Programming Note: Today's March for Equality (live) and highlights of President Obama's keynote speech to the Human Rights Campaign from last evening's event can be seen in the US, starting at 1:30 EST on C-SPAN.
Watch the National Equality March on C-Span's Live Feed here. (Thanks NEM)
In 1988, Dr. Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary celebrated the first National Coming Out Day, in honor of an historic march for gay and lesbian rights DC one year earlier. Since then, October 11th has been a day for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, along with their allies, to speak openly about their sexuality and encourage others to do so as well.
What do a former Marine, several peace activists, a handful of ministers, an interracial lesbian couple, and an average Joe have in common?
Their faces graced five billboards posted throughout the city of Memphis in conjunction with today, National Coming Out Day. The billboards, using the local LGBT community were paid for by the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC), that also advertised the center's website. "We want people to realize that these are your neighbors. That's why we chose all local people, rather than using stock photos," "These are the people who go to your church. These are the people who you work with. These are the people in your community."
One billboard showed former Marine Tim Smith in uniform and reads, "I'm gay and I protected your freedom." Smith was ejected from the Marines under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy 20 days before he was set to deploy to Iraq.
The billboard, the only of the five, was ripped to shreds less than a week after it was put up. MGLCC director Will Batts said in a statement."We choose not to be stopped by fear. Instead, our community unites in solidarity and with the belief 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."
What could have been a roadblock to some has become a rallying point. Tim Smith's Coming Out Day billboard was put back up and last Sunday MGLCC members and gay rights advocates gathered in front of First Congregational Church to rally against hate in response to the destruction. 250 people filled the seats at First Congregational Church, to come together in response to the hatred, not to run but galvanize the community in fighting hate.
"The next time we hear somebody say, you're not fit to serve [in the military] because you're gay or lesbian, what are we going to do?" Batts asked. "Raise our voice!" the response yelled by the crowd.
Tim Smith,was greeted with a standing ovation upon approaching the podium after Warren's speech. The son of conservative parents in a small Mississippi town, he joined the Marines in 2001. He said it was the Marine code of "honor, courage, and commitment" that helped him find his voice and become honest with himself and others about his sexuality.
Smith came out to his friends and his church. When a military chaplain found out, Smith told the man he believed God loved him despite his sexuality.
"The chaplain had nothing else left to do but follow the rules," Smith said. He was discharged from the military under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.
Regarding the destruction of the billboard bearing his image, Smith says the vandals actually galvanized his commitment.
"They will not rob me of my honor by making me run and hide," Smith said. "If anything, they've galvanized my commitment to this community."
After the rally, county commissioner Steve Mulroy agreed: "My message to the billboard vandals is thank you for galvanizing the community and symbolizing what we're up against in Memphis."
Last night in the keynote speech to the Human Rights Campaign, President Barack Obama recommitted to the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
Today at least 35 people from Memphis are joining the thousands of others in Washington, D.C. for the National Equality March.
In the last 40 years many brave gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals have made themselves open and vulnerable coming out to family and friends. And as they have taken this risk in greater and greater numbers they have changed an astounding number of hearts and cultural attitudes. Their courage and fierce insistence on the right to be themselves and love who they love is still steadily increasing empathy and understanding and the generation who come after them are already benefiting so from it. For that we all say thank you.
Today we celebrate those Americans who have spoken out and acknowledged their sexual orientation, and we reaffirm our commitment to fighting the fear and discrimination that still prevents others from doing the same. National Coming Out Day reaffirms that there's more that unites Americans than divides us.
As we make progress on the path to equal rights, many are contributing in their own way by sharing their stories and standing up for tolerance in their communities. These actions will go a long way toward beating back the fear and discrimination that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered Americans continue to face every day. - Senator Barack Obama (2007)
The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are. - John Pierpont Morgan
