Equality Mississippi Calls on Gays and Lesbians Around the Nation to
Boycott Gulfport, Mississippi
Equality Mississippi,
July 30, 2003
Contact: Mr. Jody Renaldo; Executive director
(601) 936-7673
jody@equalityms.org
JACKSON, MS—Following the Gulfport City Council’s
passing of a resolution condemning the United States Supreme Court for
striking down sodomy laws in 13 states, including Mississippi, the statewide
gay and lesbian equal rights organization Equality Mississippi has called for
a nationwide boycott of the tourist destination.
Jody Renaldo, the organization’s executive director, says that it’s
unfortunate that gay and lesbian supportive businesses have to suffer but that
gay, lesbian and straight people alike should not spend one dime in the City
of Gulfport.
“We’re asking gay, lesbian and straight people who believe in equality
across the country to avoid the City of Gulfport. This is our “Not One
Dime” campaign. Councilman Billy Hewes introduced this mean-spirited
resolution and the majority of the City Council saw fit to go along with it.
Billy Hewes said Gulfport is a straight town. I wonder if the casinos and
other tourist and hospitality related businesses who employ quite a large
contingent of gay and lesbian employees, feel the same way. Either way, they
have to suffer for their council’s official declaration that the lives of
gay and lesbian citizens of Gulfport are of less value than those of straight
Gulfport citizens. Since Gulfport has declared itself a straight city,
Gulfport businesses won’t have to trouble themselves counting our gay money.
We’re asking everyone who believes in equal rights for all humans to simply
not spend one dime in the City of Gulfport. Do not buy gas or groceries in
Gulfport. Do not stay in G ulfport hotels or motels or spend one dime in a
Gulfport casino. Do not vacation in Gulfport or make use of Gulfport beaches
and beach vendors. Any item you can purchase in Gulfport can be purchased in
another surrounding city.”
Equality Mississippi had also organized its 2004 annual statewide gay and
lesbian conference to be held in Gulfport. The conference has now been
cancelled in Gulfport.
Said Renaldo, “The Gulfport City Council apparently felt they had to do
what they had to do. We are doing the same. Billy Hewes and the Gulfport City
Council, through its recent actions, are wearing their alterity on their
sleeves. It’s sad that in 2003, a city council anywhere in this country
still feels the need to be so intolerant of any class of their citizenry. This
city council has no idea whatsoever about how many gay and lesbian people
actually live in Gulfport. And just why do they have no idea? Because they
don’t ask! They don’t research! They don’t investigate! Instead, they
just woke up one day, as Billy Hewes did, and decided to meddle in the private
sexual lives of their citizens. Billy Hewes would have a stroke if he had any
inclination as to how many gay and lesbian people there really was in the City
of Gulfport and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”
Equality Mississippi—Mississippi’s statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization—exists to conduct public policy
research and further public education on the social, economic and health
issues affecting Mississippi Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender citizens.
Beyond this, Equality Mississippi works to advance the cause of full equality
and civil rights for the Mississippi LGBT community and for all
Mississippians. Equality Mississippi operates a web site at www.equalityms.org.
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