Jackson Free Press

A demonstration for gay equality is underway in Jackson this morning. Participants met in the Fondren district and plan to travel to the state Capitol in Fondren's March for Gay Equality.

The group had planned to walk from Fondren to the Capitol, but discovered this morning that they did not have the necessary permits to have an organized march on the sidewalks. Instead, they plan to drive to the Capitol to continue the demonstration.

Police had six cars and two motorcycles in the Cups parking lot, where the marchers met.

Bob Gilchrist, 18, is organizing the march.

"I want absolutely everyone in Mississippi to see the gay community as a strong, proud and active community of ordinary citizens who want and need equal rights," Gilchrist told the JFP recently.

Gilchrist hopes to bring awareness and attention to the gay community in Jackson through the march. For more information, visit the Fondren's March for Gay Equality Facebook page.

Previous Commentsshow

Thank you, Liz, for writing about this. I doubt we'll see the same coverage on the Clarion-Ledger.

Tyler Trent

Mar 1 2012

They actually had an article up yesterday morning as well. Were you involved with the march?

lizwaibel

Mar 2 2012

Not to stir up anything, But officially, the Jackson MLK parade that takes place on Freedom Corner every year is not a parade, but a "demonstration". I am pretty sure there are no permits given for this, because, as Councilman Stokes' office has told my Fraternity brothers, who act as unoffical "marshals" for the event, that there is no official line up, as no one registers to be in the parade, and there is no official route, only crowd control is what the JPD will provide as a matter of service for the "demonstrators". I wonder if the Jackson MLK day "demonstration" will be called off for a lack of proper permits?

Renaldo Bryant

Mar 2 2012

Renaldo--I'm assuming if JPD is providing crowd control something was worked out. I think the main issue with the march mentioned in this article was the "hold harmless" clause in the COJ/JPD permit application that MUST be satisfied with a waiver or limited liability insurance. Its a paperwork issue. If JPD "knows" about the MLK parade there has to either be some paperwork on it, or someone is assigning them to that duty. Not sure that parades have the same regulations as demonstrations that are related to first amendment rights. They are seen as different in the permit application process. For the march (two, actually) that I am organizing in the next two months, we actually hold two permits for each. One from the COJ/JPD and one from the State. We then have to get participants to sign in and sign a release/waiver regarding liability for us, our organization AND the COJ/JPD. Its a MESS but I can see their point.

Lori G

Mar 6 2012

Hi Lori, I see the point of insurance and releases as well. But, I am telling you, that MLK "demonstration" doesn't do any of that. Maybe because it is in the 3rd Ward and Stokes runs the 3rd ward (he is the "Grand Marshal"), but, we are told every year (beacuse we complain every year of the lack of liability and structure with the event) that it is just a civil demonstration that grew out of the time when the local NAACP and others were protesting for the King Holiday back in the early 80's. People never applied for permits and such. Word of mouth gathered people on King's birthday and they marched from that Corner to Lanier High School for a rally. It has been that way every since. To register it would limit the people who could participate, so they do not register it. The JPD show up so as to keep the "demonstration" going, but it is not out of an official mandate from organizers or the city. I could be wrong, but that is my understanding of the event every year.

Renaldo Bryant

Mar 6 2012

I hear you. One question: Why would registering the event limit the number of people that could participate?

Lori G

Mar 7 2012

I really don't know why that would limit the number of people who could participate. From what we were told, registration would require them to charge participants to get in the parade. But honestly, that didn't make sense when I was told that, but not much made sense of the whole event, so it didn't surprise me one bit.

Renaldo Bryant

Mar 7 2012

Ok. I totally understand! LOL. They are doing that because it makes it FREE. If you are "exercising your first amendment rights" there are no fee for permits. There are fees for parades! They are just trying to do it without paying. :-)

Lori G

Mar 7 2012