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Out Marine on Vandalized Billboard Speaks

The former U.S. marine featured on a defaced billboard promoting gay acceptance speaks out about the incident.


Marine on destroyed billboard x390 (screen grab) | advocate.com

A billboard featuring former U.S. marine Tim Smith was torn down Friday night in Memphis, Tenn. The ad showed Smith, 27, in uniform and read, “I’m gay and I protected your freedom.”

The serviceman, who was kicked out of the military under its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, says he was shocked when he received news about the vandalism. “It was more or less shock and then it turned to righteous indignation and anger towards whoever had done it and that the act had even been committed,” Smith told WPTY-TV.

The billboard was one of five rented by the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center to promote National Coming Out Day on October 11.

Smith, a student at the University of Memphis, says the billboard will be replaced “as soon as the materials and prints come in,” reports the local ABC affiliate.

Memphis police are investigating the incident as a theft of property and have not yet classified it as a hate crime.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Gary Wolff
    Date posted: 1/10/2010 11:42:30 PM
    Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

    Comment:

    There is no such thing as an ex-Marine.

  • Name: Jamie
    Date posted: 9/30/2009 8:14:56 PM
    Hometown: Charlotte

    Comment:

    Semper Fi Marine. I'm sure I served with gay or lesbian Marines during my eight years of Active Duty. A Marine is a Marine. Race or sexuality don't matter when you know know the person next to you would risk their life for a fellow Marine. The people that tore down the billboard should be ashamed. They are probably too cowardly to serve in the military and have no comprehension of the sacrifice required. "Once a Marine, Always a Marine"

  • Name: Mike
    Date posted: 9/30/2009 5:41:11 PM
    Hometown: Memphis

    Comment:

    Rally for support on Sunday at 1:00, 1000 Cooper in Memphis! Peaceful rally to support anti-hate/violence!

  • Name: Brian Stout
    Date posted: 9/30/2009 5:10:58 PM
    Hometown: Dallas, TX

    Comment:

    Too bad it took this kind of vandalism to capture the interest of the mainstream media.



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