Only two days left until the LGBT community marches on Washington to demand equal rights at last! The time is right to let the world know we won’t wait for a more “convenient” day. As organizers of the march say on their website, if not now, when? If you can’t go personally, at least donate to this noble cause.
Official Website: http://www.nationalequalitymarch.org/
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nationa...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NtlEQMarch
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On October 10-11, 2009, thousands of LGBT people and friends will gather in Washington, D.C. from all across America to let our elected leaders know that now is the time for full equal rights for LGBT people.
Rainbow colors will be abundant at the Gay Equality March, as they were during this Pride Parade in New York City June 28, 2009
This is the beginning of a major national strategy to kick start our national grassroots Equality Across America campaign.
Photo of Julian Bond, Chairman of the NAACP, speaking to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force last year. A long time supporter of LGBT civil rights, Bond will be a featured speaker at the National Equality March on Sunday
We will gather. We will strategize. We will march. And we will leave energized and empowered to do the work that needs to be done in every community across the nation. This is only the beginning.
Our single demand: Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.
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Our philosophy: As members of every race, class, faith, and community, we see the struggle for LGBT equality as part of a larger movement for peace and social justice.
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We will continue this fight in every state, in every county, every city and every town, but we are now determined to take this fight to the federal government, to our President Barack Obama, to the Congress and the Supreme Court of the United States." -Cleve Jones, May 31, 2009, Fresno, California.
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Longtime gay activist David Mixner, who in May called for a national march on Washington "to empower our young and to show the nation that anything less than full freedom is unacceptable," is among the many high-profile speakers at the October 11th National Equality March (NEM) in Washington.
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Bond likens the National Equality March to the Civil Rights March of 1963. "We had a dream and marched on Washington to demand our rights; I am proud to stand with the LGBT community as they march for theirs," he said.
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St. Olaf college student Richard Aviles will be speaking on behalf of student activists from across the country, who have organized for the march and will be descending on Washington.
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Also speaking will be Judy Shepard, who, after losing her son Matthew to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate, founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation in his memory. The non-profit organization is dedicated to working for causes championed by Matthew during his life: social justice, diversity awareness through education, and equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
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The march will be the first step toward a larger goal of creating a national movement—the 50 State Legislative Outreach Campaign—to demand from elected representatives full equality under the law.
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"The march is just the beginning," said co-director Robin McGehee. "We are not expecting to wake up on Monday morning with a federal bill on the President’s desk to sign."
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"We will no longer be told to wait. This march is our chance to demand full equal protection under the law, and it will help us realize the dream of Equality Across America: a committed group of grassroots activists in all 435 Congressional Districts," added Williams.
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Following is a complete listing of speakers to date:
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Stuart Applebaum
Richard Aviles
Jarret Barrios
Dustin Lance Black
Julian Bond
Marsha Botzer
Staceyann Chin
Lt. Dan Choi
Tanner Efinger
Hawaii Board of Education Member Kim Coco Iwamoto
Cleve Jones
Michelle Lopez
Robin McGehee
David Mixner
Nicole-Murray Ramirez
Chloe Noble
Tobias Packer
Reverend Troy Perry
New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn
Los Angeles Council Member Bill Rosendahl
Babs Siperstein
Judy Shepard
Maxim Thorn
Urvashi Vaid
Derek Washington
Falls Church City Council Member Lawrence Webb
Kit Yan
Kip Williams
Sherry Wolf
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President Obama will be the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) annual dinner on Saturday in Washington, D.C., the night before the National Equality March. “We are honored to share this night with President Obama, who has called upon our nation to embrace LGBT people as brothers and sisters,” Human Rights Campaign President, Joel Solmonese, said in an announcement Monday.
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The National Equality March was largely organized to draw attention to the administration’s lack of action on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT)” and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), among other gay rights issues.
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Many leaders in the LGBT community are hoping Obama will use the platform as an opportunity to re-establish his position as a “fierce advocate” for gay rights as promised on the campaign trail. But White House aides have said the President has not yet written his remarks, and declined to say if the President will reveal any new policy.
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National Security Secretary Jim Jones this weekend said the President will deal with these issues at the right time. “The President has an awful lot on his desk. I know this is an issue he intends to take on at the appropriate time,” Jones told CNN.
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While the gay community waits for the “appropriate time” after dedicating themselves to Obama’s campaign, discontent has continued to grow in light of the little progress that has been made since Obama took office in January.
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The White House did announce yesterday that President Obama will name openly gay David Huebner, currently serving as general counsel for GLAAD, as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.
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Although Cleve Jones invited President Obama on September 22 to speak at the National Equality March, no word from the President had been received at posting time.
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Rep. Patrick Kennedy will also be in attendance at the HRC dinner to present the first Edward M. Kennedy National Leadership Award to Judy and Dennis Shepard, in honor of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a well known advocate for LGBT rights.
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Among the many celebrites scheduled to entertain are the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C., Lady Gaga, and the cast of Broadway’s Hair, which will go dark on Sunday while its actors sing “Let the Sunshine In” at the march.
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Meanwhile, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) went on Michelangelo Signorile's radio show Wednesday and discussed several issues, including hate crimes, ENDA, and DOMA, but it was his comments on the National Equality March that got the phones ringing. Most callers were angry, but a few agreed with him. He believes the march won’t do anything, that President Obama "doesn't need any pressure."
Lady Gaga and her gay friends promoting the National Equality March early Sunday morning, after her appearance on Saturday Night Live. 10-04-09 photo. Check out the official promotional video below.
Good ol’ Barney even said people should stay home and lobby their politicians rather than go to DC. Listen to the entire disappointing enterview here. I love Barney Frank, but sometimes he’s just plain stupid and self-defeating. Please ignore his rantings and go to Washington. It’s essential we make a grand showing if we are to ever get our share of the pie!
Photo of folk/pop singer Julie Clark, winner of the Equality March official song, “Courage of Our Convictions,” which you can listen to on our first video presentation. Visit her website and listen to samples you can buy online at CDBaby.com. She's awesome!
To get your motor running and your commitment reinvigorated, listen to the full version of this winning official National Equality March song, "Courage of Our Convictions," by Julie Clark. Julie will be performing live on the West Lawn of the Capital building. Congratulations, Julie! Your song rocks! The rally begins approximately at 2:00 p.m. on October 11, 2009:
Listen as Lady Gaga Promotes the National Equality March on this promotional video:
Check out this Official National Equality March Video Trailer:
Check out these images for “National Equality March Madness, ” created by Laura Kanter. Background song,"Courage of Our Convictions" by Julie Clark:
Watch this video made by Texans for the National Equality March. “ Will You March With Us In Washington? Prop 8 galvanized our community like nothing ever before. We took our anger to the streets and we will take to the streets again on October 11, 2009. Hope to see you all in D.C. as we DEMAND equal protection under the law in all 50 states governed by civil law." Photos from various protests, marches and rallies in Dallas, Texas. Credits: Laura McFerrin, Video Producer, Music: Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now by Taborah & Darryl D'Bonneau, Logo Design, Gerson Mendoza. Speech delivered by Cleve Jones at the September 20, 2009 Alan Ross Freedom Rally in Dallas, Texas:
Finally, enjoy this video from an earlier New York City “Defying Inequality Rally,” with the cast of HAIR, featuring openly gay Gavin Creel singing “Let The Sunshine In,” a song appropriate to the cause, which they will perform in Washington D.C. on Sunday for the National Equality March:
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Also visit http://www.galechesterwhittington.com/ for free humor, short stories, poems, and book excerpts from the award-winning gay author
==copyright 2009==
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