Memphis City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove has received at least four death threats after sponsoring an LGBT non-discrimination bill to cover municipal employees. Someone also threw a dead cat on her front lawn, reports WREG.
''Police think the threats are serious enough have increased patrols around her home to keep her safe. All four calls came Tuesday and each call mentioned the proposed employee non-discrimination ordinance. Someone also threw a dead cat on her lawn. Each phone call mentioned her support for banning discrimination against gays in city government. Distraught, Fullilove reached out to Jonathan Cole with the Tennessee Equality Project. 'She essentially said that they were threatening to kill her,' said Cole, who thinks the death threats are just another example of intolerance in Memphis. 'It's scary and our city needs to stand up to this kind of ugliness.' Police are keeping a close eye on Fullilove and her family. She's asked her telephone provider to track the calls.
The councilmember says the death threats will not sway her support and demonstrate why the bill is needed for LGBT employees. The measure is scheduled for an August 10 vote.
According to her bio, Commissioner Fulliove was a high school student civil rights activist in the 1960s, participated in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's sanitation marches and was once shot by police officers. Fullilove—love that name, right?—is keeping the dream alive.
Several proposed anti-discrimination bills have languished in Memphis and Shelby County in recent years. A countywide, non-discrimination ordinance was introduced by the Shelby County Commission earlier this year ... but the version eventually passed "didn't mention gays or any other protected group,' reports the Commercial Appeal.
Send your support to Janis.Fullilove@memphistn.gov.
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this is great news. city councilwoman janice fullilove is full of love in more ways than one. and she is a profile in courage for black america. this brave woman marched with dr king, she knows what king's dream was supposed to mean.
Posted by: FQ | 30 July 2010 at 11:40
and i have to say that it's disappointing there are not mor5e comments. people will come out of the woodwork to defend tyler perry, criticize anyone who criticize janet's fur ad or start arguments over why closeted/dl black men need our support.
people who are out there fighting the fight who gay black folks ... not so much.
Posted by: FQ | 30 July 2010 at 11:43
Good for her by sticking by her guns.
Posted by: Ace | 30 July 2010 at 12:08
Cosign what FQ said.
And I just sent her an email. Thank you Councilwoman Fullilove. Your heart is "full of love" and it's wonderful!
Posted by: Randall | 30 July 2010 at 15:24
I wish this story could have shown comments from the local clergy, including Steve Gaines, pastor of one of the Southern Baptist flagship churches, the 30,000+ member Bellevue Baptist Church. I can't understand why it's hard to fathom the idea that this is not abuot promoting anything, rather just to acknowledge that this is simply to ensure that all people are treated with respect. While this bill includes entities that do business with the city, if you feel that your status entitles you to degrade or mistreat anyone, you don't need to be doing business with the city in the first place.
Posted by: Dan | 30 July 2010 at 17:00
I sent an e-mail of support to this amazing woman.
Posted by: MW09 | 01 August 2010 at 21:57