Tennessee Town in Uproar Over Gays
The
Advocate, May 6, 2004
The Tennessee courthouse that hosted the Scopes “Monkey
Trial” over the teaching of evolution nearly 80 years ago is the site of
another furor after local officials voted to ban gays. Commissioners in rural
Rhea County quickly rescinded that vote in March, declaring they were only
trying to show support for a statewide ban on gay marriage. But their action
is drawing a new generation of protesters to the courthouse where high school
teacher John Scopes was convicted in 1925 of giving lessons on evolution.
Competing demonstrations are planned this week—one a
courthouse march Friday against same-sex marriage and civil unions, and a Gay
Day on Saturday that is expected to draw 3,000 people to a park for a picnic
and entertainment. “God condemns homosexuality very, very strongly,” said
the Reverend Franklin Raddish, an organizer of the protest march.
Kristie Bacon, coordinator of Gay Day, said her event is
not about “trying to make heterosexuals accept us. I am just trying to help
them understand more.”
The issue flared when commissioners discussed gays and
same-sex marriage at a meeting. Commissioner J.C. Fugate asked the county
attorney to find a way to “keep them out of here,” referring to gay people
in general. The board voted March 16 to endorse a resolution calling for a ban
on gays and an amendment to state law that would allow the county to charge
homosexuals with “crimes against nature.”
Two days later, the board voted 8-0 to rescind its
action. Commissioners quickly adjourned and declined to comment as deputies
escorted them out of the meeting. County attorney Gary Fritts said he advised
commissioners they could not ban gays or make them subject to criminal
charges. The U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down laws on homosexual
sodomy as a violation of adults’ privacy. “There has just been so much
misunderstanding about this,” Fritts said at the time. “It was to stop
people from coming here and getting married and living in Rhea County.”
Commission chairman Terry Broyles said he hopes to move
past this “unfortunate situation.” But the protests and national attention
are not going away.
Diana Cunningham, a lesbian who lives in nearby Spring
City, said the commission’s vote “meant they were going to ban me.” She
plans to attend the Gay Day event. “I thought, ‘OK, I’ve got to stand up
for this now,”‘ she said. “This can’t just blow over. I am those
people, and I don’t hurt anyone,” she said.
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