Conservatives Oppose Ft. Worth LGBT Policies

By Julie Bolcer

Fort Worthx390 (Photos.com) | Advocate.com

Conservatives in Fort Worth, Texas, are expressing opposition to LGBT rights proposals made to the government in the wake of the June raid on the Rainbow Lounge, a local gay bar.

The proposals, some of which will be discussed at a Fort Worth City Council meeting Tuesday night, include benefits already recognized by many other cities and corporations in Texas, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

“The proposals include extending domestic-partner benefits to gay couples, considering a company’s record on gay and lesbian issues when approving tax breaks, and including gender reassignment surgery in the city health insurance plan,” reported the Fort Worth Star Telegram. “City employees would also receive training on dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.”

Some conservatives are challenging the legality of domestic partnerships for same-sex couples in light of a 2005 state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. They also question the cost of the proposals to the local government, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

The LGBT policy recommendations stem from a task force appointed after a joint police and state agency raid on the Rainbow Lounge in June -- on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising -- left one man seriously injured. A report last week cleared the police officers of using excessive force.

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Reader Comments

Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Adrianus
Date posted: 11/11/2009 5:32:17 AM
Hometown: Northridge, CA

Comment:
Do conservatives have brain at all? Gee..
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Mark
Date posted: 11/10/2009 7:04:41 PM
Hometown: Tesuque

Comment:
Amen! For every gay and lesbian who pays taxes in Ft Worth, and those tax dollars support benefits to hetero married couples, the gay resident should receive a proportionate amount of refund if his / her partner is not covered the same as a hetero. Seems pretty simple to me.
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Name: Larry Gentry
Date posted: 11/10/2009 6:12:03 PM
Hometown: San Francisco

Comment:
The cost question is ridiculous. Don't we pay the same taxes if not more, in many cases? I'm from Fort Worth originally. I'm glad the city council is at least discussing it. You can tell a lot about a place by how they treat their gays.
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Name: Rich Republican Bastard
Date posted: 11/10/2009 3:16:53 PM
Hometown: Houston

Comment:
We can't be fair if it costs too much. I mean, how DARE you expect me to to have to pay for YOU to be treated the same as *I* am treated! Can't you all tell how much more IMPORTANT *I* am to society?
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Name: Sounds like Logic
Date posted: 11/10/2009 1:21:37 PM
Hometown: New Jersey

Comment:
I agree with Larry. In these tough times, it is important to save money. Health benefits and such should be reserved exclusively for LGBT people. And I don't want to hear any nonsense from so called "conservatives". This is not discrimination. Anyone at anytime can choose to be gay, and thus qualify for benefits. If people choose to be straight, that is their right, but don't expect me to subsidize such a lifestyle choice.
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Name: Larry
Date posted: 11/10/2009 11:35:13 AM
Hometown: NYC

Comment:
"They also question the cost of the proposals to the local government." I think we should all question the cost of giving heterosexuals benefits. I'm sure that's a big drain on the local government.

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