NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A state wide equality group has kept track of hate crimes and incidents of intolerance against members of the LGBT community this month, and they said Memphis was already on their radar.
The Tennessee Equality Project launched the initiative to encourage people to report acts of hate.
Recently, someone threatened to bomb the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center and pick off members one by one.
While people in the Cooper-Young area were shocked to hear about the bomb threat, they were even more shocked to hear it was one of only three instances that have been reported to Tennessee Equality Project so far this month.
The Tennessee Equality Project is based out of Nashville.
Advocates for those in the LGBT community said they believed no one should have to live in fear, because of their lifestyle.
“I want everyone to live openly and happily and thrive,” Chris Sanders with the Tennessee Equality Project explained.
With a big decision coming soon from the Supreme Court on the issue of gay marriage, the Tennessee Equality Project said they were bracing for backlash and possibly violence from those who do not support the LGBT community.
That’s why they started an initiative for the month of May to keep track of hate crimes and intolerance across the state.
The bomb threat in Memphis was just one of three instances reported so far and the only hate crime.
The other two were claims of discrimination from other areas in the state.
“In some cases it’s hateful rhetoric. In some cases it’s threats. In some cases it’s acts of discrimination,” Sanders said.
The Tennessee Equality Project asked people to email them when something happens.
They were hopeful it would raise awareness and discourage acts of violence and hate.
To report incidents of discrimination or hate crimes to the Tennessee Equality Project, send an email to chris@tnequalityproject.com.
