Today, HRC released two television advertisements that will be airing for two weeks in the Northeast Mississippi media market, which includes the cities of Tupelo, Columbus and Starkville. The ads -- a part of HRC’s #LoveYourNeighbor campaign -- focus on stories of LGBTQ Mississippians and their allies, and discuss acceptance in the South.

The #LoveYourNeighbor campaign is a storytelling project focused on sharing the experiences of LGBTQ people and allies across the South, particularly in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. HRC has permanent campaigns in these three states as part of its Project One America campaign. Over the past year, HRC has recorded 70+ videos from LGBTQ people and allies and has released them through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The #LoveYourNeighbor campaign is partially funded with a grant from Toyota, which has a manufacturing plant in Mississippi.

“Through HRC’s work in the South, we have found that the most effective way to change hearts and minds is simply to share our stories,” said Rob Hill, HRC Mississippi state director. “We’re thrilled to bring the #LoveYourNeighbor campaign to the airwaves in Northeast Mississippi, where this multi-state storytelling project began. HRC is grateful for Toyota’s generosity in helping to fund this project and for the bravery of the LGBTQ Mississippians who have shared their stories with their friends and neighbors. We hope that these stories of LGBTQ people living in the South will reach a broad audience in Northeast Mississippi, many of whom may not have had an opportunity to hear stories like these before.”

The advertisements feature:

• Kaleb and Carrie, a transgender man and his wife, who both work at the Blue Springs, Miss. Toyota plant.
• Several LGBTQ and allied voices from Mississippi, including married same-sex couples and state legislators who identify as allies.

In 2014, HRC launched Project One America, an initiative geared towards advancing social, institutional and legal equality in Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. HRC Mississippi continues to work to advance equality for LGBTQ Mississippians who have no state level protections in housing, workplace, or public accommodations. Through HRC Mississippi, we are working toward a future of fairness every day -- changing hearts, minds and laws toward achieving full equality.