The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance
Introduces the
DGLA Community Council!

As you are all certainly aware by now, at approximately 1:30 am on the morning of June 28^th, the Fort Worth police department conducted a raid of the Rainbow Lounge, a nightclub catering primarily to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered people, located at 651 S. Jennings in Fort Worth, Texas. During the course of the raid seven people were arrested and many more detained. This event is even more disturbing because of the brutality brought upon bar patron Chad Gibson who was thrown to the ground by police during the course of this raid resulting in Gibson suffering bleeding around his brain. Gibson is still at this time in the intensive care unit of a Tarrant county hospital.

The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance would at this time like to make the following statements:

First, on behalf of DGLA, I would like to extend our greatest sympathy to Chad Gibson and his family. We hope and pray for a speedy recovery. DGLA offers our support in any capacity which we may be of assistance.

Also, DGLA wishes to express our outrage concerning the Fort Worth Police Department’s thuggish treatment of its GLBT citizens in the aforementioned raid. This type of behavior should not be acceptable in third-world countries let alone in any civilized society. We call upon the city of Fort Worth’s governing body and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to swiftly complete a thorough investigation into the events that took place AND commit to the proper disciplinary actions/prosecution against the officers involved in ANY unethical and/or illegal activities concerning this raid. These investigations should be conducted by impartial bodies and not simple internal investigations as the chief of police in Fort Worth has already made it clear where his alliances fall with his statements thus far. We also wish to extend our full support to those individuals and organizations in Fort Worth who were so very quick to engage the GLBT community there. All fair minded individuals should be outraged by the actions of the Fort Worth Police Department.

The DGLA Political Action Committee endorsed 10 candidates for Dallas City Council races and two for Dallas County Schools.  Seven of the ten endorsed city council candidates won outright and District 1 candidate Delia Jasso received the most votes, but will be in a runoff election.  

DGLA has a long, rich history of advocacy and education on issues affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community, including political and social change and fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation and on gender identity and expression.

DGLA’s history spans more than 30 years of working within the GLBT community and with elected officials and staff at the City of Dallas and surrounding communities toward the full participation of all people in society. In the City of Dallas, we work closely with the mayor, city council members, city manager, department directors and other city staff to ensure GLBT constituents and taxpayers are included at the table in all aspects of city life and that the GLBT community is treated with equality, dignity and respect in City government’s initiatives and services.