Director shares story of how police aggression at Gay bar resulted in LGBT advances
The Latino GLBT History Project, The George Washington University and One In Ten are proud to announce the Washington, D.C., premiere of the award-winning docu mentary, “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge,” at the Marvin Center Amphitheatre, Wednesday, Sept. 5, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. Prior to the film, there will be a meet and greet with the director from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Fol lowing the end of the film, there will be a question and answer session with Camina.
“We’re excited to show case the work of Gay Latino Director Robert L. Camina. This new documentary is collecting awards around the country for its honest portrayal about an act of police ag gression toward the LGBT community in Texas that ended up being a catalyst for positive change,” said LHP President David M. Pérez.
On June 28, 2009 (the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn Raid in New York City), Fort Worth police and agents from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission raided the Rainbow Lounge, a newly opened Gay bar.
During their 40 minutes in the estab lishment, multiple people were detained or arrested and a young man was sent to the ICU with a fractured skull and bleeding in the brain. Many accused officers of target ing the gay community.
Allegations of police brutality flooded the internet. Police reported that during the raid, multiple patrons alleg edly grabbed them in a sexually interested manner and “pretend to have sex with them from behind.”
They also accused one patron of grabbing a male officer’s crotch. The Fort Worth Police Chief defended his officers’ ac tions against the patrons and made public re marks and allegations that many considered homophobic. Following the sordid allegations and outrage, many changes would occur in the city and Fort Worth would become a leader in LGBT equality.
“The audience will see history unfold as this film documents the con troversy from the per spective of witnesses, activists and politicians who helped changed the city,” said Camina, who also wrote and pro duced the 103-minute film. “The documentary is narrated by television icon, Emmy-nominated actress and author Meredith Baxter, star of ‘Family Ties,’ ‘Family’ and ‘Bridget Loves Bernie.’”
“GW’s commitment to both LGBT and Latino diversity and inclusion inspires us to fea ture this important film and host gay Latino Director, Robert L. Camina. We are proud to participate in this important community event in partnership with the Latino GLBT History Project,” said Timothy Kane, Director of GW’s LGBT Resource Center.
