Vandalized gay billboard to be restored

A Memphis gay and lesbian group said it will restore its vandalized billboard and hold a rally Sunday against the vandalism.

The billboard featured ex-Marine Tim Smith, who is now a student at the University of Memphis, in his uniform with the caption, "I'm gay and I protected your freedom," the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported Monday.

Smith, 27, served from 2001 -2005 and was scheduled to be deployed to Iraq, but was outed by a pastor in Falkner, Miss., who knew Smith before his enlistment and felt it was his duty to expose him, the newspaper reported.

"I thought (the billboard) would be a very good way to not only give back the message of diversity for the Memphis community, but because there are so many military members forced to serve in silence -- they can't say they are gay -- I speak on behalf of them," Smith said, the newspaper reported.

The Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center a few weeks ago had placed five billboards throughout the city in anticipation of its of "National Coming Out Day" celebration on Oct. 11, said the group's executive director Will Batts.

The rally is planned for Sunday at the First Congregational Church in Memphis, where Smith and others featured on the billboards will be scheduled to speak.