From Triangle Journal, Heidi Cranford Williams
Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC) recently launched a billboard campaign in advance of National Coming Out day to raise awareness and understanding about the issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Memphians. We are your neighbors and we proclaimed with the billboards that we are unafraid and unashamed! Last night that gesture of openness was met with violence as one of the billboards was ripped to shreds–a chilling act of hatred.
We choose not to be stopped by fear; instead, our community unites in solidarity and the knowledge that we too deserve equality.
Although we are saddened by yesterday’s hateful expression of intolerance, we are proud of the local Memphian that chose to be the face on the billboard. He eagerly served our country and was forced out of the military under the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) policy. The billboard featured him as a proud marine and displayed his brave message “I’m gay and I protected your freedom.” This bravery was met with disrespect.
We are gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender and we are proud. We will continue to champion the messages that the billboards were purchased to convey:
We want the Mid-South to know about MGLCC and the many life-saving programs we offer.
- We want to show our neighbors that we are an integral part of the community, of schools, of businesses, of churches and of families.
- We want to encourage our gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual brothers and sisters to come out whenever possible. Coming out is an act of courage, of power and of freedom.
- We want to show that we are unafraid and unashamed to be honest about ourselves.
MGLCC is planning a unity rally to take place next weekend to show Memphis that in the face of discrimination we can peacefully unite with a message of strength, love and hope. We have formally requested that the Memphis Police Department open an investigation into the destruction of the billboard.
For more information on the life-saving programs that Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center offers, please see our website at www.mglcc.org. The billboards were erected around Memphis at the following locations: Cooper & Young, Poplar Grove & Tillman, Summer & Mendenhall and Whitten & Summer. The destroyed billboard was at Poplar and High.
Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center is a mechanism for change in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to facilitate long-term positive growth in themselves and in the community of the Mid-South.
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I am saddened by the continued ignorance of people in the state of Tennessee and all over the U.S. But I am proud of the MGLCC and how they are responding to this showing of intolerance and disrespect for our community and this amazing serviceman. As a fellow resident of TN, know that we support you!
I am saddened that some intolerant and uneducated individual chose to tear down the billboard, but glad that you are standing up for yourselves! Keep fighting the good fight!
I’m gay, and I too protected America’s freedom.
Hang in there! Being from Memphis, now living in NYC, I hope one day Memphis achieves the freedoms my husband and I have here.
I support gay rights!
What a disturbing incident but what a fine story behind it. Keep up the good work.
[...] Recently, the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center installed several billboards around that city for National Coming Out Day. One of these was ripped from the billboard because it showed a Marine stating “I’m gay, and I protected your freedom.” [...]
yay for the MGLCC!!! a well written and very heartfelt reaction to a badly played and very hateful action. good luck, brother and sisters in Memphis!!! m heart and soul is one million percent behind you <3
Keep fighting the good fight!! I’m sorry that some ignorant fool defiled your billboard. I salute the brave man who is not ashamed of who he is, and I thank him for his service to our country. People like him should be lauded, not disrespected. Your rally will be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope it goes safely and without incident, and I hope for a day when everyone can realize that we are what God made us, and NO ONE should ever feel ashamed for that.
I support equal rights for gays, lesbians and transsexuals.
I also support equal rights for all other people.
From San Diego, CA with love. We shall overcome!
Walking in Memphis <3 From NYC with love and solidarity!
Do people have nothing better to do than tear down billboards like this? How awful to waste your time on something so hurtful. I’m an ally from Buffalo and my heart certainly goes out to everyone at the MGLCC. I hope you’ll tell the man on that billboard that for having the courage to be a marine and then not be discouraged by being forced out, and letting his picture be used on this billboard…that he is one of my personal heroes. I’m sure there are many gay/lesbian/bisexual young adults in Memphis who see your signs and are reassured that they are not alone. I’m SO glad you weren’t deterred by this act, and keep your heads held high!
Well, I saw this posted on Facebook, and I thought – wow, what a courageous act. Sometimes the smallest things are more courageous than the bigger ones. That soldier showed strength and courage, and the folks who tore the billboard down did not. I just know that the folks at MGLCC will prevail, and will, in the end, live better lives than the one(s) who tore down the billboard. Keep on living the good life!
Why is it always a gay Person forced out by DADT. What about the ones of Us that lived in fear everyday of our military careers, hide our lives very very well or in my case kept my gay life a minimum of 1500 miles from my duty station and never spoke about it any closer than that either. I am not the only one that has done this or that is currently doing this. That is playing by the rules of DADT. If someone was booted under DADT often times someone either the Command or the Servicemember was not playing by the rules. I have two Honorable Discharges and neither had anything to do with me being a homosexual. I do pity the great servicemembers we have lost due to DADT, but some of the back stories are so that the openness of the servicemember is what put he/she in that position. Raise up a few that made it through undetected “That Did Not Get Asked and Did Not Tell.
Stay strong, men and women of Memphis, who are fighting the good fight! http://powodzenia.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/doma-dadt-and-the-president-of-the-united-states-of-america/
I sent the information about this to the Tom Joyner Morning Show. He is a supporter of marriage equality and the UNCF. We stand with you.