Queer LiberAction to hold Queer Teach-in in Fort Worth

by PegNews wire

In response to homophobic statements made by Fort Worth City officials throughout the Rainbow Lounge raid debacle, Queer LiberAction will host a public Queer Teach-in on Friday, July 31 beginning at 7 p.m. Staged outside of the Fort Worth Central Library, witnesses of the Rainbow Lounge raid, religious and political leaders of the LGBT North Texas community will be teachers for a day as they address the damaging effects of homophobia and heterosexism.

In line with Queer LiberAction style, the classroom will be taken out of the school and into the streets. Statements from Mayor Mike Moncrief, Chief of Police Jeff Halstead, and other city officials will be enlarged and displayed for all to see. Speakers will address the public to illustrate how the LGBT community is upset by many of the remarks made by our public officials.

This event is free and open to the public with Queer LiberAction providing placards, signs, and flags to the public. This unique event as a cross between a rally, free speech event, and classroom is sure to draw a crowd.

“How is Mayor Moncrief supposed to stand up for our GLBT community if he isn’t even able to utter the words 'Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender' in public? This, on top of Jeff Halstead playing the 'gay panic' defense by suggesting that Chad Gibson was sent to the hospital for a week after 'groping' an officer is very homophobic and offensive. There is no room for homophobia in Fort Worth in 2009 -- a city where a GLBT community proudly stands up for itself and doesn’t tolerate homophobia is the new Fort Worth way!” says Blake Wilkinson, founder of Queer LiberAction.

Source: Queer LiberAction