Gay Rights activists are protesting the handling of a dispute at a Chico’s Tacos restaurant in El Paso, Texas. When two gay men kissed, the group of five gay men were reportedly told by guards to leave because the restaurant did not approve of “the faggot stuff.” An El Paso police officer later allegedly told the men that they could be arrested for kissing another man in public.
The police were called at 12:30 a.m. June 29 when the guards spotted the same-sex kiss. An officer told them that it was illegal for men to kiss in public. It is not clear whether it was because the officer believed that the state had proceeded to secede as announced or was ignorant of the law — particularly the decision in Lawrence v. Texas.
El Paso police Detective Carlos Carrillo was hardly reassuring — noting that the more appropriate charge for what happened at Chico’s Tacos would probably be criminal trespass. He said that the business had a right to refuse service. However, the city has passed an ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis gender identity and sexual orientation in public places.
It seems that the El Paso police may need a refresher on the laws that they are enforcing.
For the story, click here.
Actually, the fact that a couple gay guys being kicked from a restaurant is now a national story is compelling evidence that gays have basically achieved equality.
It’s a big country, about 300 million. Gays will be discriminated against. Straits will be discriminated against. Blacks will be discriminated against. Whites will be discriminated against. But when it happens, there will be a national freak-out about it, and it won’t happen to a given individual on a scale sufficient to damage his or her opportunity to achieve happiness.
So what would they have done in this case?
“David Brooks: A Republican Senator ‘Had His Hand On My Inner Thigh’ For A ‘Whole’ Dinner Party (VIDEO)”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/10/david-brooks-a-republican_n_229806.html
I lived in El Paso for 22 years. I had several gay friends and frequented the one gay bar in town (gay bars are always a blast). In a predominantly Hispanic community, it was definitely not cool to be gay and people kept it under wraps. I am glad to hear gay couples are not fearing being “out.” I hope this incident will be used to educate many, especially the police.
andar mal de la cabeza.
Am I missing something, or is that a typo?
From “Three Amigos”:
Rosita: I was thinking later, you could kiss me on the veranda.
Dusty Bottoms: Lips would be fine.
An article I read recently that makes the case for how far we have to go to realize LBGT equality:
Daily Effects of Straight Privilege
This article is based on Peggy McIntosh’s article on white privilege and was written by a number of straight-identified students at Earlham College who got together to look at some examples of straight privilege. These dynamics are but a few examples of the privilege which straight people have. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer-identified folk have a range of different experiences, but cannot count on most of these conditions in their lives.
On a daily basis as a straight person…
I can be pretty sure that my roomate, hallmates and classmates will be comfortable with my sexual orientation.
If I pick up a magazine, watch TV, or play music, I can be certain my sexual orientation will be represented.
When I talk about my heterosexuality (such as in a joke or talking about my relationships), I will not be accused of pushing my sexual orientation onto others.
I do not have to fear that if my family or friends find out about my sexual orientation there will be economic, emotional, physical or psychological consequences.
I did not grow up with games that attack my sexual orientation (IE fag tag or smear the queer).
I am not accused of being abused, warped or psychologically confused because of my sexual orientation.
I can go home from most meetings, classes, and conversations without feeling excluded, fearful, attacked, isolated, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, stereotyped or feared because of my sexual orientation.
I am never asked to speak for everyone who is heterosexual.
I can be sure that my classes will require curricular materials that testify to the existence of people with my sexual orientation.
People don’t ask why I made my choice of sexual orientation.
People don’t ask why I made my choice to be public about my sexual orientation.
I do not have to fear revealing my sexual orientation to friends or family. It’s assumed.
My sexual orientation was never associated with a closet.
People of my gender do not try to convince me to change my sexual orientation.
I don’t have to defend my heterosexuality.
I can easily find a religious community that will not exclude me for being heterosexual.
I can count on finding a therapist or doctor willing and able to talk about my sexuality.
I am guaranteed to find sex education literature for couples with my sexual orientation.
Because of my sexual orientation, I do not need to worry that people will harass me.
I have no need to qualify my straight identity.
My masculinity/femininity is not challenged because of my sexual orientation.
I am not identified by my sexual orientation.
I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help my sexual orientation will not work against me.
If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it has sexual orientation overtones.
Whether I rent a movie or I go to a theater, I can be sure I will not have trouble finding my sexual orientation represented.
I am guaranteed to find people of my sexual orientation represented in the Earlham curriculum, faculty, and administration.
I can walk in public with my significant other and not have people double-take or stare.
I can choose to not think politically about my sexual orientation.
I do not have to worry about telling my roommate about my sexuality. It is assumed I am a heterosexual.
I can remain oblivious of the language and culture of LGBTQ folk without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
I can go for months without being called straight.
I’m not grouped because of my sexual orientation.
My individual behavior does not reflect on people who identity as heterosexual.
In everyday conversation, the language my friends and I use generally assumes my sexual orientation. For example, sex inappropriately referring to only heterosexual sex or family meaning heterosexual relationships with kids.
People do not assume I am experienced in sex (or that I even have it!) merely because of my sexual orientation.
I can kiss a person of the opposite gender on the heart or in the cafeteria without being watched and stared at.
Nobody calls me straight with maliciousness.
People can use terms that describe my sexual orientation and mean positive things (IE “straight as an arrow”, “standing up straight” or “straightened out”) instead of demeaning terms (IE “ewww, that’s gay” or being “queer”).
I am not asked to think about why I am straight.
I can be open about my sexual orientation without worrying about my job.