WILL PHILLIPS, 11 YR OLD GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST

Will Phillips, a 6th grader from West Fork, Arkansas, just may be one of the biggest gay rights activists around. Will gained national notice in 2009 when a dispute arose between himself and a substitute teacher over his refusal to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Phillips refused to say the pledge because he felt that until LGBT persons get equal rights then, “there is not currently liberty and justice for all.”  He has been featured on CNN, HuffingtonPost.com, Newsvine, and the European Pink News, as well as having his story covered on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

In March 2010, Will received the GLAAD Media Award for “Outstanding TV Segment” in honor of his appearance on CNN. He has been named as the Grand Marshal in the Northwest Arkansas Gay Pride Parade, scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 26, 2010. He is the youngest Grand Marshal to date. He plans to squash any protests with kindness. As Will says, “pretty much all you need to do is smile wider and wave at them.”