LAPD Chief William Bratton honored by gay website

Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton received some flak last year when he declared that celebrity Lindsay Lohan had toned down her previously rowdy behavior because she had "gone gay."

But the remark apparently hasn't cut into his popularity in the gay community. And one gay website named the tough-talking chief its "2008 Homo Hero of the Year," beating out such notables as comedian Wanda Sykes as well as Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, the first couple to get a marriage license when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered they be issued to gays and lesbians. According to Queerty: 

It’s easy to forget, in the face of so much vocal opposition to fairness and equality for gays and lesbians, that the ranks of allies supporting us are growing every day. Chief Bratton publicly announced his financial support of the No on 8 campaign as well as his support for gay marriage in July at the urging of a gay couple he’s friends with, saying at the time: "The Constitution guarantees life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I see no reason why gays can't pursue happiness through marriage."

But it is the way he and the Los Angeles Police Department treated the protesters that makes him Queerty’s Homo Hero of the Year. There are many worthy LGBT folks who deserve mention (and are mentioned below), but Bratton’s proved that even the most homophobic institutions are capable of change when led by people with courage. The reality is that Prop. 8 protesters were breaking the law, but the LAPD, under Bratton, recognized the importance of the crowds, the essential peacefulness of the protests and chose to honor America’s tradition of civil disobedience. At a moment when gays and lesbians felt more like second-class citizens than ever, at a moment when the gay community's rights were stripped away, the LAPD treated us with dignity and respect. It won’t be forgotten.

The website notes its choice to honor a straight man could be greeted in some quarters of the gay community as "tantamount to heresy" but that "unlike the politicians and celebrities who pay lip service to the gay community but do nothing, Bratton used his power and influence to make a tangible difference."

--Andrew Blankstein

Photo: LAPD Police Chief William J. Bratton in 2007. Credit: Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Mary]

It starts with a few.... Good pat on the back for Bratton, good going for the gay community.

[juan]

Thats another reason to have him fired. He encouraged violence against his latino residents but allows rich gay people to break the law. He's a racist police chief and everyone knows it. I hope West Hollywood is happy with him. The rest of the city hates him!!!!

[Sees]

I am totally against homosexuality. But, if the marriage laws are sucessfully struck down by the courts, then i'd say, all marriage restrictions should be struck down. Everyone, including family members, should be allowed to marry each other. You should'nt have it both ways. Either have restrctions to marriage or eliminate it entirely so we as a society can sink pass the lowest common denominator. Only then, will we see that our lives and our society won't be worth the fecal matter we flush down the toilet. What will it take for us to go back to having plain old common sense.

[Zach]

Well deserved. The Prop 8 protests were peaceful not only because of the restraint of most protestors, but also the restraint of the LAPD. Some people in this city may be wrapped up in hatred, but it's good to see our officials aren't among them and can not just get a job done, but do it well!

[jon]

You seem to have a lot of anger directed toward gay people, Sees. You need to look within and ask yourself whether you are gay. And if you are, the gay community will welcome you.

[LC]

To Jon:

You sound like every other gay person. If you do not agree with the homosexual life style, it must be because you are gay. THE WHOLD WORLD IS NOT GAY!

[juan]

It's interesting that a gay website would support a police chief who would lock up people dying from cancer and aids if they use medical marijuana. I look forward to the video of people being removed from their hospices and treatment facilities handcuffed to their medical beds because of medical marijuana. Nice going Chief, you're a true hero!!!!

[Carol]

Juan at 10:49--When did Bratton encourage violence against Latinos? Violence by whom? I need clarification, please.

[FP]

This was a fairly written article and yes, Bratton is well deserving of the award. This is from a Yes on 8 voter too!

[David]

To LC: I'm amazed that you know "every other gay person." Before you go talking down to someone for generalizing, check your own assumptions. Given all the high-profile homophobes who have been caught acting just like the people they condemn, there's no denying the possibility Jon suggests.

[Toby Madigan]

Unfortunately, the LAPD did not treat all protesters with dignity and respect. At Hollywood and Highland, on Nov. 5, the LAPD Officers used excessive force to stop protesters from entering the intersection. One of my friends was beaten numerous times while already on the ground and not resisting. He was taken bloody to the LA County Jail, where they kept him for two days, then released him without charge. He was not the only one that this happened to. These were not violent protesters, just protesters that crossed the arbitrary line that the police had set up to stop our protest the night after the Prop 8 defeat.

