>> THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY A GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE DEBBIE WERNET CHARITABLE FUND.

♪ ♪ >> BEFORE THERE WAS MATTHEW SHEPARD AND JAMES BYRD JR THERE WAS PAUL BROUSSARD.

THIS ONE STOOD OUT FOR THE BRUTALITY INSTANCE OF IT.

IT WAS HORRIFYING, ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING.

>> BEING GAY WAS ILLEGAL EFFECTIVELY.

THE POLICE HATED US.

EVERYBODY WAS IN FEAR OF AIDS.

FINALLY SOMEBODY HAD TO DIE.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY ONE OF US.

IT WAS LIKE A POWDER KEG READY TO EXPLODE.

>> IT MADE ME ANGRY.

IT FELT LIKE GAY PEOPLE WERE BEING KILLED AND NO ONE CARED.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT COMBINATION OF ELEMENTS SPARKED IT.

BUT THE COMMUNITY ROSE UP IN PROTEST.

>> THIS WAS A VERY UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT.

BUT IT WASN'T THE ONLY ONE.

I THINK IT WOKE UP THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, NOT ONLY THE GLBT COMMUNITY BUT THE COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON.

>> IT'S NOT JUST A QUEER THAT GOT KILLED.

IT'S A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO GOT HURT.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER WHAT A HOMOPHOBIC TIME THE LATE 80S AND EARLY 90S WERE YOU HAD PEOPLE LIKE JERRY FALWELL AND PAT ROBERTSON SAYING THAT IT'S GOD'S PUNISHMENT ON PEOPLE BEING HOMOSEXUAL THAT GOD HATES GAYS AND IN 1985 YOU HAD LOUIE WELCH ASKING HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THE CRISIS OF AIDS AND THE HIS RESPONSE WAS WE'D SHOOT ALL THE QUEERS HE WAS NOT A LUNATIC FRINGE PERSON.

HE HAD BEEN MAYOR OF HOUSTON FOR NINE YEARS.

YOU HAD THIS INSTITUTIONAL HOMOPHOBIA IT WAS PERFECTLY OKAY TO DENIGRATE GAY PEOPLE PUBLICLY.

>> HOUSTON HAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE STRONGEST POLITICAL GROUPS, THE GLBT POLITICAL CAUCUS.

BARS USED TO BE RAIDED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THERE USED TO BE A THING CALLED THE FAG FILE THAT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD CARRY WHEN BARS WERE RAIDED THEY HAD THESE PICTURES AND THEY HAD A FILE CALLED THE FAG FILE.

STRANGELY ENOUGH THEY USED TO DO IT RIGHT AROUND ELECTION TIME WHICH GOT OUR PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE.

>> THE MONTROSE AREA IT WAS FAMOUS.

I HEARD OF THE MONTROSE EVERY SINCE I LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO 10 YEARS BEFORE.

AND EVEN THEN PEOPLE ALWAYS SAID, YEAH, YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL THERE IT'S A GAY AREA.

PEOPLE LIKE TO CAUSE TROUBLE.

THERE WAS AN ODD PHENOMENON GOING ON AT THE TIME WHERE WE HAD TEENAGERS FROM THE SUBURBS COMING IN TO MONTROSE AND CRUISING DOWN LOWER WESTI'MER, IT'S THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENS IN SMALL TOWNS ALL ACROSS TEXAS WHERE TEENAGERS GO DOWN TO THE TOWN SQUARE AND SOLE CRUISE AROUND AND EYE EACH OTHER AND PARK AND DO WHATEVER THEY DO.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO HAS TO BE STUPID.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO HAS A LITTLE TOO MUCH OF SOME INTOXICATING SUBSTANCE, AND WANTS TO PICK A FIGHT OR PEEL OFF THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THERE HAD BEEN MANY MUGGINGS AND ATTACKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT THAT POINT.

AND SO IT WAS KIND OF NORMAL TO HEAR THAT SOMEBODY HAD BEEN MUGGED OR ATTACKED.

>> AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THEM AT THAT TIME WEREN'T REPORTED BECAUSE THE FEELING WAS THE POLICE WOULDN'T HELP.

THE GAY COMMUNITY HAD AN UNEVEN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSTON.

>> MONTROSE IS NOT AND WAS NOT THEN HOME TO ALL OF THE GAY BARS IN HOUSTON.

BUT IT WAS THE BIGGEST CONCENTRATION OF THEM.

AND THAT WAS WELL KNOWN.

AND SO ANYBODY WHO WAS EITHER CURIOUS OR WANTED TO MESS WITH SOMEONE IN THE GAY COMMUNITY WOULD KNOW TO COME DOWN TO MONTROSE.

IT WAS AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY OF STREET PROSTITUTES AND AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY OF RUN-AWAYS, RUN-AWAY TEENAGERS SOLICITING, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF STILL ROUGH EDGES AROUND MONTROSE 25 YEARS AGO.

IT WAS AN AREA THAT HAD GONE INTO DECLINE AND HAD NOT YET COME BACK UP AGAIN.

>> BACK IN THE '90S, IN THE '80S, WHEN WE WALKED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE PRETTY MUCH WALKED IN THE STREETS AND SOME OF US USED TO CARRY WHISTLES AROUND BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT LURKING IN THE BUSHES THAT THERE COULD BE SOMEBODY ATTACKING.

IT WAS A TENSE TIME IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS A TENSE TIME FOCUSING OUTWARD TOWARD THE CITY GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS HOT.

IT WAS SUMMER.

THERE WAS A FEELING THAT THE POLICE AND CITY HALL WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION.

IT WAS ALSO A TIME OF REALLY VIRULENT FEAR OF HIV AND AIDS AND FAG JOKES, ANTI AIDS JOKES ON THE RADIO REGULARLY.

SO IN MANY WAYS '91 WAS THE CENTER OF THE STORM.

PEOPLE WERE FED UP.

AND I THINK THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION AMONG A LOT OF GAY MEN THAT YOU SUCK IT UP AND DEAL WITH IT.

BUT THEN SOMEBODY WAS MURDERED.

>> IT HAPPENED AS HOUSTON PREPARED TO CELEBRATE THE NATION'S INDEPENDENCE, 27-YEAR-OLD PAUL BRUSARD WHO WAS GAY WAS STABBED OUTSIDE A HOUSTON NIGHTCLUB.

>> CRIME SO SHOCKING IT EXPOSED THE LEVEL OF HATRED FEW HAD PUBLICLY SEEN BEFORE.

>> HERE'S A 27-YEAR-OLD BANKER WHO GRADUATED FROM TEXAS A&M.

WAS AN EAGLE SCOUT.

HAD EVERYTHING GOING FOR HIM.

WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME.

>> WHATEVER HAPPENED TO START THE CONFLICT THERE IN THAT PARKING LOT, TARGET, AND THEY'RE AFTER HIM AND THEY GO AND THEY DO.

>> IT WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE OLD TWID OFFICES ON DENNIS STREET.

I DROVE OVER THERE, AND THERE WAS A DETECTIVE ON THE SCENE, WAYMAN ALLEN.

I SAID WAYMAN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SECURITY TAPE UP.

YOU'RE NOT PROTECTING A THING.

HE SAID RAYMOND, IT'S NOT A HOMICIDE.

IT'S AN ASSAULT.

ANYWAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE ASALELENT UNKNOWN CASE THAT'S THE FIRST THING I HEARD WHEN I GOT TO THE SCENE.

THE NEXT DAY WE FOUND OUT THAT PAUL HAD DIED SO FINDING THE ASSAILANT WAS MORE IMPORTANT.

>> THE PERSON WHO IS NOW MY WIFE AND I LIVE A FEW BLOCKS DOWN THE SAME STREET ON WHICH PAUL BRUSARD WAS MURDERED.

WE DIDN'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT AND GETTING INFORMATION WAS VERY DIFFICULT AT THE TIME.

>> MAYBE IT WAS A HATE CRIME.

MAYBE IT WAS A ROBBERY.

