| The Tennessean
1100 Broadway,Nashville,TN,37203
Memorial for slain soldier calls
for hate-crimes legislation
By Kathy Carlson / Tennessean Staff Writer
Friends of Pfc. Barry Winchell,
who some fear was slain in an anti-gay hate crime, gathered
in Centennial Park last night to remember his life and to
pledge that hate crimes never happen again.
Part of that pledge was a call
from state Rep. Rob Briley to support him when he introduces
a hate-crime bill in the General Assembly next January.
Briley urged enacting a measure
that "ensures to all Tennesseans that the blessings
of life and liberty will never be denied them because of
the color of their skin, the church they choose to attend
. . . or whom they choose to love." He said such a
law would honor Winchell and the Constitution he swore to
uphold when he joined the Army.
The 21-year-old Fort Campbell soldier
died July 6 from injuries suffered in a beating in the post
barracks July 5. Two other soldiers from the sprawling base
near Clarksville, Tenn., have
been charged in his death.
The service drew about 150 to 200
persons and included words from ministers, activists and
Calpernia "Cal" Addams, who said Winchell was
his boyfriend.
"Barry was not pretentious
or cruel, and Barry was always just a kind, calm gentleman,"
Addams said, leaning forward slightly at a microphone on
the stage of the Centennial Park band shell.
Eight men and women stood on the
stage, four holding an American flag and four holding a
rainbow banner. Between the groups was an enlarged photo
of Winchell, about four feet by four feet, black on a pale
lavender background.
"Barry was very new to our
community," Addams said of Nashville's gay
community. Addams said the slain man told him he "had
felt some gay feelings throughout his entire life"
but hadn't explored them.
When Winchell began to date Addams
and get to know members of Nashville's gay
community, Addams said, Winchell "felt like he had
finally found a place and group of people that was safe
and supportive of him in exploring himself."
After the service, as dozens of
people lined up to offer hugs and sympathy to Addams, he
said, "I appreciate everybody's work and I do appreciate
the Army's efforts" in the case. A television report
may have suggested "I didn't think the Army was doing
anything, and that wasn't the case," Addams said.
The crowd applauded Addams after
he thanked them for their support, and also applauded Briley's
call for a state hate-crimes statute. Briley did not give
specifics of what the bill would contain.
Several people who attended the
service said they did not know Winchell or Addams but attended
because they felt they needed to.
"There are a lot of people
who justify beating people to death because of what their
religion tells them," said Rev. Gregory Bullard of
the Metropolitan Community Church. He called
on those in the "pulpits of evangelical churches"
to "come out against the violence, and to do any less
is to deny the God they serve." |
