NORTH CAROLINA -- At least two new billboards are in the works in North Carolina in response to a controversial billboard along I-40 Business between Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
The existing billboard in Winston-Salem reads, “Real men provide, Real women appreciate it.”
The billboard belongs to Whiteheart Outdoor Advertising, and owner Bill Whiteheart says the organization that bought the space doesn't wish to be identified.
In response to the billboard, Winston-Salem business owner Molly Grace, who owns lifestyle supply store and makerspace Kleur, held a protest last week. She called on attendees to think of a new slogan that she said could counteract the existing billboard message.
"While it's easy to imagine a crude slogan, our intention is to provide the young people of Winston-Salem a life-affirming message. We want this [new] billboard to start conversations and build bridges," said Grace.
After the protest, Grace teamed up with ModCloth founder Susan Gregg Koger to fundraise for the new billboard. So far they have raised more than $3,000.
Their new billboard will be somewhere in Winston-Salem. Voting is still taking place for the new billboard's message. Some of the suggestions include, "Real Men Respect All Women," "He Provides. She Provides. We All Appreciate," "Women are Somebodies, Not Somebody's" and "Women Appreciate Equality."
In addition to the Winston-Salem campaign, two women in Raleigh started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for a billboard to go up in the Triangle. So far they have raised over $4,000 out of a $10,000 goal.
The women, Kathryn and Paula, say they were outraged by the Winston-Salem billboard and wanted to fight back.
"We were saddened and outraged by this one-sided statement of patriarchy. This is not the voice of our community and does not represent North Carolina as a whole," the women said.
Their proposed new billboard will read, "Gender equality benefits everyone."
The two women say additional funds they receive will go toward NC Women United.