MAYBE IT WAS JUST SOME TRANSIENT WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ALL OF WHICH COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I HAD BEEN OUT AT THE SAME CLUB THAT PAUL BRUSARD HAD BEEN OUT AT, HEAVEN.

I, TOO, HAD WALKED HOME THAT NIGHT.

I KIND OF HAD A MOMENT OF THERE FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I. THERE WAS AN INTENSE ANXIETY ABOUT HOW FAR FROM THE BAR DID YOU PARK?

DID YOU PARK ON A DARK STREET?

YOU BETTER NOT PARK ON A DARK STREET.

ARE YOU THE ONLY PERSON ON THIS STREET?

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON ON THIS STREET YOU COULD BE A TARGET.

AND THEY COULD GET YOU REALLY EASILY.

WE ALL KNEW, ALL OF US, THAT WE WERE SUBJECT TO THE KIND OF VIOLENCE THAT PAUL HAD EXPERIENCED.

IT DIDN'T STRIKE A CORD BECAUSE IT WAS PAUL BRUSARD, IT STRUCK A CORD BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME TO EVERY GAY MAN, LESBIAN.

AND CERTAINLY TRANSGENDERED PERSON WHO HEARD THIS STORY.

>> FIRST REACTION IS INCREDIBLE SADNESS THAT THIS GUY WHO IS IN HIS MID-20S WHO HAS EVERYTHING TO LIVE FOR, WHO WAS LOVED BY HIS FRIENDS IS SUDDENLY GONE.

AND THEN THERE WAS A DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING.

>> NEIGHBORHOOD PATROLS STARTED UP AFTER THAT.

ALL KINDS OF NEIGHBORHOOD PATROLS.

PEOPLE WOULD TAKE TURNS AND DRIVE AROUND THE BLOCK JUST LOOKING FOR ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS.

AND IT WAS ORGANIZED BY THE COMMUNITIES.

THE POLICE SUPPLY COMMUNICATION RADIOS AND SO FORTH, GROUPS HAD TO ADHERE TO CERTAIN PRACTICES.

>> WE ORGANIZED SAFE ZONES AROUND THE MAJOR BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS.

AND THE GUARDIAN ANGELS GOT REVITALIZED.

WE HAD MONTROSE PATROL CAME IN AND PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE ESCORTED TO THEIR CARS.

BUT THERE WAS ALSO A VERY FOCUSED ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE CITY HALL AND ENGAGE THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TO SAY IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY, YOU'D BE ALL OVER IT.

WHY AREN'T YOU DOING ENOUGH?

NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY WEREN'T, BUT THE FEELING WAS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WASN'T REACTING APPROPRIATELY AND THEY'D BEEN TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE KIND OF THINGS THAT HAD BEEN HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> SO ANY ENCOUNTER WITH THE POLICE HAD A CERTAIN -- IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH FOR US TO GET MAD AT THEM BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE PERCEIVED WE WERE BEING TREATED.

ENOUGH OF US WERE ALREADY DYING.

AND THEN SOMEBODY WAS GETTING KILLED.

EVERYBODY SUDDENLY BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT HOW EVERYONE ELSE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT HOME.

A LOT OF BARS, I REMEMBER THE VENTURE IN.

MARY'S THEY WOULD PAY YOUR CAB FARE HOME.

FOR A LOT OF US CERTAIN AMOUNT OF US BRAVADO WITH WALKING HOME ALONE LET THEM COME, JUST LET THEM.

>> IT REALLY CHANGED YOUR PERCEPTION OF WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND A LOT HAS TO BE SAID ABOUT RAY HILL.

>> WHAT CLICKED IN ME WAS THE STATEMENT ASSAILANT UNKNOWN.

THAT'S WHAT CLICKED WITH ME BECAUSE IT MEANT NOT ONLY HAD SOMEONE BEEN KILLED BUT AS FAR AS THE POLICE WERE CONCERNED, THE PEOPLE WHO DID IT COULD NOT BE FOUND AND WOULD GET AWAY WITH IT.

