LGBTQ Activist Group ‘The Pink Panther Patrol’ RETURNS!
A quick history of The Pink Panther Patrol, care of Cartoon Research:
In New York in 1990, a group named The Pink Panther Patrol (inspired by the Black Panthers to protect Black citizens and the Gray Panthers to protect the elderly) was formed to protect homosexuals from attacks and other anti-gay interactions. Their symbol was a pink triangle with a black paw imprint inside the center.
MGM/UA responded by saying that The Pink Panther was a licensed character “in the spirit of lighthearted non-controversial family fun and entertainment, a purpose and history not in keeping with the issues the Pink Panther Patrol faces” (New York Times May 27,1991) and wanted the group to stop using the name. The studio sued and won in October 1991.
And now, the reemergence of The Pink Panther Patrol – now called The Pink Panthers Movement – care of current group president Todd A. Haley:
“The Pink Panthers Movement (The PPM) is a radical based activist group located in Colorado (headquarters ), Texas, Louisiana and California, as well as an international trans* support chapter. The movement was inspired by the New York City patrol group from the 1980s-1990s that sent active patrol units into questionable neighborhoods where LGBTs both lived and worked.
“The PPM became somewhat of an homage to those warriors that took to the streets to protect our community. We still have patrol units to this day and it has become the grassroots enterprise to our endeavors. While we do protest and perform direct action activism, we tend to stay out of the mainstream spotlight. Our job isn’t necessarily to raise our voices as it is to promote the meaning of our words. To sum us up, we are old school activism fighting a modern day plight.
“With the increase of LGBT violence worldwide, due to political and religious oppression from the far right and religious extremism, we felt the need to resurrect the ideology of direct confrontation and, in some cases, retaliation for the constant abuse we have seen.”
“Our mission is to reach out to our queer community that has been beaten down by the hetero-supremacist status quo and help their voices be heard. We are eager to amplify their cries for help, make their voices heard and to become the roadblock for frivolous bills and legislation. We have one job here at The PPM, and that is to have ultimate protection for queer rights and culture.
“With that said, it’s also been our goal to reach out to queer youth and educate them on our history and culture. Our youth has been our priority since day one, and with homeless rates rising for our queer youth it leaves them vulnerable to violence, rape and drug use. We are currently reaching out to youth programs and shelters to ensure that LGBT youth have the education, housing and support they need to engage with society in a positive manner.”
For more info on this amazing activist organization, CLICK HERE TO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE or CLICK HERE FOR THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE.
(P.S. Yes, that IS a picture of Patrick Stewart dressed as a member of the Pink Panther Patrol! The image is a screenshot of the great, 1990s Gay indie film, Jeffrey. Click here for Amazon’s info page on the film.)
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