posted March 25, 2004
I am a gay man in Chattanooga. I did not agree with the actions of the Rhea County Commission and I am glad it was reversed.
BUT, having lived in and around that area, (just south of the Rhea County line) I issue a warning to you about your proposed gay day activities.
As with the mentality of the Monkey trial, this is not a place that you should go trying to prove your point. There are those in Rhea County who feel strongly enough against homosexuality that would think nothing of doing bodily harm to people either one on one or in multiple numbers.
Dayton is not Atlanta or even Chattanooga, and I urge you not to push the issue by going through with Gay Day there. It wouldn't go over well in Chattanooga (it has taken years to get the Strides of March walk accepted well). Dayton is a quiet, close-knit community and they dont deal well with outsiders coming in stirring things up.
There has been enough hoopla and media attention already without focusing any attention on the residents of Rhea County who are gay. Gay bashings are and can be a reality in a place like this. They are just not ready for this kind of public display and I feel retaliation or real problems could occur.
The comission has reversed their decision and left standing with egg on their face. Let's not bring harm to any of our own.
Evan Wallace
evanwallace@bellsouth.net
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