How Fort Worth’s journey on LGBTQ protections can show the path forward for the nation

It’s been just over 10 years since the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the local police raided a gay bar in Fort Worth, making international headlines. The incident lit a fire in the LGBTQ community, with many locals coming forward to express concerns about mistreatment in Fort Worth and nationwide.

In many ways, the Rainbow Lounge episode sparked transformative change. The city quickly called for a committee, Fairness Fort Worth, to develop plans to build a better relationship with the LGBTQ community. The Fort Worth police department appointed a liaison and opened up lines of communication with LGBTQ residents. Within months, the City Council passed an ordinance protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination.

It was a serious period of reflection, and it led to sustained change here in Fort Worth.

I saw the change up close. I’ve served in the Police Department for nearly 15 years, and I’m gay, although I was not out at the time of the raid. It was a tricky time for me personally — I was out in my private life, sharing my authentic self with friends, family members and a few coworkers, but I didn’t yet feel comfortable telling everyone at work that I was gay.

I had been working toward my job for so long, and I was worried that sharing my sexuality would damage the relationships I had built over the years. It wasn’t uncommon to hear stories of people losing their jobs or being given a hard time at work after coming out as gay or transgender, so I played it safe.

Eventually a colleague asked for help on producing a YouTube series of recruiting videos intended to highlight recent efforts in the department to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion. By participating in this worthwhile project, I effectively left the safety of my “closet.”

The video garnered a ton of positive attention and support, and a few months later, several co-workers appeared by my side in a TV ad about why same-sex couples in Texas should have the freedom to marry.

The department has come a long way since 2009, and so has Fort Worth at large. For me, seeing that journey toward dignity and acceptance helped underline that it’s possible — and necessary — for people in charge of major institutions to open their hearts, recognize solutions and do the right thing.

The nondiscrimination ordinance in Fort Worth was an important step toward change, and it helped LGBTQ people attain the most basic protections. But those protections still don’t exist throughout Texas or on the federal level.

Nearly half of LGBTQ Americans say they aren’t out in the workplace. For me, being “out” at work has allowed immense personal and professional growth. I can have open conversations about my significant other, just as my coworkers do. It may seem like a small thing, but this mutual respect and understanding allows you to throw your whole self into being part of a team, rather than having to keep your guard up about how a coworker might react.

I’m hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Court will soon rule in favor of LGBTQ workers who have experienced employment discrimination. I know such a ruling would help put to rest the belief that the LGBTQ community is somehow “less than” and ensure that LGBTQ people are treated fairly in many areas of society.

But regardless of how the justices rule, it’s crucial that we keep talking about LGBTQ dignity and respect. We must continue to have open, hard, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations. Respect and appreciation is a two-way street, and we have to learn to understand one another.

Only then can we find common ground and continue to push toward statewide and federal nondiscrimination protections for all LGBTQ Americans.