www.ambiente.us JUNE | JUNIO 2010
NEVER BLEND IN | PART FOUR
ROY KIRKLAND & DOUG SEBASTIAN | A CROSS BURNING IN
WILLACOOCHEE
Researched and Written by David Watters
One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with
potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other
virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful,
generous, or honest. - MAYA ANGELOU
Homophobia and transphobia are still far more widespread than many are
aware of or are prepared to admit.
On the surface, it seems that society has grown more “accepting” of the LGBT
community but this, in itself, still suggests that “acceptance” is required, that
we are “less than” and that our VALUE is based upon the judgment of others.
ALL the “ism’s” STILL exist; racism, sexism, there is discrimination against the
elderly, against the young, the “differently-abled” and all of these prejudices
have equal importance and must be actively challenged.
Homophobia occurs in many different ways and ranges from subtle to malicious;
gossip, name-calling, intimidating looks or words, vandalism and theft of
property.
In its most severe incarnation, homophobia and transphobia have resulted in
the all too frequent and brutal murders of innocent people.
NEVER BLEND IN | PART FOUR
ROY KIRKLAND & DOUG SEBASTIAN | A CROSS BURNING IN
WILLACOOCHEE
Researched and Written by David Watters
One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with
potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other
virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful,
generous, or honest. - MAYA ANGELOU
Homophobia and transphobia are still far more widespread than many are
aware of or are prepared to admit.
On the surface, it seems that society has grown more “accepting” of the LGBT
community but this, in itself, still suggests that “acceptance” is required, that
we are “less than” and that our VALUE is based upon the judgment of others.
ALL the “ism’s” STILL exist; racism, sexism, there is discrimination against the
elderly, against the young, the “differently-abled” and all of these prejudices
have equal importance and must be actively challenged.
Homophobia occurs in many different ways and ranges from subtle to malicious;
gossip, name-calling, intimidating looks or words, vandalism and theft of
property.
In its most severe incarnation, homophobia and transphobia have resulted in
the all too frequent and brutal murders of innocent people.
| . |
| . |
It is only through luck, fate or wise
judgement that Roy Kirkland and
Doug Sebastian escaped with
their lives. Had they not fled from
their home one fateful night in
1993, they would have become
merely another addition to the
lengthy list of senseless hate
fuelled murders at the hands of
cowardly, bigoted, unenlightened
homophobes.
Filmmakers Roy Kirkland and Doug
Sebastian have recently released
the powerful, emotionally honest
and disturbing documentary A
CROSS BURNING IN
WILLACOOCHEE (DSP Movies),
which details the hate crimes
committed against them in 1993.
Here, Roy Kirkland shares a brief
outline of their shocking story:
On the morning of Wednesday,
July 21, 1993, an incident
occurred in the small South
Georgia town of Willacoochee.
judgement that Roy Kirkland and
Doug Sebastian escaped with
their lives. Had they not fled from
their home one fateful night in
1993, they would have become
merely another addition to the
lengthy list of senseless hate
fuelled murders at the hands of
cowardly, bigoted, unenlightened
homophobes.
Filmmakers Roy Kirkland and Doug
Sebastian have recently released
the powerful, emotionally honest
and disturbing documentary A
CROSS BURNING IN
WILLACOOCHEE (DSP Movies),
which details the hate crimes
committed against them in 1993.
Here, Roy Kirkland shares a brief
outline of their shocking story:
On the morning of Wednesday,
July 21, 1993, an incident
occurred in the small South
Georgia town of Willacoochee.
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My partner at the time (and my best friend today), Doug Sebastian, were
awakened to find a seven-foot charred cross in our front yard.
The Chief of Police said it was probably a "bunch of niggers down the road that
did it".
Further compounding the problem were comments made by a Willacoochee
City Council member who said he was not surprised by the incident because
the
town is largely anti-gay.
However, the cross burning was just the beginning. A few weeks later our
mailbox was destroyed followed by death threats on our answering machine.
