Conservatives Oppose Ft. Worth LGBT Policies

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.