SPLC Action Fund Billboards Celebrate Pride Month; Supports ALL Alabama Families Targeted by Ivey’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, the SPLC Action Fund raised two billboards in Alabama.
The “Protect ALL Families” billboard was raised in Birmingham to uplift Alabama’s LGBTQ+ youth and families targeted by SB184. It is located at Greenspring Hwy W/L .5M N/O Valley Ave. You may also find the location on Google Maps using these coordinates: 33.4777,-86.8259.
The “All for Love and Love for ALL” billboard was raised in Montgomery in celebration of Pride Month. It is located at N/S 2625 Zelda Rd E/O Ann St F/W. You may also find the location on Google Maps using these coordinates: 32.3642,-86.2691.
The following statement is from Scott McCoy, SPLC Action Fund interim deputy legal director, LGBTQ+ Rights & Special Litigation:
“For several years, dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ legislation has become the weapon of choice across the country. Unfortunately, in Alabama, many of these despicable bills have already passed and become law, including a ban on transgender youth playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity, a ban on transgender students using school restrooms that align with their gender identity, and a prohibition on discussing sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.
“The SPLC Action Fund wants LGBTQ+ people – especially young people – and their families to see these billboards and to know that there are fellow Alabamians who love and support them unconditionally. Our hope is that these messages keep them encouraged despite the hateful rhetoric coming from those elected to protect them.
“Leaning in to irrational, unfounded fears and prejudices only serves to divide us as a country. As the SPLC Action Fund has repeatedly stated, our laws and the lawmakers who write them should work to protect ALL Americans – including the LGBTQ+ community, not discriminate against them.
“Despite this calculated roll back of LGBTQ+ rights by legislators nationwide, support for and within the LGBTQ+ continues. According to the latest Gallup poll, U.S. support of same-sex marriage rose to a new high of 71%. An ABC poll found 6 in 10 (or 62%) Americans oppose laws barring lessons about sexual orientation or gender identity in elementary school. The percentage of adults who self-identify as something other than heterosexual has doubled since 2012 to 7.1%. And American support for LGBTQ+ rights continues to rise overall and across state, religious, and political party lines according to Public Religion Research Institute polling.
“This is what inclusion looks like, and demonstrates upward progress that all Americans can and should take pride in.
“To the LGBTQ+ community: as the SPLC Action Fund continues to partner with coalitions in Alabama and across the South to repel anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and bring constitutional challenges in court to invalidate bills that have become law, know that you are not alone. We see you, we respect you, and we will always fight for you.”
