Gay Pride, Police Raids & Millions Of Gays On The March

This weekend was certainly one to remember. 40 years ago, the Stonewall riots broke out in New York City. Even though many gays fought for equality long before that, Stonewall was a turning point for the LGBT movement toward equal rights. In 2009, we're still fighting.

To start on a positive note, a gay pride event was held in Denton TX for the first time in many years. Numerous organizations have been to Denton before, some even as far back as the 70's with some statewide conferences. The Stonewall Democrats of Denton County, an organization barely two years old, took it upon itself to honor their namesake, the Stonewall riots. An opening mixer at the town's only gay bar, Mable Peabody's Beauty Shop & Chainsaw Repair (yes that is the name), hosted 60 people with the courage to actually sign Stonewall's list, and many more of the regular patrons. Saturday saw an event at Trinity Presbyterian Church, showing a documentary, discussion panel, etc. with another 40 people. The city itself even agreed to proclaim June 27, 2009 as "Denton LGBT Pride Day", showing how far we have indeed come.

But since LGBT people still have a ways to go, organizers held a nationwide event - the Million Gay March for Equality, held in at least 10 states on June 28. At least 1000 people marched in Dallas in the 105 degree heat, to express their frustration with the slow pace to equality.

On a negative note, we got word that a gay club in Fort Worth was raided. It had only been open for one week, and the Fort Worth police department chose Saturday evening to arrest people at the Rainbow Lounge for public intoxication. We don't know about you, but typically people drink at bars, correct? And many are intoxicated-- in public! Apparently TABC officers in Texas can do this now. But why would you choose the GAY BAR on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall?? Seems a little suspect. Maybe Fort Worth wants its own riot to drum up tourism dollars? That CAN be arranged, Cow Town.

All in all, 40 years later, some has changed and a lot remains the same. But if people remain silent and sit at home on their hands, then nothing changes. Remember that when you remember Stonewall.

Texas Blog Roundup

It's time for another Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup.

President Obama, Bill White, and John Sharp are all in the same sinking DOMA boat. The Texas Cloverleaf comes off of hiatus to tell you why.

CouldBeTrue from South Texas Chisme cheers the impeachment of Judge Kent. 4 articles passed without a single nay. Lets hope the Senate is through with him by August.

BossKitty at TruthHugger finally signed up for Twitter to get updates on the Iran protests. What a day of drama and emotion it brought, Icons and Martyrs – All Day On Twitter Watching Iran. (I was really meaning to highlight the regressive influences causing upheaval in personal lives, especially in Texas. Immigration Policies and Gay Rights – Contradictions)

Unlike Nevada Republican Senator John Ensign, Neil at Texas Liberal makes a promise he'll keep - He'll never cheat on his wife! Also, Neil sings the Damned's Wait For The Blackout at the Houston Ship Channel.

Off the Kuff takes a look, then a second look, at the bills Governor Perry vetoed.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson knows in order to solve big problems it takes leadership, Who is willing to lead, who has enough LBJ in them?.

Castle Hills Democrats heard candidates Tom Schieffer, John Sharp, Bill White, and Neil Durrance speak at the Dual County Fish Fry in north Texas. The blogger reviews their messages--and reports on feedback from the Dems in the audience.

WhosPlayin investigated the claim by a former mayoral candidate that the city is hiring illegal aliens for its road projects because one of its contractors doesn't yet use the E-Verify program.

Teddy at Left of College Station writes about escorting at Planned Parenthood and how what happens in Kansas doesn’t stay in Kansas. Today on Left of College Station: a report from the T. Don Hutto Residential Detention Facility and the protest on Saturday (including exclusive photographs).

Big Gas wants you to believe that regulating hydraulic fracturing is a state's rights issue. The truth: Only one state in the US regulates hydraulic fracturing. TXsharon busts the Big Gas bubble again on Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.

Citizen groups opposed to new coal plants being built in Robertson County and near Victoria were given a chance to intervene last week when two of the 12 newly proposed coal plants in Texas had preliminary hearings for their waste water permits. Check out the video over at Public Citizen's Texas Vox.

Over at TexasKaos, Libby Shaw tells us that Dumb, Self-serving Politicians Make Dumb, Self-serving Decisions. What a surprise that Governor Goodhair takes the starring role in this little drama. Check out the details.

Do you love the Real Housewives on Bravo? Were you a little less than impressed by the NJ version? So was Barfly over at McBlogger.

Obama, White, & Sharp All In The Sinking DOMA Ship Together

The Leaf is back. We have come out of hiatus. You may all exhale. The reason we are back are to address some issues on the federal level in regards to LGBT rights.

The last time we wrote a blog here was in March. Things seemed to be going well in the country, besides the economy. There was discussion of the repeal of DADT. Since then, more states have legalized gay marriage. America was going in the right direction to equality.

Then, June came along. Pride Month. In a month in which the Stonewall riots mark 40 years of the modern gay rights movement, the federal government began throwing LGBT citizens under the bus again. The US Dept. of Justice moved to dismiss a pending federal case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act.

President Obama himself has stated that DOMA is discriminatory and should be repealed. But even former Congressman Bob Barr, it's original author, has stated the very same. The only reason each of them has cited is that it prevents the states from doing what they want. And ya know, that simply is not good enough. Letting states do what they want lead to Jim Crow Laws, bans on interracial marriage, and now bans on gay marriage.

The reason we bring up Bill White and John Sharp, is because of an event we attended last evening in McKinney TX. A member of Stonewall Democrats of Denton County stood up with the last question to them of the evening-- "what is your position on the legality of DOMA, because LGBT people are not second class citizens?", to which a large applause came from the mostly caucasion suburban crowd. Both White and Sharp spent exactly one sentence to state that they "support President Obama's position" and then proceeded to ignore the topic and go on 5 minute diatribes about what they wanted to talk about. Keep in mind, each US Senate candidate had time to give speeched and talk up their love for public education. And keep in mind, they also took the time to actually answer everyone's question in detail. But not this one. The DOMA question was given the brush off, with White pulling the bus up to the curb, and Sharp putting it into reverse to back over us a second time. We found the lack of willing by both candidates to actually answer the question completely disrespectful, not only to the person asking the question, but all LGBT people.

So as LGBT people, or straight readers of this blog, ask yourself what you can do. Until these candidates, and this administration shapes up, then your money should stay in your wallet. The DNC, Obama administration, and these US Senate candidates do not deserve one penny until they can clearly explain why they won't touch the topics at hand. We need a little more audacity! The audacity begins with tough decisions and not waffling.