I do not know if Chief Bratton had anything to do with this. It is possible that he became aware of the misconduct of the LAPD on that night and made sure that the policy was changed for the protests that followed, but whatever the case, it is an injustice to the gay community and all protesters for that matter, to overlook this incident in mainstream news reporting.

This event was televised live on the news and video clips are still available on youtube. You can see the officers beating the protester unnecessarily. You can also read about it in Frontiers, which is a gay LA-based magazine.

[O-town]

Slandering people is uncalled for. I highly doubt your vocalization of your disdain for gay marriages was ever heard when reports came in about your straight brethren marrying more than one woman and then proceeding to have sex with their own daughters. Sadly, you would like to overlook that sad fact. You would also like to overlook the sad fact that the Catholic church has did little to excommunicate those priests who were clearly guilty of molesting young altar servers. And yet you stood by those same clergymen when you condemned gay marriages. How hypocritical. I'm sorry for your narrow-mindedness. When will it hit you that your views are antiquated? Obsolete? Outdated?

[Willy]

Free Men have rights, Slaves have privileges.

[Moo]

What Sees doesn't understand, and what is blindingly obvious to a growing number, is that homosexuality isn't a perversion. No one chooses to be Gay and equating Gay marriage with incest and social breakdown is simply ludicrous.

[Mark]

Being "against homosexuality" is like being against people with blue eyes. It exists, dude! It's part of the human condition. There's also lots of people who are not 100% hetero or homo - they occasionally have interests outside of their primary sexual orientation. Grow up.

[juan]

Carol, you're ridiculous. The protest that occurred downtown L.A.? Where women and children were beaten and shot with beanbag guns! The whole world saw it!! Rich gay men can attack Christians in the street and the L.A.P.D. stands by and watches. Latinos protesting peacefully get the crap knocked out of them. This demonstration was planned ,Chief Bratton knew about it, and helped plan the police response. That makes him responsible, period!!! When will Chief Bratton see Latinos as human beings?

[juan]

What would this country do if a test is developed thats shows people are born gay? What if that same test shows that people are born as pedophiles and incestious? Should the latter receive equal recognition? This is something gays don't want to ackowledge or even discuss.

[Mott]

About as ludicrous as equating homosexuality as being normal, Moo.

[Trooper]

Many other LAPD brass played a huge role in keeping these protests peaceful. Chief Diaz, Captain's Green, Hayes, Eaton, Girmala, Wakefield, Nieto and Brascia also deserve an honorable mention.

Well done LAPD! How far we've come.

[Zach]

Juan, no Christians are being attacked in the streets by "rich gays." Your wild exaggeration of the Prop 8 protests doesn't do much to lend credibility to your accusations against Bratton. I don't recall any of the Latino protests erupting in police violence either, but I doubt the man's perfect, however he's done right by the group honoring him for their treatment of THEIR people.

When pedophiles can do their thing without violating a non-consenting person, then society will talk about their right to do so. Until then, it's a really stupid thing to compare to a loving relationship between two consenting adults.

[Steve Wimer]

Gays are not a big problem to society. The police chief's restraint shows good judgement. It's better for him to focus on crime than debates on social squabbles.

[juan]

Wild exaggeration ? Why did the Chief apologize for the violence? You just blew what little credibility you had.There are over 50 lawsuits filed for excessive force. But I guess you call that a loving relationship? A latin reporter was beaten to the ground on live T.V. I guess more expressions of love.Anthrax was mailed to Mormon temples, no arrests. a mexican food restaurant in Hollywood was attacked by gay rights protesters. Many latin employees were called vile racist names and threatened with murder. I suppose you call that love too? Go crawl back under a rock. You're an embarrassment to humans.,

[Karen Yung]

Inalienable, god given human rights are not just for white anglo-saxon protestant heterosexual men. Amen, amne, amen. Thank you for protecting all equally. Any church can have private membership and apply conditions to their members.

