Will Phillips
Encyclopedia
Will Phillips is an American student from West Fork, Arkansas
. At the age of ten, while a fifth grader at West Fork Elementary School in 2009, Phillips gained international attention for his refusal to say the Pledge of Allegiance
because of social-political reasons.
Phillips objected to reciting the Pledge because he felt that, when LGBT
persons cannot marry or adopt children, "there (is not) currently liberty and justice for all." Phillips' protest was at first limited to a confrontation with a substitute teacher at his small Arkansas classroom on October 5, 2009. Since that time, he has garnered international attention, including featured pieces at CNN, HuffingtonPost.com, Newsvine, and the European Pink News.
His story was also covered on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where professional wrestler Mick Foley
vows to "bring a world of pain" to anyone who teases or harasses Will. Foley was awarded a "Medal of Reasonableness" by Jon Stewart
at the 2010 Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear for defending Phillips.
In March 2010, Phillips was awarded the GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding TV Segment" for his appearance on CNN. In his acceptance speech he encouraged President Obama to "use the bully pulpit of the Presidency" to promote equality for all Americans. He finished his speech by wishing the crowd to "Live Long and Prosper" and giving the "Vulcan Salute
" made popular by the character Spock on the TV series Star Trek
.
In April 2010, he was awarded "The Fierce Ally Award" by the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco for his outspoken stance on equality. Phillips spoke to the audience about the need for legal advocacy groups to help attain rights for LGBT people.
In May 2010, Phillips attended the Gay Lesbian Straight Educational Network's Respect Awards in New York where he presented an award to Chely Wright
, the country music star who had recently come out. While in New York, Phillips appeared on The Joy Behar Show.
In June 2010, Phillips attended the NWA PRIDE Parade in Fayetteville, Arkansas
as the Grand Marshal
and in doing so ignited a firestorm of criticism from religious conservative groups who decried it as inappropriate for a 10-year-old to be involved in a pride parade. Will's parents spoke out in defense of their son, claiming they had taken part in the parade for years and they were honored to have him be Grand Marshal. Phillips was again presented an award for his activism and spoke from the tailgate of a pickup truck to an excited crowd.
On August 15, 2010, Phillips spoke at "The Big Commit" in opposition to the National Organization for Marriage
's DC finale to their 2010 "Summer for Marriage" tour. In his speech he claimed "My generation will be the change you most fear in the world".
On October 8, 2010, Will spoke at the GLSEN Respect Awards in Los Angeles, California
before speaking on October 9 at the Riverside-Inland Empire Pride festival in Riverside, California
. On October 15, 2010, he was one of the Grand Marshals of the 2010 Mid-South Pride Parade in Memphis, Tennessee
along with Constance McMillen & Ceara Sturgis. In his speech he spoke out about "The New South" as it applied to LGBT equality.
On February 13, 2011, Will was featured on the Nick News with Linda Ellerbee
special: Beyond I Have a Dream
On April 2, 2011, Will spoke at the Center for the Artistic Revolution's 2011 fundraiser in Little Rock, Arkansas
. Later in April, he attended an event in which Arkansas
Governor Mike Beebe signed into law SB 214, anti-bullying legislation. Will & his family had lobbied for its passage ever since his experiences being bullied for his views & perceived sexual orientation the year before had driven him into homeschooling for his safety.
On July 2, 2011 He spoke as one of the Grand Marshals for the San Antonio Pride Parade. In his speech he spoke out against the American Family Association
and their involvement in Texas
Governor Rick Perry's "The Response" event in August.
Will Phillips home schools in West Fork, Arkansas
and on occasion travels the nation speaking out for Equal Rights
and in support of Civil Rights
. He is in the 7th Grade as of the 2010/11 school year.
GLAAD Media Awards acceptance speech- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTer4bBVeOI
-
GetEqual.org video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iho2Q5eWQyQ&feature=related
-
Will's 1st speech for NWAequality.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgC9HsuAwaw
-
Will's Tribute to Rifftrax.com & Leonard Nimoy
-
Will's Drama Club Debut- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waV6TDX70n8
-
Will on the Red Carpet answering questions- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea4-DINTe0s
West Fork, Arkansas
West Fork is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population is 2,317 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. At the age of ten, while a fifth grader at West Fork Elementary School in 2009, Phillips gained international attention for his refusal to say the Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of loyalty to the federal flag and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Christian Socialist Francis Bellamy in 1892 and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942...
because of social-political reasons.
Phillips objected to reciting the Pledge because he felt that, when LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
persons cannot marry or adopt children, "there (is not) currently liberty and justice for all." Phillips' protest was at first limited to a confrontation with a substitute teacher at his small Arkansas classroom on October 5, 2009. Since that time, he has garnered international attention, including featured pieces at CNN, HuffingtonPost.com, Newsvine, and the European Pink News.