>> PEOPLE WERE GETTING FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T FEEL THAT THERE WAS MUCH RESEARCH BEING DONE ON HIV AND AIDS.

AND HOUSTON WAS LAGGING BEHIND ON THAT EVEN MORE THAN MOST OTHER CITIES.

THAT PEOPLE WERE JUST FRUSTRATED AND FINALLY WANTED TO SEE SOME CHANGE.

>> SO I HIT THE MEDIA AS HARD AS I COULD.

>> ACTIVIST WILL FOCUS HIS ATTENTION ON ILL INTOLERANCE.

>> EVERYBODY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HOUSTON UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE KINDS OF TRAGEDIES NO RED TO MOVE THE COMMUNITY FORWARD, BECAUSE OTHERWISE NOTHING GOOD WOULD COME OUT OF IT.

WE KEPT THE STORY ALIVE AND ON THE FRONT PAGE IN HEADLINE STORIES.

I EVEN HAD NATIONAL MEDIA DOWN HERE.

AND ALL OF THIS IS ME USING EVERY CONNECTION I HAVE IN THE MEDIA AND THE VALUE OF A REALLY GOOD STORY.

GAY BASH HOMICIDE COMMUNITY UPSET.

AND BRIAN BRADLEY AND I PITCH IT TO CORONATION AND THEY'RE ON THE STREETS IN THREE DAYS.

CORONATION WAS THE FEDERATION OF GROUPS AND CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WHO CAME TOGETHER TO CONFRONT HOMOPHOBIA TO BATTLE HOMOPHOBIA AND END HOMOPHOBIA.

QUEER NATION ORGANIZED A VERY VISIBLE RESPONSE THAT DREW 2,000 PEOPLE TO THE STREETS OF MONTROSE WHEN WE WERE HOPING WE'D GET 300 OR 400, AND IT DREW GAY PEOPLE AND STRAIGHT PEOPLE, ALL KINDS OF THE KIND OF DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT WAS HOUSTON TO SAY WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH.

WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO LET GAY PEOPLE BE KILLED ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON WITH NO CONSEQUENCE.

>> NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN THE PAST WHERE THE GLBT COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON HAS TAKEN TO THE STREETS.

WHEN ANITA BRYANT CAME TO TOWN HER ANTIGAY CRUSADE, WE TOOK OVER THE STREETS OF HOUSTON.

BUT HOUSTON, ALL THE COMMUNITIES OF HOUSTON ARE GENERALLY PEACEFUL AND PROTESTS ARE USUALLY PEACEFUL AS WELL.

>> HOUSTON WASN'T REALLY KNOWN AS A PROTEST CITY.

PART OF IT WAS THE HEAT.

PART OF IT WAS THAT WE WERE SPREAD OUT.

AND SO A LOT OF US REALLY DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER.

AND GETTING PEOPLE ACTIVE WAS VERY DIFFICULT AT THAT TIME.

>> BUT THE REACTION TO PAUL BRUSARD'S MURDER WAS UNLIKE WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED BEFORE, BECAUSE WHEN WE MARCHED AGAINST ANITA BRYANT, WE WERE ANGRY, WE WERE MAKING A STATEMENT.

BUT IT WAS ALMOST JOYFUL.

AND WE WERE STANDING UP FOR OURSELVES.

WHEN PAUL BRUSARD WAS MURDERED, WE WERE ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED AND DEMANDING ACTION.

>> WE BLOCKED TRAFFIC AT WESTHIMER AND MONT TROES MOVED THE STORY TO THE FRONT PAGE THE WEEKEND AFTER IT HAPPENED.

>> WHAT STARTED AS A PEACEFUL PROTEST ABOUT THE DEATH OF PAUL BRUSARD TOOK A SORT OF NEGATIVE TURN WHEN WE TOOK OVER THE INTERSECTION OF MONTROSE AND WESTHIMER.

>> YES, THINGS HAPPENED.

PROTESTS WERE DONE, ET CETERA, BUT WHAT IT WAS WAS RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION.

