Labor Secretary Hilda Solis issued a warning letter to departmental employees late last week, after posters celebrating Gay Pride Month hanging in 35 department elevators since June 22 have been either defaced or removed altogether.

In an e-mail message sent to the entire department, Ms. Solis, who helped found the House of Representative’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Caucus when she was in Congress, said she was outraged by the behavior.

“It appears, however, that some members of the Labor Department team have a different view, as it has come to my attention that most of the posters have been continually defaced or removed,” Ms. Solis wrote. “On several occasions, even the poster frames have been torn completely off the elevator walls.”

“I do not believe these actions represent the majority of our employees, so I refuse to let this situation define us.

The posters will stay up throughout the month and will be replaced immediately if they are damaged or removed, according to the letter.

The administration has been trying to assuage gay rights advocates, who have been unhappy with the slow pace take by Obama officials of initiatives on their agenda. President Obama and the first lady are holding are reception this Monday night with more than 200 advocates.

In recent weeks, the gay community has criticized the administration for not being assertive enough on their issues. Mr. Obama has yet to act on a campaign promises to overturn Don’t Ask Don’t tell, the military policy barring gays and lesbians from open service and to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. On Capitol Hill gay rights face plenty of obstacles, despite the democratic majority.

FORT WORTH — Protesters upset with the way police conducted a raid on a gay nightclub rallied in downtown Fort Worth.

Seven people were arrested for public intoxication during the raid on the Rainbow Lounge early Sunday. Protesters said one person was seriously injured and excessive force was used.

Police disputed the accusation of excessive force and said the department would thoroughly investigate any allegations. The raid was one of three bar checks conducted by police and agents from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Police said two intoxicated individuals made sexually explicit moves toward officers and a third grabbed a TABC agent’s groin. Several patrons told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the officers weren’t assaulted.

About 100 protesters gathered Sunday night.

A crowd of more than 100 protesters chanted "No more!" from the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse Sunday evening as they demanded an investigation into a police raid earlier in the day at a gay night club.

One patron was seriously injured in the raid, several protesters said, as police used excessive force in making seven arrests. Police defended their actions.

Speaker after speaker demanded an inquiry into the late-night raid at the Rainbow Lounge on South Jennings Street.

"I was scared," patron Todd Camp said at the protest Sunday afternoon. "I have never seen anything like this in my life."...

Witnesses say that police arrived at the nightclub about 1 a.m. Sunday and arrested seven people and that one of those arrested suffered a fractured skull during the takedown and is at a Fort Worth hospital.

"I have friends who are cops and I know what to do when officers are working," Camp said. "No one was acting aggressive to officers."

Camp said that he has been attending bars for years in Fort Worth when TABC conducts raids.

"Usually, they're very orderly and respectful – they work with the bar staff and check IDs, it's quick and painful and then it's over and then they're out," Camp said. "This was not that. This was harassment, plain and simple."

General manager Randy Norman said the bar had just been open a week and they had complied with all ordinances.

"Officers just don't come in armed with zip ties and a paddy wagon for a routine check of a bar," Norman said.