[Zach]

I don't think I have to worry about my credibility when stacked against a guy who tries to pass off hearsay as fact, Juan. Which homosexuals were charged in that handful of crimes? Oh, that's right, none. Is that part of the conspiracy? Is the same conspiracy the reason media sources don't back up your claims of gay attacks and death threats?

And what DO these things have to do with gays' loving relationships? Absolutely nothing, which is why half of your most recent rebuttal makes no sense as you try to mock my point. But that's bigotry, as ugly as when a Klansman points to Latino dealers and gangbangers and declares the entire ethnic group a menace. That mentality, YOUR mentality, is an "embarrassment to humans," but one I'm sure we'll eventually overcome.

[greg]

i am Latino and juan does not know what he is talking about. He needs to stop stretching the truth and being an embarrassment to our community.

[Sees]

Hey David and Jon, I am totally against murder. I am totally against homosexuality. I am totally against child molestation. I am totally against stealing. I am totally against a rapist. I am totally against racism. I am totally against commiting crimes, ect ect. Now, which one of these acts you "smart" guys feel I need to "look within"? Save your psuedo psycology for someone who gives a ----.

[juan]

That restaurant in Hollywood was surrounded for a week. People were threatened and spat upon. Why wasn't anyone arrested? If latinos surrounded a gay owned and patronized restuarant and acted that way, they would be called bigots and arrested. Point blank!!! I can see i've hit a nerve, because no one wants to talk about these issues publicly. The GAY NAZIS are out in full effect and everyone saw it. Keep rounding up latinos Chief. We will be the majority soon and you will be unemployed!!! 23 million and counting for latino bashing!!!

[Zach]

Well Juan, unlike the MacArthur Park protests where some protestors were throwing sticks and bottles of gravel at police (who none deny responded poorly), no one was arrested because no one was assaulted at the El Coyote. I can't find a single reference to any of the behavior you mentioned in published news. Just like when Larry Elder spent an entire radio segment trying to drum up a single black caller who'd been called a racial slur by Prop 8 protestors, there seems to be no credible witnesses to the slander you're spreading. "Gay Nazis," what a joke.

[juan]

Well Zach, I have to tell you that the idiots who threw missles at the cops had it coming. Unforunately the people on the receiving end were innocent families. Care to debate that more, please refer to the Chief's apology. I will reiterate, 23 million and counting for the settlement. As far as El Coyote is concerned i'm glad you mentioned it by name I didn't. That tells me you know the truth about the Nazi like behavior exhibited by the protestors. I'm curious if you searched spanish language media sources? If you had you would've read accounts of patrons and employees reporting being spat upon. Employees interviewed said they were considering quitting out of fear for their safety. Is this your idea of peaceful protesting? I believe these horrible human beings targeted these people because they thought they were illegal immigrants and didn't expect them to fight back. Check this out ,whether they are or aren't is irrelevant. Very soon 20 million mostly latino people will receive their citizenship. How do you think they will vote in the future? Gay marriage? I think not!!! Inhumanity isn't rewarded!!!

[Zach]

"Inhumanity isn't rewarded!!!" Yeah, like humanity hinges upon who you love. Have you even thought about how stupid that sounds?

Juan, anyone can name the El Coyote because it was in the news for almost two weeks, not because some attrocity happened there. And if you're going to liken a protest where someone was allegedly spat upon to one where rocks were thrown at police or to a German movement that systematically exterminated entire groups of people (including gays - I bet you just learned something), you obviously are too warped by hatred to properly consider these things. Fortunately, our Founding Fathers had the wisdom to protect our government from people like you, who think that our laws should be subject to your whim and numbers.

As for Bratton, he's no more directly responsible for what happened to Latinos at MacArthur Park than he was for what happened to some anti-8s at Hollywood and Highland (for which one commenter criticized him above). Protests are delicate things, and when someone crosses the line bad things happen. Placing all blame on overworked police when your own people provoked them is ridiculous. You blamed the thugs throwing rocks, but if you're still saying Bratton is "rounding up latinos," you're still making no sense.