>> I REMEMBER FIRST THINKING THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HERE I DIDN'T THINK WE'D GET 300, 400 PEOPLE I REMEMBER THINKING THERE'S STRAIGHT PEOPLE HERE IT'S NOT JUST GAY AND LESBIANS.

>> AND I REMEMBER GETTING TO THE INTERSECTION, WE'RE JUST KIND OF ALL WALKING AROUND THE INTERSECTION AND BLOCKING THE TRAFFIC AND THE POLICE COME UP AND THEY'RE TELLING US TO DISPERSE AND THE HELICOPTERS AND THE PRESS ARE THERE.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SPONTANEOUSLY EVERYBODY SAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION.

WE ALL KIND OF LOOKED AROUND LIKE WHO TOLD US TO DO THAT.

NOBODY DID.

IT WAS JUST THIS BEAUTIFUL SPONTANEOUS MOMENT WHERE EVERYBODY AT THE SAME MOMENT JUST SAT DOWN.

LIKE THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE'RE STAYING.

>> AND THEN SUDDENLY THERE WERE ALL FOUR TV STATIONS THAT WERE THERE AND THEY WERE BROADCASTING LIVE AND IT FELT LIKE WE HAD GONE FROM OBSCURITY AND NO ONE CARING TO SUDDENLY IT WAS AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA AND THE PRESSURE WAS ON TO HPD TO SOLVE THIS MURDER AND IT MATTERED.

>> THERE'S THAT DIGNITY, THAT SELF-RESPECT THAT COMES FROM STANDING UP FOR ONE'S SELF AND ONE'S COMMUNITY.

>> AT THE END OF TWO WEEKS, A YOUNG WOMAN STOOD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CAMPUS WALKED UP TO CARL RYANHEART AND SAID DR.

RYANHEART I KNOW SOMEBODY THAT KILLED THAT GAY BANKER.

AND ONCE WE GOT THAT INFORMATION, THE COPS WENT TO WORK ON IT LIKE ANY OTHER CASE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE THINGS ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION WAS THAT YOU HAD A GROUP THAT WAS SAYING WE'RE NOT GETTING EQUAL TREATMENT.

WE WANT EQUAL TREATMENT.

WE WANT TO BE CONSIDERED LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH US ON ANY PERTINENT POINTS.

WE'RE CITIZENS.

>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAD A HORRIFIC MURDER.

YOU HAD THE SO-CALLED WOODLANDS 10.

YOU HAD THE HOLIDAY JOY FORTH.

YOU HAD A MAYOR'S RACE.

IT WAS THE PERFECT STORM FOR THE MEDIA TO PICK UP ON THIS.

>> KEEP IN MIND YOU HAD TEN DEFENDANTS.

MOST OF THEM WERE TEENAGERS.

YOU HAD A SITUATION IN WHICH YOU HAD FIVE DEFENDANTS WHOM WE DEEMED LESS CULPABLE THAT NEVER ACTUALLY TOUCHED PAUL.

AND THEN YOU HAD THE FIVE THAT WERE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN THE BEATING AND ULTIMATELY THE ONE INDIVIDUAL, JOHN BYCE DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO TAKE OUT HIS KNIFE AND PLUNGE IT INTO PAUL'S STOMACH THUS ENDING HIS LIFE.

>> THIS CASE COULD HAVE JUST DIED IF IT WASN'T FOR PEOPLE LIKE RAY HILL TO KEEP BRINGING IT UP AND SOME OF THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP BRINGING IT UP, IT JUST WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE THE MEDIA TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS, YOU HAVE TO BREAK IT DOWN INTO SOUND BITES.

GAY BASHING IS A TERM.

IT CONJURES IN MOST PEOPLE AN IMAGE OF TERRIBLE THINGS.

WOODLANDS 10 CONJURES UP SPOILED PEOPLE WHO DO BAD THINGS TO POOR WORKING CLASS OR DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE.

>> IT WASN'T UNIQUE TO THE KIDS FROM WOODLANDS.

IT WASN'T ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR COMMUNITY OR MINDSET.

I KNOW THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A LOT OF RHETORIC AT THE TIME ABOUT THAT.

