Watt's Gnus

Gay bar in Texas raided 40 years to the date of Stonewall

A Texas Rainbow Revolt? Fiasco at the Rainbow Lounge
2009, June 29

40 years to the date after Stonewall, the Fort Worth Police Department chooses to raid the Rainbow Lounge. 7 were arrested; one hospitalized. Texas had better hope Mr. Chad Gibbons heals well...

There was a protest yesterday that seems to be in the Texas news, but nowhere else:

http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4100&MediaType=1&Category=26

Anyone remember the 60s? The hosing of folks in Alabama, the assassinations at Kent State? Small incidents can start real bad things. Stonewall... June 28, 1969 marked the 'official' beginning of the gay and lesbian community saying they had had enough. Gay Pride and all of the protective legislation resulted from that moment.

A long but worthy Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots

For those unfamiliar with the 50s, this excerpt will do

Except for Illinois, which decriminalized sodomy in 1961, homosexual acts, even between consenting adults acting in private homes, were a criminal offense in every U.S. state at the time the Stonewall Riots occurred: "An adult convicted of the crime of having sex with another consenting adult in the privacy of his or her home could get anywhere from a light fine to five, ten, or twenty years—or even life—in prison. In 1971, twenty states had 'sex psychopath' laws that permitted the detaining of homosexuals for that reason alone. In Pennsylvania and California sex offenders could be locked in a mental institution for life, and [in] seven states they could be castrated." (Carter, p. 15) Castration, emetics, hypnosis, electroshock therapy and lobotomies were used by psychiatrists to attempt to cure homosexuals through the 1950s and 1960s.(Katz, pp. 181–197.)(Adam, p. 60.)

I spoke with my friend Carol today. She and Neva have been together since '64. As an elderly couple, even marriage wouldn't salvage many rights. Carol related to me today how in the late 60s they went to a place in Kansas City where the women were all dressed as men. No one would talk to them; but, when they wanted to leave there were men with weapons outside waiting for them. They went back in and told the manager who whistled for an escort. Well... those women-in-suits-and-mustaches gave them an escort and waited until they were safely off. They did go back once... the ladies still weren't 'sociable'.

"Lipstick" 

Although Kansas won't allow Carol and Neva to marry, 40 years after Stonewall, six states

1. Massachusetts, 2. Connecticut, 3. Iowa, 4. Vermont, 5. Maine, 6. New Hampshire

say two adults can get married regardless of gender. They join Canada, Spain, Sweden, South Africa, Norway in breaking down barriers.

Today there is news of a movement to decriminalize homosexuality in India. In Russia, gay activists vow to confront Obama when he visits. Ireland, formerly the land-of-no-divorce, voted for civil partnerships this month.

But... Burundi has just criminalized any homosexual act. It is punishable by death in Mauritania, Nigeria and Iran. And Vander Plaats, a Republican wannabe candidate for governor of Iowa, says he'd sign an executive order outlawing marriage laws over the dead bodies of the Iowa Supreme Court and risk impeachment. Go Hate! seems to be the last rallying cry of the traditionalists who use fear mongering and lies as their last resort.

Since when does the minority have to say thank-you for the abusive behaviour of the majority? Battered wife syndrome has been mentioned as one explanation for the relationship between the gay community and those in authority. But... even 90 pound wives have been known to grab an attitude adjuster...

No... these are not easy times. Some suggest that the Utah solution of building bridges and going for protection before insisting on marriage is the answer. Others say nothing less than full recognition as human beings with full Human Rights is acceptable.

On June 28, 1969 the Stonewall Uprising began 40 years of struggles. Will a Texas Rainbow Revolt follow?

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