[juan]

People who are afraid to go out in public out of fear is what it is. The gay gestapo have been attacking people since the vote. Yes, people who are afraid to go to their place of employment because they maybe killed is what happened in 1938 Germany. The employees at that restaurant where given death threats. I never compared LAPD to Germany, you did. I compared the gay protestors to them. Do you know what silly is? Threatening people of color with death for state politics they had nothing to do with. Then when you get caught at it you declare yourself an oppressed minority and ask FOR COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING !!!!! The U.S. consitution protects people of color from oppression not the rich ruling class that has an alternate lifestyle. As far as rounding up Latinos, it is what it is. Having a peace officer declare hispanic males gang members and then proceed into a neighborhood and randomly arrest people because they are of a particular race or ethnicity is what it is,it's the same ol' same ol. Lastly the Chief is responsible for ALL OF IT. He's the Chief. Why do we have a Chief then? Are you suggesting no one is in control of the LAPD at the present? If someone looks silly here it's you. Comparing the H8 protest response to the Mayday protest response (which really was just an old school beatdown) really is ridiculous!!!

[Zach]

Juan, I doubt you can find five instances in the news of gays known to be attacking anyone, much less a pattern of attacks leaving people afraid to leave their houses, so with such wild exaggerations you've no business talking about what's silly. You're a guy comparing the police response to a Latino protest, where the protestors were known to have ininitiated the violence, to one where one ALLEGEDLY made a phone call, IF you happen to read the right newspapers, apparently. And that's your evidence of "the gay gestapo" among us? Right, sure, that's not silly at all.

Somehow, I think the LAPD is understandably more restrained in dealing with rarely-rumored reports of gay threats, raised voices, and angry confrontation as opposed to the daily violence of Latino gangs. It's pretty obvious which of those REALLY has people afraid to leave their homes. Maybe if some people worried less about THOSE people and more about THEIR people, that wouldn't be the case.

[juan]

Well Zach, i'm glad you finally came to your senses. Whats concerning to me is that you don't know the difference between latino families and gangs. Isn't that a textbook definition of racism when those thoughts are turned into action by those in power? By the way thanks for pointing out who is oppressed and who isn't. Gay protests (attacking minorites at their place of employment) are viewed as peaceful and civil because you support them. Wouldn't the world be perfect if we could all be like gays? You should listen to yourself, you sound like a posterchild for a right wing gay facist. 23 million and counting for latino families who had the snot beaten out of them. A latina reporter from KCAL channel 9 was knocked to the ground also by police batons. But to you we all look alike so we're all just gang members, right?

[Zach]

Thanks for bringing this to its predictable end, Juan. I knew if I dared to mention the state of your own glass house you'd quickly play the race card as you tossed another stone at the gays. Because they get angry on sidewalks and are rumored to make nasty phone calls, gays are a menace (Nazis even!), but we can't hold the rampant problem of Latino youth violence against the Latino community the same way? Police should be jailing gay protestors for reports of anonymous phone threats and...being mean, I guess...but thinking of Latino families when dealing with drivebys or unruly crowds? Once again, your hypocrisy and bigotry shines through, even as you desperately toss out the word racism.

[juan]

Such desperation from a racist. Do you read you're own posts? Check the video tapes of the protests.The gays threw saliva and death threats. I know the truth is disheartening. You thought you got away with it. Those that were threatened acted as human beings and not as terrorists. I can assure you the behavior exhibited by the gay gestapo has been talked about by the minority communities. It will not be forgotten. When the gays get voted out don't scream homophobia. It was your own racist actions that cost you. I don't expect to see gays coming to our community soon to say we're just like you, we're oppressed. You won't be accepted or respected. You certainly haven't given us any. Chow!!!

[Zach]

Oh, now there are video tapes, huh Juan? I thought I had to check nameless foreign-language newspapers for any shred of evidence. By the way, unless it's lunchtime it's "ciao" ("chao" in Spanish), not "chow." So much for a graceful exit, eh?

No desperation here, Juan, just amused patience. Time will deal with your racism and bigotry, as it did with the old Southern Klansmen. Just as the South did not rise again, the Reconquista is not coming, as everyone falls into the melting pot sooner or later. Time will teach your children all the lessons you never learned, and West Hollywood and San Francisco will be as welcoming to all then as they are today. Given the hundreds of gays and lesbian Latinos who assembled and marched from East L.A. to City Hall in November, though, they may not even need those sanctuaries.