BUT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED, I THINK, ANYWHERE.

>> ALL THESE CASES WERE PLED OUT SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY CRIMINAL TRIALS LIKE MOST OF THE OTHER HIGH PROFILE CASES.

THE TRIALS WERE QUICKLY SETTLED IN A PLEA BARGAIN FASHION.

YOU DIDN'T SEE THE DEFENDANTS.

BI SUE GOT THE LONGEST SETTING BECAUSE IF HE HADN'T PULLED OUT HIS KNIFE PAUL WOULD HAVE BEEN CRITICALLY INJURED BUT HE WOULD HAVE SURVIVED.

>> OFTEN WHEN A COMMUNITY RISES UP, THERE'S A BACKLASH FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY, FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, FROM THE POWERS THAT BE.

IN HOUSTON, AN AMAZING THING HAPPENED, WHICH WAS THAT PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER TO FIX THINGS.

>> IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DEATH OF PAUL BRUSARD HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM CALLED VICE VERSA.

WHERE THEY PUT PEOPLE UNDERCOVER OFFICERS ON THE STREET WHO POSED AS GAY AND LESBIANS TO SORT OF GAUGE WHAT TYPE OF RESPONSE ARE THE PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED.

AND WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO, ONE OF THE PEOPLE HAD BEEN ASSAULTED AND THERE WAS THIS BIG REALIZATION THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN TRACKING HATE CRIMES BEFORE BUT THERE WAS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH GAY PEOPLE IN MONTROSE BEING DELIBERATELY BEATEN AND ATTACKED.

>> SO IT BOTH REASSURED THE COMMUNITY BUT WAS ALSO A GOOD LESSON TO POLICE OFFICERS THAT YOU PROTECT AND SERVE EVERYONE.

>> I THINK THE POLICE PATROLS GOT BETTER.

THEY UNDERSTOOD.

AND TIME CHANGED THINGS, TOO.

BECAUSE OF THE AIDS CRISIS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE FORCED OUT OF THE CLOSET, WHICH MEANT THAT MORE PEOPLE KNEW GAY PEOPLE, WHICH MEANT THAT MORE PEOPLE KNEW THAT GAY PEOPLE WERE OKAY.

>> WHENEVER A COMMUNITY IS TRULY MOURNING, HAS BEEN ATTACKED, HAS SOME LEGITIMATE AREA OF CONCERN, WHETHER OR NOT I CAN SOLVE IT IMMEDIATELY, AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY, MY DUTY TO BE THERE AND TO ENGAGE.

>> THE POLITICAL IMPACT WOULD HAVE BEEN THAT WHOEVER WAS GOING TO BE MAYOR, WHOEVER WAS GOING TO ESTABLISH LEADERSHIP IN THIS CITY WOULD NEED TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION.

>> BIG ISSUES ARE CRIME.

>> SO YOU HAD THREE CANDIDATES THAT HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH AN ISSUE AND ONE OF THE CANDIDATES REALLY TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF WHEN BOB LENAR MET WITH SOME OF THE VICTIMS.

HE HAD HIM OVER FOR A BREAKFAST BUFFET AT HIS RIVER OAKS HOUSE.

AND HE VERY SUCCINCTLY SAID: IF I'M ELECTED WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU GUYS?

AND THEY SAID WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A STAFF PERSON AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO ADDRESS VICTIMS RIGHTS AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.

AND BOB LENAIR BEING A MAN OF MANY, MANY WORDS JUST WENT: SURE.

HE WAS ELECTED.

AND APPARENTLY MAYOR BOB HAD MET NANCY RODRIGUEZ, PAUL'S MOTHER, DURING THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

AND VERY SUCCINCTLY GOES: ANDY, I MET MS.

RODRIGUEZ, CAN YOU REACH OUT TO HER AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP HER.

CRIME VICTIMS ARE THE ONLY UNWILLING PARTICIPANTS IN A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SO IT'S THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS TO HAVE SOME ENTITIES IN THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK OUT FOR THE VICTIMS RIGHTS, THEIR DUE PROCESS PUTTING THEIR LIFE TOGETHER AGAIN.

