NOW Activists Continue to Fight Against California's Proposition 8

January 13, 2009

Jenni Smith and Elizabeth Pellegrine outside of AFA

Jenni Smith, President of Mississippi NOW, and Elizabeth Pellegrine, Starkville NOW Chapter President and NOW Young Feminist Task Force Leader, protesting outside of AFA.

Mississippi NOW, along with Unity Mississippi, the state's LGBTQ organization, held a protest at the American Family Association (AFA) national headquarters in Tupelo, Mississippi on Jan. 10, 2009 in conjunction with the second "Join the Impact" national protest against California's Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act. During the ballot battle for Prop 8, the AFA donated $500,000 to the "Yes on 8" campaign. In November, voters passed the measure, taking away the hard-won right of LGBTQ people in California to marry.

Mississippi NOW activists are determined to raise awareness about an organization in Mississippi sending one-half million dollars out of the state to end the right of marriage for lesbian and gay people.

"All people deserve the same rights," said Mississippi NOW President Jenni Smith. "Our purpose in Tupelo is to remind the American Family Association that all families are important." Long-time Mississippi LGBTQ activist Chris Elam stated, "No one has ever protested at the AFA to my knowledge. This is an important event in LGBTQ history."

More than 20 people from across the state participated in the equal marriage action. Joining MS NOW were members the Gay/Straight Alliances from Northwest Community College, University of Southern Mississippi, Jones County Community College, Mississippi School for Math and Science, and Mississippi State University Spectrum. Despite the pouring rain, the protesters continued their day-long efforts by handing out flyers about what the AFA could have done with $500,000 to support the people of Mississippi.

AFA is best known for its boycotts of corporations that support "the homosexual agenda," including Disney, Ford, Pepsi Co., Hallmark, McDonalds, Wal-Mart, Blockbuster, Heinz, Kraft Foods, 7-Eleven, and Target.

Contributed by Stacey Aldridge, Mississippi NOW