ALL VOICE BELONG AT THE TABLE: Meet the gay pastor running for Georgia House — Project Q Atlanta

"I just feel like I'm in a good place in my life and career to throw my hat in. These seats don't become available that often. When the opportunity presents itself, I want to be there to be a part of that. It's an exciting time to be in this district."

~(Josh Noblitt)~

Meet the gay pastor running for Georgia House — Project Q Atlanta: Nevermind that Josh Noblitt could also offer state lawmakers an added dose of pastoral patience – he's a social justice minister at Saint Mark United Methodist Church – and conflict resolution – he's a licensed marriage and family therapist. Noblitt, a 37-year-old Democrat, is running for the District 59 seat. State Rep. Margaret Kaiser, the gay-friendly incumbent, says she won't seek re-election in 2016 and instead will run for mayor in 2017.

Noblitt says the open race provides a "launching pad" to continue his decade of community activism in his southeast Atlanta neighborhood as a state lawmaker.

'All voices belong at the table(?)'

Noblitt became enmeshed in public safety issues after he and his then-boyfriend were robbed at gunpoint while picnicking in Piedmont Park in 2010. Noblitt forgave his assailants and held a rally in the park after the incident. The robbery helped spur a town hall meeting with police officials and Mayor Kasim Reed, who later invited Noblitt to deliver the invocation as he re-opened several recreation centers that serve the city's youth.

Noblitt was later appointed to the police department's LGBT advisory committee and helped organize the first-ever NOH8 campaign shoot in Atlanta. In 2012, he was named a grand marshal of the Atlanta Pride parade. He has also served as a volunteer chaplain for Atlanta police and worked for more than eight years in the federal public defender's office.

"I've seen the criminal justice system from the perspective of being a victim of violent crime and serving as a chaplain for the Atlanta Police Department has given me a unique perspective," Noblitt says.

Pair that experience with his leadership role in civic groups – he's served as president of the South Atlanta Civic League and vice chair of Neighborhood Planning Unit Y – and as a gay man, and Noblitt says that gives him the experience to help make Georgia "more hospitable and economically feasible for everybody."

"All voices belong at the table," he says. "I know and have relationships with a broad group of people and I see that as a strength."

***

Victim of hate

Could Josh Noblitt's attack mend the rift between the APD and the LGBT community?

For as long as the case against his attackers lazily lurches its way through the clogged channels of the justice system, Noblitt won't likely have the opportunity to do the same kind of outreach with his perpetrators. "I would love for an opportunity to be able to sit down with each of these kids, maybe even their families, and just hear their story and introduce myself to them and kind of do that exchange. In this criminal justice system, there are some artificial walls that are up that make it hard to navigate without them compromising their rights in the process." He will, however, have another chance for outreach: Noblitt was one of nine people appointed to the APD's newly formed GLBT Advisory Board, a body Officer Powell says will act as her "eyes and ears in the community." Meanwhile, the four minors who were arrested in Noblitt's attack will be tried as adults. All six of the alleged attackers face a minimum of 10 years in prison for armed robbery committed with a firearm.

***

Police advisory board urged to take action

Joshua M. Noblitt. Minister of Social Justice at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Midtown. Noblitt also serves as a mitigation specialist at the Federal Defender Program, Inc. for the Northern District of Georgia. He has also served on various boards and organizational leadership teams, including the board of directors for the Reconciling Ministry Network, an organization dedicated to full inclusion for GLBT people in the United Methodist Church both in policy and practice. Noblitt was attacked in Piedmont Park in July.

***

Defendants in Piedmont Park gay bashing plead guilty

The attack was deemed an anti-gay hate crime by the Atlanta Police Department at the time. The defendants on Tuesday pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and Sam Johnson pleaded guilty to additional charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a robbery. The men faced one to 20 years in prison. Fulton Assistant District Attorney Fasha Lewis recommended 10 years for each.

Sentences handed down by Judge Alford Dempsey:

• Benjamin Johnson, who has been out on bond and under house arrest after serving a couple months in youth detention, was sentenced to five years but instead of serving time in prison, he will be under intensive probation.

• Sam Johnson, Benjamin’s older brother, who has been in jail since the day of the attack, was sentenced to five years to serve 15 months with time served and was to be released later Tuesday.

• Jarvis Johnson, a cousin of the two other men, has also been in jail since July 2, 2010. He was sentenced to seven years to serve two years with time served, leaving nine months to serve.

Before Alford handed down the sentences, Noblitt addressed the defendants in open court.

“I am a gay man. I am also a pastor, a brother, an uncle. I want you to know that,” he told them as they stood before the judge.

“I also would like to know more about your stories. My heart breaks for your families and you all. I harbor no ill will. In a weird way, I care about you all.”

After the hearing, Noblitt said he hoped the young men would examine their feelings toward gay people.

“I’m hoping that by being confronted by someone who is gay and shows mercy, maybe that will be enough — we’ve got to work to change one heart at a time,” Noblitt said.

Caprice Johnson, mother of Sam and Benjamin Johnson, was in tears during the court hearing. She was grateful for the judge’s sentences as well as Noblitt’s mercy and hugged Noblitt tight outside the courtroom. She said she would be happy to have Noblitt visit her home and talk to her sons and said she raised them not to hate anyone.

“We don’t have a problem with homosexuality. We are all one in God’s eyes. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ,” she said.

Noblitt said he had concerns about his attackers going to prison, especially because of their age.

“Time will tell and my hope and prayers are that they will be productive,” he said.

Cases are still pending against three other defendants — Daequan Lewis, age 15 at the time of the crime; Jamal Bryant, 13 at time of crime; and Tyrone Smith, 16 at time of crime. All are charged as adults.

***
"I would like to request your help in getting copies of this file being held under my name with the Emory Police."
~(Simply Jim:  Methodist Fag the Political Catalyst)~

"UH-HUH!  ABSOLUTELY NOT!   NO WAY!"
~(Rev? Josh Noblitt)~

"I even willing to pay for your service through this business of yours outside of the church."
~(Simply Jim:  Ex-Ex-W.A.S.P.)~

"...(silence)..."
~(Rev? Josh Noblitt)~

mit·i·ga·tion

[mit-i-gey-shuhn]

NOUN

1.

the act of mitigating, or lessening the force or intensity of something unpleasant, as wrath, pain, grief, or extreme circumstances: Social support is the most important factor in the mitigation of stress among adolescents.

2.

the act of making a condition or consequence less severe: the mitigation of a punishment.

3.

the process of becoming milder, gentler, or less severe.

4.

a mitigating circumstance, event, or consequence.

"Rev. Dr. Beth LaRocca-Pitts 
(Senior Pastor St. Mark United Methodist Church)
is 
nothing but a Catholic fag hag."
~(Simply Jim:  Anti-Christ, Armilus, Dajjal)~

"SHE'S...METHODIST...NOW!!!"
~(Rev? Joshua Noblitt)~

***

Could not care less 

how 

bounded, centralized, or fuzzy 

our 

Rev. Josh's ecumenical set.

It's not how often you say, "no"; it's how often you say, "yes."

He's stil'a slut.

Not even an ecumenical slut.

***

“A truly virtuous man would come to the aid 

of the most distant stranger as quickly as to his own friend. 

If men were perfectly virtuous, they wouldn’t have friends.”

― Montesquieu