Nashville Pride

State Senator-Elect Brenda Gilmore continues to call for clemency for Cyntoia Brown

NASHVILLE PRIDE — ‘Women for Cyntoia’ held a press conference Thursday seeking clemency for Cyntoia Brown, and asking supporters to continue to call, write letters, and send emails to Gov. Haslam.

Published

6 years ago

January 6, 2019

Oakland Post

By Pride Newsdesk

‘Women for Cyntoia’ held a press conference Thursday seeking clemency for Cyntoia Brown, and asking supporters to continue to call, write letters, and send emails to Gov. Haslam.

Sen.-elect Brenda Gilmore was joined by Min. Misha Maynard, COO Cathedral of Praise Church; Francie Hunt, executive director of Tenn. Advocates for Planned Parenthood; and Darlene Leong Neal, Women’s March Tenn. coordinator to ask the governor to grant a release to Brown before he leaves office on January 19, saying: “It is the right thing to do for this young woman.”

Women for Cyntoia was also joined by Rev. Keith Caldwell, president of the Nashville NAACP; Rev. Judy Cummings, senior pastor for New Covenant Christian Church, and other elected officials and community activists.

In 2004, Cyntoia Brown was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the killing of Johnny Mitchell Allen. Brown, who was only 16 at the time and a sex trafficking victim, was in fear for her life and defended herself against a 43-year-old armed child predator who had kidnapped and sexually assaulted her.

The effort for Brown’s freedom has garnered national attention. Recently the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that Brown must serve 51 years in prison before she’s eligible for release.

Gilmore opened the conference with a question: “Why do we treat children who are victims of sex trafficking as criminals?”

“Cyntoia has already served almost 15 years in prison,” she said. “To keep her in prison for 51 years is another travesty to a young victim of sexual exploitation. She was a 16-year-old child who was homeless, trapped in prostitution, and a victim of child sex trafficking. During August 2004, Cyntoia found herself in bed with an adult man, and believing her life was in danger, she shot and killed him.”

According to Gilmore, while incarcerated, Brown has successfully completed an associate’s degree from Lipscomb University, been a role model to other inmates, and managed to regain her self-confidence that was robbed of her by a life of prostitution.

“In the interest of justice, Cyntoia should be set free immediately,” she said. “It’s the right thing to do for this young woman”
“As a minister, I don’t condone taking another person’s life, but I believe that justice has been served,” said Rev. Misha Maynard. “The time is now, Gov. Haslam. I pray that God will touch your heart and change your heart and grant her full clemency.”

Maynard also called for further advocacy for sex trafficking victims: “We have to continue to unite, speak up and speak up not only just for her but for your daughters, your granddaughters, your sisters, your coworkers, your friends and yourself. Un-mute your voice and amplify Cyntoia’s.”

Rev. Judy Cummings called for Gov. Haslam to grant Cyntoia a ‘do-over:’

“[She was] trafficked by a man named cutthroat, a victim of a terror attack, terrorized by anything we could ever imagine. Tried as an adult rather than being tried as a child,” Cummings said. “Today we have an opportunity to do what is right. The governor has the opportunity to grant her a ‘do-over.’ Every now and then we have a chance to do a do-over. Thousands of your constituents have asked you to do a do-over, to do what is right, to give her mercy. The mercy she did not receive, but the mercy that is due her.”

At the conference, Rev. Keith Caldwell said that serving more time in prison would be unjust to Cyntoia. Caldwell asked the governor how he would feel if Cyntoia was his daughter or sister.

“The question is not what if, it’s that she is,” said Caldwell. “She’s all of our daughters and she’s a child of God. We need to do the right thing by her and we need to do it now.”

Others on hand discussed putting forth legislation to change the laws so that the circumstances endured by underage sex trafficking victim’s can be used to help mitigate sentences.

January has been designated National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

“It’s ironic that we are observing National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and at the same time we’re advocating for someone who is a victim of human trafficking,” said Sen.-elect Gilmore.

This article originally appeared in the Nashville Pride.

