Candidate targeted over support from gay newspaper
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PageOneQ
Johnny Ellis, running for the Metro Council District 11 seat in Nashville, Tennessee, is being targeted by an anti-gay source because of an endorsement from the local GLBT newspaper. Ellis, who completed a questionnaire for the statewide civil rights group Tennessee Equality Project, was not aware that his positions had earned him Out & About Newspaper's endorsement. But, he says that someone stole 150 copies of a local paper and stuffed them with fliers touting the endorsement, as well as saying, "see what these radical gay groups want to teach Old Hickory children." Ellis says that the anonymity someone is hiding behind in attempting to disparage him is cowardly. But, he said, "I support the right of anybody to participate in the political process, no matter what their race is, their religious affiliation, or their sexual orientation." Ellis is running against two other candidates, Ricky McClintock and Darren Jernigan. The election is set for August 2nd.
