National Coming Out Day Billboard ‘Ripped to Shreds’ in Memphis

[Shana A]

National Coming Out Day Billboard 'Ripped to Shreds' in Memphis

September 28, 2009 by Seth Adam, GLAAD's National News Fellow

http://glaadblog.org/2009/09/28/national-coming-out-day-billboard-%E2%80%98ripped-to-shreds%E2%80%99-in-memphis/

Memphis Flyer reported on Monday that a billboard which depicted a U.S. Marine alongside the words "I'm gay and I protected your freedom" was "ripped to shreds" late Friday night. The billboard was sponsored by the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC) and was meant to highlight National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11.

The marine featured on the billboard is Tim Smith, a Memphis local. Smith served from 2001-2004 and was discharged under the discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy just 20 days before he was set to deploy to Iraq.