Then the unthinkable occurred, our home burned to ruins.
We had no idea that, after all that had happened; the worst was yet
to come concerning one of the nation’s largest Insurance
Companies, State Farm. The bigotry presented by them was as bad
as what we experienced in Willacoochee.
Roy Kirkland and Doug Sebastian’s story, shared with creative flair, factual
accuracy, integrity and emotional honesty, serves to remind us all that we
have not yet achieved full social equality and that the time for complacency
has not yet arrived.
A Cross Burning in Willacoochee deserves to be widely seen as it has great
potential to alter public perceptions and will no doubt encourage others to
confidently confront those who belittle and bully them based upon sexual
orientation or gender identity.
Kirkland and Sebastian have, perhaps unintentionally, assumed the role of
awakened to find a seven-foot charred cross in our front yard.
The Chief of Police said it was probably a "bunch of niggers down the road that
did it".
Further compounding the problem were comments made by a Willacoochee
City Council member who said he was not surprised by the incident because
the
town is largely anti-gay.
However, the cross burning was just the beginning. A few weeks later our
mailbox was destroyed followed by death threats on our answering machine.
Then the unthinkable occurred, our home burned to ruins.
We had no idea that, after all that had happened; the worst was yet
to come concerning one of the nation’s largest Insurance
Companies, State Farm. The bigotry presented by them was as bad
as what we experienced in Willacoochee.
Roy Kirkland and Doug Sebastian’s story, shared with creative flair, factual
accuracy, integrity and emotional honesty, serves to remind us all that we
have not yet achieved full social equality and that the time for complacency
has not yet arrived.
A Cross Burning in Willacoochee deserves to be widely seen as it has great
potential to alter public perceptions and will no doubt encourage others to
confidently confront those who belittle and bully them based upon sexual
orientation or gender identity.
Kirkland and Sebastian have, perhaps unintentionally, assumed the role of
character educators. In successfully modeling admirable qualities and
character traits such as authenticity, determination, vision and social
responsibility, both have, perhaps without realizing, become role models and
inspirational figures to those whose lives they touch.
“By making this documentary, we hope to encourage others to stand up
against bigotry and hatred and be proud of whom they are.” Roy Kirkland
Bigotry is being addressed in law, in policy and in procedure within schools and
in the workplace but culturally the progress is much slower. Painfully and
frustratingly slow.
Those who hold beliefs about any specific group in society will not change
those perceptions because of any law or policy. Instead, as John Amaechi told
David Watters in Never Blend In, “bigots have become more sophisticated”.
We shouldn’t compromise our identity to be accepted and everyone
regardless of sexuality or gender identity has a right to fully live.
I congratulate Roy and Doug on this incredible documentary which shares
much more than their story but holds a mirror to society and reflects the shared
experience of our community.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY:
http://acrossburning.com/2NDACBW.html
TO PURCHASE THE DOCUMENTARY:
http://acrossburning.com/ACBWorder.html
CLICK HERE for more David Watters
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
character traits such as authenticity, determination, vision and social
responsibility, both have, perhaps without realizing, become role models and
inspirational figures to those whose lives they touch.
“By making this documentary, we hope to encourage others to stand up
against bigotry and hatred and be proud of whom they are.” Roy Kirkland
Bigotry is being addressed in law, in policy and in procedure within schools and
in the workplace but culturally the progress is much slower. Painfully and
frustratingly slow.
Those who hold beliefs about any specific group in society will not change
those perceptions because of any law or policy. Instead, as John Amaechi told
David Watters in Never Blend In, “bigots have become more sophisticated”.
We shouldn’t compromise our identity to be accepted and everyone
regardless of sexuality or gender identity has a right to fully live.
I congratulate Roy and Doug on this incredible documentary which shares
much more than their story but holds a mirror to society and reflects the shared
experience of our community.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY:
http://acrossburning.com/2NDACBW.html
TO PURCHASE THE DOCUMENTARY:
http://acrossburning.com/ACBWorder.html
CLICK HERE for more David Watters
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
