Brody's Notes... “Some people choose tactics of violence and intimidation in an attempt to silence minority voices."

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Sept 28 | The destruction over the weekend of one of a series of billboards erected by the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Center, is a chilling reminder that the road to equality and full civil rights for LGBT citizens is filled with determined and often hateful opposition. In a statement released by phone from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was attending a national conference on LGBT community centers, MGLCC Executive Director Will Batts said;

“Some people choose tactics of violence and intimidation in an attempt to silence minority voices. What will happen, though, is that our voices will become louder and stronger and we will become even more relentless in our fight for full equality.”

MGLCC had recently launched the billboard campaign in advance of National Coming Out day to raise awareness and understanding about the issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Memphians.  The Centre also released this statement upon learning of the billboard's vandalism;

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.

In an expression of defiance to those whose actions would attempt to silence the message of hope, the statement continued;

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.

This is the background story on the MGLCC billboard campaign from an article written by staff writer Bianca Phillips of the Memphis Flyer:

What do a former Marine, several peace activists, a handful of ministers, an interracial lesbian couple, and an average Joe have in common?

By week's end, their faces will grace five billboards posted throughout the city in conjunction with National Coming Out Day, an internationally observed event promoting discussion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) issues held on October 11th.

The billboards, paid for by the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC), also advertise the center's website.

"The community center needs to come out and say two things: We're not afraid of being honest about who we are, and we're not ashamed of who we are," said Will Batts, director of the MGLCC. "We are beyond the point where we're going to let other people tell us to be quiet or ashamed or fearful because they might fire us or kick us out of church."

One billboard — to be located near Poplar Avenue and High Street downtown — shows former Marine Tim Smith in uniform and reads, "I'm gay and I protected your freedom."

"That billboard is going to get a lot of reaction. There's a wow factor to it," Batts said. "That man was about 20 days away from being shipped to Iraq when he was kicked out under the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. There's a constant battle for gay and lesbian people in the military. They're asked to be honest and honorable, but they have to be dishonest about who they are."

Near Whitten Road and I-40, a billboard displaying local ministers Cheryl Cornish and Sonya Walker of First Congregational Church, John Gilmore of Open Heart Spiritual Center, and Elaine Blanchard of Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church will read, "Ministers in support of gay, lesbian, and transgender people."

"It's not a matter of ministers on one side and gay people on the other. There are a lot of people of faith who believe that gay people are fully equal, not sinful or immoral," Batts said. "That's the message we wanted to send, and we wanted it to be as far from Midtown as possible. There are some [gay-friendly] churches out east, but, for the most part, the more progressive churches are in Midtown or downtown and the more conservative churches are in the outlying areas."

A billboard in East Memphis will highlight a few straight supporters of gay rights, while a billboard featuring interracial lesbian couple Edie Love and Tamar Moten will be located in Cooper-Young. Another billboard in Midtown will feature a lone gay man.

"We want people to realize that these are your neighbors. That's why we chose all local people, rather than using stock photos," Batts said. "These are the people who go to your church. These are the people who you work with. These are the people in your community."

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. The Centre has formally requested that the Memphis Police Department open an investigation into the destruction of the billboard. There has been no comment from Police other than to say that at this time there are no suspects.