YOU SAW AN ENORMOUS CHANGE HAPPENING PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM RECOGNIZING THE VICTIMS.

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT A VICTIM ACTUALLY HAD INPUT INTO THE SENTENCING OF THE DEFENDANTS.

IT'S ROUTINE NOW.

BUT THAT KIND OF SET THE PRECEDENT.

>> INDIVIDUALS IN THE LEGISLATURE WHO REPRESENTED THE MONTROSE AREA ALREADY KNEW WHO THEIR VOTER BASE WERE AND WHAT THEY EXPECTED FROM THEM.

SO WHEN THE GAYS CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAID, OKAY, WE NEED HATE CRIMES, THEY DID BEGIN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET SOMETHING PASSED.

>> IT PUT THE FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT WE NEED, A, TO ADDRESS WHAT ARE NOW KNOWN AS HATE CRIMES.

MURDER IS STILL MURDER.

BUT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE SITUATIONS, THE UNDERLYING CAUSES BEHIND THEM.

>> WHEN I AGREED TO SPONSOR THE HATE CRIME BILL IN THE HOUSE IT TOOK ME FOUR YEARS TO PASS.

I WOULD NOT PASS THE BILL UNLESS THERE WAS A DEFINITION CRAFTED FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY.

IF I TOOK THAT DEFINITION OUT, I COULD HAVE PASSED THE BILL THE FIRST TIME.

THERE WAS A GUY IN THE LEGISLATURE, MY COLLEAGUE, WARREN CHISOM.

HE WAS AS FAR FROM THE RIGHT OF ME THAN RIGHT COULD EVER GET.

SO ONE DAY I TALKED TO HIM AND I SAID: WARREN, WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION THAT YOU CAN'T VOTE FOR?

HE SAID IF YOU TAKE OUT THE LANGUAGE FOR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, I'D VOTE FOR IT TODAY.

ALL OF THE GROUPS GOT TOGETHER AND FOR TWO AND A HALF DAYS WE CAME AND WE HAMMERED OUT A PIECE OF LANGUAGE THAT BOTH SIDES COULD LIVE WITH.

SO WHEN THE TIME CAME AND WE WERE ON THE FLOOR WITH THE BILL, THE SPEAKER SAID THERE'S A AMENDMENT BY SPEAKER CHISOM I SAID I'LL ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT.

IT WAS LIKE MANNA FROM HEAVEN IN THAT ROOM.

AND IT PASSED THEN WE LOST IT IN THE SENATE.

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET IT THROUGH THE SENATE.

AND I WAS WONDERING THEN WAS THERE SOMETHING I COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENT WHO ELSE COULD I HAVE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE TO HELP ME HELP THAT PERSON UNDERSTAND.

>> REAL SERIOUS PASSAGE OF HATE CRIME BILLS IN MANY WAYS ENDED UP WAITING FOR THE ATROCITY THAT HAPPENED TO MATTHEW SHEPHERD AND JAMES BYRD.

>> JAMES BYRD WAS A DIFFERENT EXAMPLE ABOUT WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE ENHANCED PENALTIES BUT SO IS BRUSARD.

SO IT'S THE IDEA THAT ENHANCED PENALTIES HELP A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

WE DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING WE WANTED IN THE TWO BILLS WITH YOU WE DID GET AT LEAST SEXUAL PREFERENCE IN THE BILL.

>> PAUL BRUSARD'S DEATH WAS CERTAINLY A CATALYST.

IT WAS A FOCAL POINT FOR WHAT WAS GOING ON.

BUT YOU CAN'T VIEW IT IN ISOLATION.

IT WAS A SINGULAR EVENT A VERY IMPORTANT EVENT BUT IT WASN'T THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HAPPENING.

BUT BECAUSE OF WHEN AND WHERE AND HOW IT HAPPENED AND WHO IT HAPPENED TO, IT BROUGHT A LOT OF US TOGETHER IN NEW WAYS.

AND BECAME A RALLYING CRY.

