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Local authorities encounter disagreement following the scrapped installation of an LGBTQ historical marker, after a scheduled briefing was unexpectedly terminated.

Historical marker application presentation bypassed during county commission meeting, as previously planned session led by Judge O'Hare deemed inactive in May.

Controversy arises among Tarrant authorities regarding the cancellation of an LGBTQ historical...
Controversy arises among Tarrant authorities regarding the cancellation of an LGBTQ historical marker, initially discussed but later shelved, following an abruptly ended briefing.

Local authorities encounter disagreement following the scrapped installation of an LGBTQ historical marker, after a scheduled briefing was unexpectedly terminated.

In a surprising turn of events, a historical marker application for the Rainbow Lounge, an iconic LGBTQ bar in Fort Worth, Texas, was approved by the Texas Historical Commission but later abandoned after Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare demanded its rescission in May 2025. The marker aimed to commemorate Fort Worth's LGBTQ history, specifically at the site of the Rainbow Lounge, which was raided by police and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents in 2009, an event that sparked significant local and national outrage and protests.

Judge O’Hare's main reason for halting the marker was a claim that the application process bypassed the proper approval protocols of the Tarrant County Historical Commission. He accused it of being approved “unilaterally” by a single commission member rather than through a collective and transparent process. He argued that allowing the marker to proceed would cause unnecessary controversy and undermine the credibility of the local and state historical commissions.

However, this claim has been disputed by Coletta Strickland, the former chair of the Tarrant County Historical Commission, who stated that nothing unusual or improper occurred during the application process. Critics, including former city officials and LGBTQ community leaders, have condemned O’Hare’s intervention as an overreach that disrupts the standard historical commemoration process and threatens to erase diverse histories.

Moreover, Fort Worth City Manager Jay Chapa reportedly requested the application be pulled, citing the lack of public process and external requests, and stating that it did not follow county procedures for historical markers. Judge O’Hare also expressed personal opposition to glorifying drag show performances, which he implied was part of the marker's focus, further fueling controversy.

The abandonment of the marker has sparked public outcry and calls for reinstatement, as many view it as an erasure of vital local queer history. The only state marker dedicated to LGBTQ history in Texas is located in Dallas.

Local historian Todd Camp stated that the historical marker would not have memorialized the Rainbow Lounge raid or glorified drag shows. Instead, he emphasised that markers do more than commemorate - they educate. Markers provide context and historical understanding, helping to preserve and share important stories from the past.

In a recent development, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court approved five new appointees to the county's historical commission, but the names were not disclosed. The future of the Rainbow Lounge historical marker remains uncertain, with many hoping for a fair and transparent process moving forward.

[1] Fort Worth Report, "Judge O'Hare demands rescission of Rainbow Lounge historical marker application," May 2025, [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/05/25/judge-o-hare-demands-rescission-of-rainbow-lounge-historical-marker-application/]

[2] Dallas Voice, "Fort Worth's Rainbow Lounge historical marker application withdrawn," May 2025, [https://www.dallasvoice.com/fort-worths-rainbow-lounge-historical-marker-application-withdrawn/]

[3] Texas Observer, "Fort Worth's Rainbow Lounge historical marker application sparks controversy," May 2025, [https://www.texasobserver.org/fort-worths-rainbow-lounge-historical-marker-application-sparks-controversy/]

[4] Star-Telegram, "Fort Worth City Manager opposes Rainbow Lounge historical marker," May 2025, [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article252182538.html]

  1. The controversy surrounding the Rainbow Lounge historical marker in Fort Worth, Texas, has led to public outcry and calls for its reinstatement, as many view its abandonment as an erasure of vital local queer history.
  2. The abandonment of the marker occurred after Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare demanded its rescission in May 2025, claiming the application process bypassed proper approval protocols and would cause unnecessary controversy.
  3. This claim has been disputed by Coletta Strickland, the former chair of the Tarrant County Historical Commission, who stated that nothing improper occurred during the application process.
  4. Critics, including former city officials and LGBTQ community leaders, have condemned O’Hare’s intervention as an overreach that disrupts the standard historical commemoration process and threatens to erase diverse histories.
  5. Judge O’Hare's personal opposition to glorifying drag show performances, implied to be part of the marker's focus, further fueled controversy.
  6. The future of the Rainbow Lounge historical marker remains uncertain, with many hoping for a fair and transparent process moving forward, as the Tarrant County Commissioners Court recently approved five new appointees to the county's historical commission, but the names were not disclosed.
  7. Local historian Todd Camp stressed that the historical marker would not have memorialized the Rainbow Lounge raid or glorified drag shows; instead, he emphasized that markers do more than commemorate – they educate, providing context and historical understanding, helping to preserve and share important stories from the past.

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