Texarkana residents gather to march in support of equality
Although Equality Texarkana has been around a little less than one year, the organization attracted more the 100 local residents Sunday to participate in its first Gay Pride March.
Mark Vaughan, one of the organization’s board members, said that Texarkana, Ark., voters repeal of the city’s M-130 nondiscrimination ordinance in June of last year prompted the organization’s birth.
“Our organization actually focuses on more then just gay pride and LGBT issues,” he said. “We are actually against discrimination of any kind, be it racial, religious, age, gender or ethnic discrimination. We are in favor of getting rid of any and all discrimination of any kind, against anyone. We don’t approve of any discrimination. We are opposed to all of it.”
The march proceeded from East Broad Street to East Front Street and eventually north to the downtown post office. There several of the organization’s members spoke—the first being Jimmy Pope, Equality Texarkana’s CEO and founder.
“From now on, if you go against one of us here in Texarkana, you go against all of us,” he said. “We will not hide any longer.”
Vaughan, who works as a counselor and psychologist, also spoke.
“We are marching today for the future rights of our children to not undergo the mental pain that we’ve had to go through,” he said.
Vaughan went on to cite statistics indicating that societal rejection has prompted homelessness among transgender teens.
“Today, 7 percent of the population are transgender teens, but 40 percent of those teens are homeless because of family rejection,” he said. “That’s why we are marching today. Someone needs to speak for them.”
The Rev. Canon Rick WardHarder, with the Little Rockbased Our Lady of Perpetual Help Progressive Episcopal Church, thanked all heterosexuals who marched with the group in support of fighting discrimination against LGBT residents.
“Let Texarkana know you are here,” he said. “Today is another historical day for this city. Thank you for supporting us.”
Despite recent medical advances which, starting in the mid-1990s, slowed the progression of AIDS from being a sure death sentence to now being a chronic illness, Ward-Harder said more progress is needed
“Even today, people are still fighting for adequate health care in this area,” he said. “The Arkansas-side of your city has inspired us to organize a movement that’s born to bring about full equality and acceptance. This isn’t about bathrooms. It’s about the dignity of a person to be who they are. We also stand up to fight for women who are still getting paid only 77 cents for every dollar a man gets paid and we stand up and fight for the Hispanics who now live in fear of being deported. Inequality is the root of all social illness. My Jesus is a Jesus who loved and helped all.”
Along the route, about 12 local residents countered the marchers with signs that included “Jesus Love You—Turn To Him” and “The Cross is Our Only Hope.”