Newspapers / Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / May 12, 2001, edition 1 / Page 16
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PAGE 16 ▼ Q-Notes ▼ May 12, 2001 Carolina Funeral Services & Cremation Center Serving the Community with Dignity, Simplicity & Affordability Traditional Funerals Graveside Services Cremation Options Prearranged Services Independent & Locally Owned 5505 Monroe Road Charlotte, NC 28212 Ph. (704) 568-0023 Fax (704) 568-0677 Fred Phelps’ protest falls flat in Charlotte by Marni L. Grant Special to Q-Notes charlotte — The Reverend Fred Phelps from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, who airs negative views on homosexuality via his website www.godhates fags.com, is no fashion statement, but he shows up in predictable fash ion. On Wednesday, April 25, he came to Charlotte to protest Bank of America’s non discrimination and do mestic-partnership poli cies. Phelps stood at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets with his wife and four middle- aged white men holding signs condemning ho mosexuals, Matthew Shepard and Hugh McColl, Bank of America’s recently re tired CEO. Phelps made front page headlines nationwide in 1998, when he showed up at Shepard’s funeral waving signs indicating that Shepard deserved to be murdered and was going to burn in hell be cause he was gay. Phelps’ visit to the Queen City was timed to coincide with Bank of America’s annual shareholders meeting, where McColl passed the baton to his successor. Outside the Bank of America Plaza in the cold wind, Phelps donned a pair of white gloves before hold ing a sign that read, “God Hates Fags” on one side and “Thank God for AIDS” on the other. His wife’s signs read “Matt — Two Years in Hell” and “Fag Family Values,” the latter showing two stick figures engaged in what appeared to be anal sex. Phelps’ other companions held signs with similar themes. Only one pedestrian walked up to the if. turn the company over to the homosexu als.” Noting statistics from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Susan Shackelford of Meek PAG said in a prepared state ment, “Nondiscrimination and domes tic-partnership policies help organiza tions attract and retain the best employ ees [and show] a nationwide trend. As of last August, more than 1700 US companies, colleges and universities, state and local governments and federal agencies had nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation. More than double that number — over 3500 — offered domestic-partner health in surance.” Local businessman James Funderburk agreed that offering domes- Fred Phelps (r) organizes his followers in downtown Charlotte. It's time to stop andsmeCC tfie roses.... ...and tfie ^e?Qis ‘Bfue (Bonnets, fresf fierBs, dtimafayan SrveetBo?(.... OutCharlotte's 4th annual a €t] mature (Rain or Shine) 10am- Katn f/oj )m rjome 3m >ur ng the gai^ns Xanie Adams Dr. John Di Bob & Brant 1 Ickes yOtt Toney Schneider Advance $22 Tour Day of eve( $25 Tour $10 Tour; (rty; $12 Party /ckets: $15 Tour; ]*arty; $15 Party Advan^tickets available at Paper Skyscraper, Royal Gardens, White Rabbit Books & Things, or call OutCharlotte 704.563.2699 www.outcharlotte.org , m PAC GIST supporters rally in support of Bank of America’s policies. Phelps’ group to shake hands and one pass ing car honked in support of Phelps. Mean while 25-30 GLBT community members and straight allies stood quietly behind the Phelps’ group collecting signatures to Sup port the Matthew Shepard Memorial Act currently before the Senate Appropriations Committee. At least 15 additional individu als approached the Meek PAC/gayrfriendly group and offered donations. Three members of the Charlotte group Uniting People to Resist Injustice and Seek Equality (UPRISE), stood in solidarity with the GLBT supporters. Leanne Finnigan, a founding member of UPRISE, said that she found out about Phelps’ plan to protest Bank of America on his website. “We don’t want them here,” she said. “They are no better than the KKK and the Nazis.” Phelps countered, saying that the purpose of the protest was to “stand up for America and the Bible and what we believe. We are opposed to the wickedness of sodomy, and we are trying to tell brother Hugh not to tic partnership benefits is the right thing to do. “As owner of TONIC and Urban Evo lution, I make sure that alfof my employees have fair and equal access to benefits.” Although Fred Phelps’ appearance and the GLBT counter-presence were non-vio lent and non-confrontational, several police" officers were on hand. Charlotte Police Cap tain Terry Sulk gave MeckPAC’s Connie' Vetter,his card and said, “My office investi gates hate crimes and hate-related inci dents.” One activist commented, “The Po lice have really learned a lot in the last few years about how to work with the commu nity.” Though Phelps preaches hate in the name of God, Reverend Tonya Rawls of Unity Fel lowship Church of Charlotte offered a dif ferent view: “I hope that Fred Phelps will grow to understand that while some in the world may discriminate, God won’t.” She added, “I commend Bank of America’s lead ership role at a corporate level in standing up for the rights of all of their employees, including LGBT employees.” T Pride Committee of NC unveils official emblem for PrideFest 2001 The 2001 International pride theme is “embrace diversity.” NC PrideFest 2001 has chosen the artwork of Durham artist Shawn Lorraine to represent the ideas and feelings associated with this year’s theme. A watercolor rainbow is embraced by arms in her artwork. fiACS NCPRIDEFE^ 2001
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May 12, 2001, edition 1
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