[juan]

Zach, how do you know those latinos are gay or lesbian. They were probably gang members looking for someone to rob, right? But, since they're classified as gay or lesbian now they're humans trying to assimilate. What did you say earlier abou that daily dose of latino violence. The south is where you belong. They don't accept people that look like me. The gay community being accepting? Thats a myth and a half. Surrounding people of a different ethnic group, spitting on them and threatening them is accepting? Jesus, I hope you are never given a position of any power or responsiblity. Every person of color will be in danger. What your writing is bogus and you know it. You're community is filled with xenophobia and theophobia. When you get caught at it you want to accuse me of bigotry? The KKK is the oldest gang in the country. It was started by people who look like you not me.

[Zach]

My community, Juan? Not that I've given you any information on which to base the stereotypes you've tossed my way, but my community is North Hollywood, quite Latino and without much "xenophobia and theophobia." I guess you're wrong about that, and since I can't remember the last time I heard about racial violence in West Hollywood, I guess you're probably wrong about gay racism, too.

While you're right that I don't know that ALL those Latino anti-8s were gay (some may well have been straight supporters - imagine, people who don't hate everyone else), they were certainly human, contrary to what you've said here about gay people. In fact, you're the only one here to declare ANYONE inhuman, but I guess mad dogs will attack their own. Gay protestors, however, still have not been shown to have attacked anyone. They protested before ALL employees and patrons of that restaurant, you just choose to focus on the Latino employees (nevermind Latino protestors, gay employees, etc). There's a word for the type of person who puts race before anything else, but since you sound like one of those "only white people can be racist" types, I'll not bother to get into that.

[juan]

I think thats the crux of the problem. 1st, you don't know the history of this country. 2nd, you're in denial about who is oppressing who. Go ahead start that silly chant that starts with, "hate hate", well you fill in the blank. You mentioned West Hollywood, East L.A. and now North Hollywood. I am talking about groups and behaviors. The hatred expressed by the gay gestapo was against innocent people that were just trying to earn a living. Can you imagine what would happen if a pro-immigration group surrounded gay patrons at a restuarant, began to spit on them and then threatened them with their lives?We'd never hear the end of it. You think because local mainstream media outlets didn't cover it, people wouldn't talk about it? It will never be forgotten. It was documented in our community. We will be the majority soon, you will respect us!! I guarantee it. In 10 years latinos will be over 50% of West Hollywood. What then? It's coming like it or not!!

[Zach]

Looks like you've played out your hand, huh Juan? You want respect after all that nothing? No, to get respect you'll have to produce something other than fictional gay attacks, imaginary Latino armies, and a lot of excess punctuation(!!!!)! But since you're repeating the same tired, empty claims and I hate reruns, I don't expect respect or further conversation is in your future at this rate. Needless to say, I'm not worried about the whole of the Latino community being as warped as you.

[juan]

Not armies. Just a segment of our society that is growing everyday and tired of abuse. Do you want to debate the fact that we are the largest growing community in the city,state and the country? It wouldn't suprise me with the level of ignorance and denial you've displayed on this board.What the gay gestapo did won't be forgotten. You already acknowledged that you knew about the incident, so let's not go there. You've slowly admitted you knew everything I wrote about. Let's call it the truth. Thats what it is.

[Zach]

I disagree Latinos are a community as you characterize it. Maybe you and a handful of friends have had a chance to kick around the lies and propaganda you've been spreading. Maybe you'll seek out some gay person this weekend to take a pound of flesh for those lies and your failure here. But I think that'll be the extent of your revolution; most Latinos are smarter than that and have bigger things to worry about. And if you think anyone's intimidated, you're dead wrong. This is not a country of majority rule, and homosexuals have survived everything that those which are have thrown at them. Time will take you and assimilate your people into a population increasingly accepting of the fact that a part of it will always be gay. THAT'S the truth, deal with it.

[juan]

It's your people who are violent not mine. It's your people who are engaging in hate. Latinos have done nothing to gay people. But the gay gestapo want to surround and threaten us at our places of employment. Again, you can't be a victim when your the ones attacking innocent people. I read a story last week from the San Diego Tribune regarding gay violence. A man was convicted of attacking an elderly couple for having a "yes" on 8 sign on their property. But again in your twisted mind, your the victim? There are people in the gay community who are in serious need of sensitivity training. In San francisco the gay community is at odds with the black and latino community. Neighborhoods of color are being demolished for so called community improvements. The new neighborhoods are replaced with rainbow flags and condos. It has been brought to the mayors attention. He denies it of course. Gay people are part of the richest 1 percent. You can't be white and wealthy and be a victim. I'm sorry my friend. It doesn't work that way. The truth is the truth.

