FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 7/28/10) Memphis city council member Janis Fullilove has received multiple death threats related to her efforts to ban discrimination against gays in city government.
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. Meanwhile, Cole says the councilwoman's experience should highlight the need for the ordinance to protect gays and lesbians working for the city.
"You don't have to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender to be a victim of homophobia or transphobia," said Cole. "If a city councilwoman -- a prominent person in city government -- can experience this kind of threat and intimidation, what about the individual employees who work for the city who may be work for sanitation, or police or fire?"
While she's not talking about the threats, Cole says she's not backing down from her support of the ordinance that comes up in city council August 10th.
"Her position is unchanged," said Cole. "She still believes in what she's sponsoring."
- Councilwoman Janis Fullilove received four death threats Tuesday
- Someone also threw dead cat onto her lawn
- Threats may be related to Fullilove's support of gay workplace protection measure
(Memphis 7/28/10) Memphis city council member Janis Fullilove has received multiple death threats related to her efforts to ban discrimination against gays in city government.
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. Meanwhile, Cole says the councilwoman's experience should highlight the need for the ordinance to protect gays and lesbians working for the city.
"You don't have to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender to be a victim of homophobia or transphobia," said Cole. "If a city councilwoman -- a prominent person in city government -- can experience this kind of threat and intimidation, what about the individual employees who work for the city who may be work for sanitation, or police or fire?"
While she's not talking about the threats, Cole says she's not backing down from her support of the ordinance that comes up in city council August 10th.
"Her position is unchanged," said Cole. "She still believes in what she's sponsoring."