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Expressions of Faith: When things fall apart

NASHVILLE PRIDE — “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you,” Deuteronomy 31:6. When we stay humble and thankful unto God for just who He is in our lives, He will provide for us; He will take care of us, because He loves us. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your worries on Him, because He cares for you,” I Peter 5:6-7. Sometimes God is working on a plan for us that we may not be able to see nor even understand. When we trust and believe that He will never leave us nor forsake us, He can and He will make a blessing out of the broken.

Published

5 years ago

April 11, 2020

Oakland Post

Minister Patti NIcole Wheeler, The Celebration Christian Center, Inc. is located at 1215 9th Ave. N., Nashville, Tenn. 37208. For more information, visit their website at www.celebrationchristian.online.

By Minister Patti Nicole Wheeler, Guest columnist, Nashville Pride Newspaper

Often in our lives we feel hurt or broken for a variety of reasons: People pass away. People walk away. We are laid-off. We’re fired, or we quit. Maybe we dropped out of school or we’re kicked out—or we didn’t have the money nor the grades to even start an education past the high school level. We currently have a job, but the money just isn’t enough. I could go on and on listing the innumerable things that could bring us down in our lives, but consider this:

1) Sometimes when things are falling apart, God may be planning something better for us.

I’m sure that we all remember the story of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob. Because of jealousy, Joseph was sold to a band of traveling Ishmaelites by his own brothers. God was with Joseph and enabled him to flourish in that situation so much that he was able to save his family during a time of great famine (Genesis 37).

Joseph didn’t know why he was in that circumstance, but he trusted God. He listened to His voice and he was blessed in the mist of what seemed to be a broken situation. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you,” Deuteronomy 31:6. When we stay humble and thankful unto God for just who He is in our lives, He will provide for us; He will take care of us, because He loves us. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your worries on Him, because He cares for you,” I Peter 5:6-7. Sometimes God is working on a plan for us that we may not be able to see nor even understand. When we trust and believe that He will never leave us nor forsake us, He can and He will make a blessing out of the broken.

2) Sometimes when things are falling apart, God may be trying to remove elements from our lives.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed,” John 8:36. There are so many things that could hold us down or hold us back, preventing us from blossoming and growing, that we need Jesus Christ to help us break free from low self-esteem, addictions, jealousy, anger, envy, casual drugs-use, casual alcohol-use, casual sex and absorbing negativity. It is very difficult to be hopeful and positive when we constantly play video games, watch shows, listen to music, read literature and socialize with individuals that demonstrate violence, display negativity and pour conflict into us. Those are not nurturing energies. Those are not caring/loving spirits.

Not all friendships and relationships are “till death do us part.” Some people were only meant to be in our lives for a period of time. Some folks we were meant to help; some folks were meant to help us. Some folks are meant for the duration. We need to learn the difference between who is to stay, how long they should stay and then (if need be) find the strength to let them go. If a relationship is falling apart, maybe God is tearing down some old walls, and some old habits just to build something fresh and wonderful and new. Not all broken relationships were made to be pieced back together. Some relationships are like glass and are best left broken because we would only continue to hurt ourselves by trying to put them back together.

3) Sometimes when things are falling apart, God may want us to change our hearts so He does not change our situations.

Sometimes we need to carry the cross that we are bearing. If we try to lighten our load, we may lose some valuable tools that we may need for our journey. God knows what we need and how much we can carry, so we just need to trust Him. He will not give us more that we can bear, so we just need to trust Him. When we cannot see our way, God is guiding our every footstep, so we just need to trust Him. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths,” Proverbs 3:5-6.

We can’t grow up or move forward if we remain in the same space. So remember: sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place.

(The Celebration Christian Center, Inc. is located at 1215 9th Ave. N., Nashville, Tenn. 37208. For more information, visit their website at www.celebrationchristian.online.)

This post originally appeared in The Nashville Pride.

