Chad Gibson remains in intensive care after head injuries received during the raid of the Rainbow Lounge, a gay night club in Fort Worth Texas. Local officials have called for an investigation into the raid which occurred on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead defended his officers and their conduct during the raid. “You’re touched and advanced in certain ways by people inside the bar, that’s offensive,” he said. “I’m happy with the restraint used when they were contacted like that.”

Dan Savage in his column at thestrange.com equates the police cheif’s statement with the “Gay Panic Defense.”

Allow me to translate the chief’s comments: “Them faggots in that thar bar touched mah officers and now they’re complainin’ about some rough stuff and one little ol’ faggot with a brain injury? Those perverts should be grateful they’realive.”

This is a classic example of the Gay Panic Defense. In the very recent past all a straight man who brutally murdered a gay man had to say was, “He made a pass at me!”, and the jury would ignore the evidence and let the murderer off. The Gay Panic Defense doesn’t fly in many courts of law these days but it still has currency in the court of public opinion. And the chief of police in Forth Worth, a major U.S. city, is attempting to use the Gay Panic Defense to convince the citizens of Fort Worth to ignore the evidence—to ignore photographic evidence and credible eyewitness accounts—and let his officers off.

And you’ll never guess who the police are accusing of being the groper: Chad Gibson, the one man arrested at the Rainbow Lounge who can’t defend himself and may never be able to give his side of the story.

A candle light vigil is planned tonight in honor of Chad Gibson at the Rainbow lounge at 8:30pm.  To show your support join the Rainbow Lounge Riot Facebook group.

Fort Worth police fractured the skull of a patron while raiding the newly opened Rainbow Lounge on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Patrons claimed the police used excessive and unnecessary force during the raid and were targeted because they were gay. Police countered that patrons resisted arrest and made “sexually explicit movements.” Seven individuals were arrested.

Openly gay Fort Worth city councilman Joel Burns made the following statement:

It is unfortunate that this incident occurred in Fort Worth and even more so to have occurred on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall protests. Unlike 40 years ago, though, the people of this community have elective representation that will make sure our government is accountable and that the rights of all of its citizens are protected. I are working together with our Mayor, Police Chief, the City of Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, and our State Legislative colleagues to get a complete and accurate accounting of what occurred.

Rest assured that neither the people of Fort Worth, nor the city government of Fort Worth, will tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens. And know that the GLBT Community is an integral part of the economic and cultural life of Fort Worth.

CBS affiliate channel 11 out of Dallas reports:

Chad Gibson is still hospitalized for a fractured skull and remains in critical condition.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, it seems.

New Pride 2009 music video celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the birth of gay pride…

Reminds me, in a good way, of this little diddy by Billy Joel.