up in Fort Worth for me was many things, not all of them pleasant. As a child I was happy for the most part but about fourth grade I began realizing I was not like other little boys.  I did not know why I was different, but I knew I was.  In fifth grade I had my first same sex experience with my best friend.  Now that is a story for another time but suffice it to say we fooled around for the better part of three years or so until about midway through junior high.  It was at this time that I figured out why I was different.  However being brought up a Southern Baptist in the red neck capital of the world I knew I could not be what I was because everything I had been taught told me it was wrong.   Many times I thought I was the only queer in the world or at least Texas. The whole world hated queers and queer bait.  In high school the favorite Friday night pass time after the big game was to go out and roll a few queers for beer money.  Some of the most redneck and homophobic people in the world were in law enforcement.  You did not mess with the cops, they were not only redneck and homophobic, most of them were bullies too.  You did not want to get caught in the park or in a club when the squad cars came around.  If you were there, you were dead meat or the next best thing.  It was not unusual for Gay people to come out of their embrace much worse for the wear.  That is why I was overjoyed to read this morning over at Towleroad (via my Google Reader) about the new policy announced by Fort Worth Police Chief Jeffrey Halstead.  The policy reads as follows:

 Officers shall not use race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, disability, economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, transgender status, membership in a cultural group or an individual’s ability/inability to speak English as the criteria for determining when or how to take enforcement action or provide police services.

This is a major step forward for my hometown, especially in the light (or is shadow?) cast by the 2009 raid on the Rainbow Lounge raid by the Fort Worth Police.  I have a friend in management at the Rainbow and he tells me it is a whole 'nother story in the way the cops  behave and relate to the LGBT community.  The vice squad take their breaks at my store and I have come to know them pretty well.  They are not in the least homophobic and in fact they enjoy me using Gay humor to "get" them.  We laugh a lot together and they always tell me they miss me on my off days.  So we have come a long way from the dark days of the distant and not so distant past.  Thank you Chief Halstead for implementing this positive change in policy.  It is most welcome indeed.  

Something else that is most welcome are the guys waiting for you down the page to enliven your Friday Night Fantasies.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!