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Film

At the Movies: Spider-Man: Far from Home; Yesterday; andThe Fall of the American Empire

NASHVILLE PRIDE — Families going to the cinema with members who don’t particularly care for superheroes and haven’t kept up with the amazing Marvel Cinematic Universe do have films that will tickle their fancy, though, and two are real gems: Yesterday and The Fall of the American Empire.

Published

5 years ago

July 22, 2019

Cass Teague

By Cass Teague

This first weekend of July, movie-goers have many choices. Chief among them, of course, is the Marvel Studios spectacular Spider-Man: Far from Home. Families going to the cinema with members who don’t particularly care for superheroes and haven’t kept up with the amazing Marvel Cinematic Universe do have films that will tickle their fancy, though, and two are real gems: Yesterday and The Fall of the American Empire.

First, though, Spider-Man: Far from Home is a rollicking adventure that will keep you thoroughly entertained at a high level of special effects (taking a dozen visual effects houses to render), with a few surprises along the way that will have you gasping, and leave you completely mind-blown at the end. Speaking of the end, you have to stay through the end of the credits, and I mean all the way through to the very end of the credits and they shut off the projector.

Samuel L. Jackson is awesome once again as Nick Fury, and along with Cobie Smulders’ Maria Hill, the S.H.I.E.L.D. duo intervenes when Peter Parker, our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, embarks on a class science trip to Europe. All the teenager wants to do is profess his love for MJ, but ya know, superhero stuff gets in the way. Tom Holland and Zendaya are heartwarmingly loveable as the two star-crossed potential lovers, and their story highlights the quandary that plagues Marvel superheroes – how to balance saving the world with trying to have a normal life.

Without massive spoilers, and there is plenty to spoil here, trust me, as you will see, just buckle up for the ride and enjoy this continuation of the MCU that honors all that we went through in the Avengers Infinity War and Endgame films. I suggest that you may want to try 3D, IMAX 3D, or dare I say, the incredible 4DX that puts you in the action, for this one.

So, if superheroes aren’t your thing, and you tag along to the multiplex with a group or family, try a musical fantasy or a French-language crime thriller.

Yesterday is hilarious, laugh out loud British romantic comedy film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Richard Curtis. The film stars Himesh Patel as a musician who, after an accident, finds himself as the only person who remembers the Beatles, and becomes famous taking credit for writing and performing their songs. Lily James, Ed Sheeran, and Kate McKinnon also star.

The Fall of the American Empire is a Quebec crime thriller film starring Alexandre Landry, Maxim Roy, Yan England and Rémy Girard. It is about a man (Landry) who, after an armed robbery in Montreal, discovers two bags with millions of dollars cash and is on a journey after he takes them. Based on a real 2010 Old Montreal shooting, this film is at times shocking and suspenseful, as it takes you places you may not want to go, but brings you back in one piece. Be prepared to read the English subtitles throughout.

This article originally appeared in the Nashville Pride.

Cass Teague

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Nashville Pride

Metro Council candidate Andre Southall suspends campaign, endorses Councilman DeCosta Hastings

NASHVILLE PRIDE — Andre Southall called Councilman DeCosta Hastings on Tuesday and told him he wanted to suspend his campaign and endorse DeCosta for re-election. According to sources, Southall said that he has observed all that Councilman Hastings has done for District 2, has seen his vision, and wants to help him “finish up what has been started.”

Published

5 years ago

July 13, 2019

PRIDE Newsdesk

By Pride Newsdesk

Andre Southall called Councilman DeCosta Hastings on Tuesday and told him he wanted to suspend his campaign and endorse DeCosta for re-election.

According to sources, Southall said that he has observed all that Councilman Hastings has done for District 2, has seen his vision, and wants to help him “finish up what has been started.”

Southall recognized some of the achievements that Hastings has brought to the district including the expansion of Clarksville Highway, affordable housing, and economic development.

Hastings said that he appreciates Southall’s support and that he looks forward to working with him during his second term.

“I am very glad to have his support to help win this election,” said Hastings. “District 2 has a lot of challenges to overcome and with his and the community’s support we will get there together.”

This article originally appeared in the Nashville Pride.