>> QUEER NATION DEFINITELY TOOK ITS SHARE OF CRITICISM FOR BEING TOO OBNOXIOUS, TOO IN YOUR FACE BUT WE HELPED ADVANCE THE DIALOGUE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT QUEER NATION WAS ASKING FOR 25 YEARS LATER IN 2016 IT'S OUR BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS.

QUEER NATION WENT AND PROTESTED THE FACT THAT YOU COULD NOT GET A MARRIAGE LICENSE AS A SAME SEX COUPLE IN 1991.

IN 1991, THAT SEEMED RIDICULOUS.

WELL, IN 2015, WHEN THE SUPREME COURT RULES THAT GLBT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO MARRY THEIR SAME SEX PARTNERS IT DOESN'T LOOK RIDICULOUS, IT LOOKS PRESS PRECIENT.

>> I CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE ON THIS.

WE HAVE COME TOO FAR TO TAKE STEPS BACK.

>> THERE ARE LESS GAY BARS AROUND THE CITY PART OF THAT IS JUST THE SUCCESS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THE FACT THAT WE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE GOING TO OTHER VENUES.

>> MONTROSE ISN'T A GAY COMMUNITY ANYMORE.

FOR WHATEVER BENEFITS, EQUAL RIGHTS HAVE, WE ASSIMILATE INTO SOCIETY.

AND THOSE COMMUNITIES AREN'T QUITE AS NECESSARY ANYMORE.

>> WE'VE STILL GOT SOME BATTLES TO FIGHT IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IN THE STATES.

YOU CAN STILL BE FIRED IN TEXAS FOR BEING GAY YOU CAN MARRY YOUR SAME SEX PARTNER AT 11:00 IN THE MORNING AND 2:30 BE FIRED FROM YOUR JOB.

SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED BUT NOT EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED AND THE BATTLE AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA THAT QUEER NATION WAS WAGING IS CERTAINLY NOT WON.

>> WE NEED TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND UNDERSTAND WE'RE BEING ATTACKED BY NEGATIVE INFLUENCES THAT KEEP US APART EVERY DAY.

>> IT WAS A CATALYST THAT MOTIVATED PEOPLE TO CHANGE THINGS QUICKER THAN IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

I THINK THAT'S THE LEGACY OF PAUL BRUSARD.

HE LITERALLY, HIS DEATH IGNITED A CHANGE IN HOW ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY -- EVERY COMMUNITY AND ELECTED OFFICIALS LOOK AT SOMEONE WHO IS GAY.

>> YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT ESSENTIALLY WAS GALVANIZED THEMSELVES OVER THIS MURDER AND BASICALLY SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.

WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS.

WE EXPECT THE SYSTEM TO WORK FOR US JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE.

>> IT TAUGHT THE COMMUNITY THE POWER OF UNITY AROUND AN ISSUE.

IT WAS THOSE MARCHES IN THE STREET.

IT WAS THAT ATMOSPHERE THAT THIS CASE WILL NOT PASS.

>> I LIKE STONEWALL, YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SIGNIFICANT TURNING POINTS.

AND MAYBE YOUNGER GENERATIONS WHO WEREN'T BORN THEN, THEY MAY FORGET OR THEY MAY NOT FIND THE SAME -- IT'S MORE LIKE READING ABOUT HISTORY RATHER THAN EXPERIENCING AND LIVING THROUGH THE CHANGES OF HISTORY.

THE RIPPLES GET FARTHER OUT.

>> THINGS DON'T LAST FOREVER AND THAT'S WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER.

THAT'S WHY THEY USED TO CALL IT THE MOVEMENT AND THE STRUGGLE.

IT'S THE STRUGGLE BECAUSE IT NEVER STOPS.

>> I THINK THAT CASE WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT IT AND YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THEN THAT IT WAS PIVOTAL AND THAT AFTER THAT PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTOOD WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TOOK THE STEPS ON ALL SIDES AND SAID LET'S WORK TOGETHER, LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN AND PUSH FORWARD FOR A BETTER SITUATION OVERALL.

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