vigil billy jack gaither

VIGIL IN REMEBRANCE OF BILLY JACK GAITHER AND MATTHEW SHEPARD

Billy Jack Gaither a gay man in Sylacauga, Alabama was beaten to death
with an axe handle and his body burned on a pyre of old tires. Two men
who claimed to be angry over a sexual advance Stephen Mullins, 25 and
Charles Monroe Butler Jr., 21 were charged with the murder. The
February 19th slaying was keep quiet until now in an effort not to
interfere with the investigation. Mullins and Butler, who later
confessed to the murder, claimed Gaither made a pass at them and then the
two decided on a murder plan, deputy Al Bradley said. Friends of
Gaither say they did not believe that he would make an advance on the
men.

Mullins and Gaither went to pick up Bulter at a nightclub, Bradley
said. The three men went to a secluded boat ramp, where Gaither was
beaten and thrown in the trunk of his own car, then was taken to the
trash-strewn banks of the Peckerwood Creek. Mullins and Butler set two
tires on fire with kerosene atop a concrete platform overlooking the
creek. "They took him (Gaither) out of the trunk, took an axe handle
and beat him to death. Then they put the body on the fire". Bradley
said.

There will be a vigil and a rally for Billy Jack Gaither and all victims
of hate crimes the Sunday March 7th begining @ 6:30 PM outside
Metropolitian Community Church in West Hollywood (same site as Matthew
Shepard's vigil only 5 months ago). The address is 8714 Santa Monica
Blvd. between San Vicente and La Ciegenga.

As you may already know , the gay and lesbian communities of California
are faced with the anti-gay Definition of Marriage Initiative set for
the ballot in March of 2000. The 14 word initiative authored by Senator
William “Pete” Knight reads: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is
valid or recognized in California.”

There is great concern in the community regarding the media campaign
that is likely to emerge from proponents of the initiative. In previous
anti-gay initiative campaigns hate crimes against gay and lesbian lives
rose dramatically as a result of the negative images portrayed in print,
television and over the radio.

PLEASE JOIN THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY IN REMEBRANCE OF BILLY JACK GAITHER AND MATTHEW SHEPARD, HELP SPREAD THE WORD, TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO ATTEND!!!!