Please Ask Please Tell- Gay'-pride parade features 10-year-old grand marshal 'Shameful that adults would abuse a brain-washed child in this way'

Posted: June 24, 2010
5:28 pm Eastern

By Chelsea Schilling
© 2010 WorldNetDaily

The boy made headlines in 2009 when the fifth-grader publicly refused to pledge allegiance to the U.S. flag until gays and lesbian have "equal" rights and are allowed to marry.

"I was analyzing the meanings of [the Pledge of Allegiance] because I want to be a lawyer," he told CNN during a television interview. "I looked at the end, and it said 'liberty and justice for all,' and there really isn't liberty and justice for all. Gays and lesbians can't marry. There's still a lot of racism and sexism in the world."

2008 Northwest Arkansas Pride parade in Fayetteville, Ark. (Photo: NWA Pride)

Will Phillips at GLAAD awards (Photo: GLAAD)

Phillips said when his substitute teacher asked him to stand for the pledge, he refused: "I eventually – very solemnly with a little bit of malice in my voice – said, 'Ma'am, with all due respect, you can go jump off a bridge.'"

His father sat beside his son, smiling during the CNN interview.

"[T]his wasn't a typical act of juvenile delinquency," the father said. "This was a very atypical act of juvenile delinquency."

While Phillips said he wrote a letter of apology to the teacher, he said he's grown up with "a lot of people and am good friends with a lot of people that are gay."

Asked what it will take for him to return to saying the Pledge of Allegiance, the boy replied, "For there to truly be liberty and justice for all. That entails everyone being able to marry."

In March this year, Phillips accepted a media award from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, for outstanding TV journalism segment after his "Why Will won't pledge alliance" appearance on CNN.

He took the stage at the Times Square Marriott accompanied by his parents and included a "message for President Obama."

"My voice is small, but has gone far, and with hope has done much good," he said. "I think the bully pulpit of your office could go farther and with help do much more."

The following is a video of his acceptance speech posted on YouTube:

(Editor's note: Concerned individuals may contact Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan by calling (479)575-8330 or by e-mail and/or contact members of the Fayetteville City Council.)