His story was also covered on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where professional wrestler Mick Foley
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
vows to "bring a world of pain" to anyone who teases or harasses Will. Foley was awarded a "Medal of Reasonableness" by Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is an American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian...
at the 2010 Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear for defending Phillips.
In March 2010, Phillips was awarded the GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding TV Segment" for his appearance on CNN. In his acceptance speech he encouraged President Obama to "use the bully pulpit of the Presidency" to promote equality for all Americans. He finished his speech by wishing the crowd to "Live Long and Prosper" and giving the "Vulcan Salute
Vulcan salute
The Vulcan salute is a hand gesture consisting of a raised hand, palm forward with the fingers parted between the middle and ring finger, and the thumb extended. Often, the famous line, "Live long and prosper", is said after it. The salute was devised and popularised by Leonard Nimoy, who...
" made popular by the character Spock on the TV series Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
.
In April 2010, he was awarded "The Fierce Ally Award" by the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco for his outspoken stance on equality. Phillips spoke to the audience about the need for legal advocacy groups to help attain rights for LGBT people.
In May 2010, Phillips attended the Gay Lesbian Straight Educational Network's Respect Awards in New York where he presented an award to Chely Wright
Chely Wright
Richell Rene "Chely" Wright is an American country music artist and, starting in 2010, gay rights activist. On the strength of her debut album in 1994, the Academy of Country Music named her Top New Female Vocalist in 1995. Wright's first Top 40 country hit came in 1997 with "Shut Up and Drive"...
, the country music star who had recently come out. While in New York, Phillips appeared on The Joy Behar Show.
In June 2010, Phillips attended the NWA PRIDE Parade in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
as the Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal is a ceremonial, military, or political office of very high rank. The term has its origins with the word "Marshal" with the first usage of the term "Grand Marshal" as a ceremonial title for certain religious orders...
and in doing so ignited a firestorm of criticism from religious conservative groups who decried it as inappropriate for a 10-year-old to be involved in a pride parade. Will's parents spoke out in defense of their son, claiming they had taken part in the parade for years and they were honored to have him be Grand Marshal. Phillips was again presented an award for his activism and spoke from the tailgate of a pickup truck to an excited crowd.
On August 15, 2010, Phillips spoke at "The Big Commit" in opposition to the National Organization for Marriage
National Organization for Marriage
The National Organization for Marriage is a nonprofit political association established in 2007 to work against legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States, specifically to pass California Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage in California...
's DC finale to their 2010 "Summer for Marriage" tour. In his speech he claimed "My generation will be the change you most fear in the world".
On October 8, 2010, Will spoke at the GLSEN Respect Awards in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
before speaking on October 9 at the Riverside-Inland Empire Pride festival in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
. On October 15, 2010, he was one of the Grand Marshals of the 2010 Mid-South Pride Parade in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
along with Constance McMillen & Ceara Sturgis. In his speech he spoke out about "The New South" as it applied to LGBT equality.
On February 13, 2011, Will was featured on the Nick News with Linda Ellerbee
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee is an educational children's and teenagers' television show on Nickelodeon that has been shown since 1992. Nick News takes the form of a highly rated and recognized news program for children and teenagers alike, discussing important social, political and economic...
special: Beyond I Have a Dream
On April 2, 2011, Will spoke at the Center for the Artistic Revolution's 2011 fundraiser in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. Later in April, he attended an event in which Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
Governor Mike Beebe signed into law SB 214, anti-bullying legislation. Will & his family had lobbied for its passage ever since his experiences being bullied for his views & perceived sexual orientation the year before had driven him into homeschooling for his safety.
On July 2, 2011 He spoke as one of the Grand Marshals for the San Antonio Pride Parade. In his speech he spoke out against the American Family Association
American Family Association
The American Family Association is a 501 non-profit organization that promotes conservative Christian values, such as opposition to same-sex marriage, pornography, and abortion, as well as other public policy goals such as deregulation of the oil industry and lobbying against the Employee Free...
and their involvement in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Governor Rick Perry's "The Response" event in August.
Will Phillips home schools in West Fork, Arkansas
West Fork, Arkansas
West Fork is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population is 2,317 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and on occasion travels the nation speaking out for Equal Rights
Equal rights
Equal rights can refer to:*Equality before the law, when all people have the same rights*Human rights, when such rights are held in common by all people*Civil rights, when such rights are held in common by all citizens of a nation...
and in support of Civil Rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
. He is in the 7th Grade as of the 2010/11 school year.
External links
- Edline.net, West Fork, AR School System
GLAAD Media Awards acceptance speech- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTer4bBVeOI
-
GetEqual.org video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iho2Q5eWQyQ&feature=related
-
Will's 1st speech for NWAequality.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgC9HsuAwaw
-
Will's Tribute to Rifftrax.com & Leonard Nimoy
-
Will's Drama Club Debut- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waV6TDX70n8
-
Will on the Red Carpet answering questions- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea4-DINTe0s