[Zach]

What a load of one-sided nonsense - have you thought out any of that? Let me help you:

"It's your people who are violent not mine. It's your people who are engaging in hate." -Oh, I don't worry about "your people," just guys like you. Now, you've not provided a single credible example of violent gays, so pull the other one. Shall I reference again the problem "your people" have with gang violence? Attacking police? Oh no, you can't be held accountable for those criminals, but if one gay person acts up (allegedly), it's RAMPANT GAY VIOLENCE!!!! Hypocrite.

"Latinos have done nothing to gay people. But the gay gestapo want to surround and threaten us at our places of employment." -So it's PLACES of emplyoment, now? I doubt you can even NAME a second when you can't even prove violence at the first. Did you even know they were there to protest the donation by the owner, a WHITE WOMAN? No, you're too jacked up on hate for reality.

"I read a story last week from the San Diego Tribune regarding gay violence." -Yeah, let's compare that petty neighborhood dispute with the lesbian who was gang-raped in San Francisco. Or the gay guy beaten with a "Yes on 8" yard sign in Torrance. How about the teen girl beaten by two grown men in San Mateo during a protest? By the way, what follows are called "sources," Juan. You provide them to prove your statements - try it: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,471308,00.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/10/29/state/n064853D35.DTL
http://www.mercurynews.com/samesexmarriage/ci_10905770

"Neighborhoods of color are being demolished for so called community improvements." -That sounds like simple gentrification to me, whatever the sexual orientation of the buyers. Are gays not supposed to buy into the developments because some people didn't want either there? Is that the special favor you're expecting out of "sensitivity?" Yeah, Hitler rallied the German people against the Jews for just such a reason.

"Gay people are part of the richest 1 percent. You can't be white and wealthy and be a victim. I'm sorry my friend. It doesn't work that way. The truth is the truth." -Your truth is an absurdly bigotted stereotype. Every ethnic group has rich people, just like it also has gay people, who are also found in every economic class. They live in your neighborhood and share your heritage. But hey, they can't be victims because such "Inhumanity isn't rewarded!!!"

One more quote - "Go crawl back under a rock. You're an embarrassment to humans. "

[juan]

I see you didn't mention the antrax mailed to church members. You also don't want to mention a church in Alaska that was lit on fire while people where in it. What kind of an animal tries to incinerate people alive (300+), while they're worshipping in a church? Attacking elderly people at their houses? Cowards!!! An 80 year old woman at a Palm Springs rally beaten to the ground while a bunch of gay white men surround her and cheer the beating like a pack of wolves! You mentioned the restaurant in Hollywood. Why wasn't that or these other events covered by the mainstream media? Then ask yourself where's the media sources? People know. Trying to burn people alive while they're praying? My god, it's a repeat of the 1960's church bombing's in Alabama. Only this time is brought by gay white men, not straight white men.

[Zach]

Are you just desperately trying to throw things at the wall to see what sticks, Juan, or are you just that misinformed? All these things received extensive media coverage. There was one instance of a powder mailed to a Mormon temple, and no one's turned up information on the sender, much less their sexual orientation. Strike 1. That church in Alaska was in the news because it was Gov. Palin's church, not because it had any link to gays or Prop 8, nor has anyone (gay, straight, white, black, brown, or yellow) been arrested for it. Strike 2. And the woman at the Palm Springs rally had a cardboard cross knocked out of her hands by one man, she wasn't "beaten to the ground" by a mob. For God's sake, if you're going to lie, don't lie about something that anyone can see on YouTube! Strike 3 - you're out again!

[juan]

Whats up L.A. times? You're now engaging in censhorship? You guys don't even have the decency to email me with a reason as to why you're denying me the right to blog. It's obvious you only support one avenue of thought. I hope you guys aren't wondering why you're paper is on the brink of bankruptcy. Communism has never been nor will it ever be popular in the U.S.