We’ve got 10 days to go before the National Equality March, where buses and planes and trains full of gays and our allies will descend upon Washington D.C. to demand our rights. The fight is not new: We’ve been angling for full equality and protection under the law for decades now. But next weekend, those efforts will join hands as thousands of us march in front of the (probably vacant) White House and come to this stark realization: Here we are, in 2009, with the most gay-friendly president yet, with more public supporters in the Senate and House than ever before, and yet we still are viewed by the federal government as second class. This is our unacceptable reality.
The 2.33 mile march on Oct. 11, complete with speeches by NAACP chairman Julian Bond and Judy Shepard, will forever be a mile marker in the history of gay civil rights. Yes, despite claims of NEM’s disorganization, despite criticism lobbed at Cleve Jones, and despite those who refuse to attend, donate to, or otherwise support the march.
Much gets said, including right here on this website, about “activism.” Leading “activists” make easy targets; they’re the closest thing we’ve got to celebrities after NPH and TR jokes are exhausted. But even we’ll admit, they do important work. That said, Oct. 11 isn’t about them. It’s about you. It’s about us. And it’s not even about “activism.” It’s about the right to live in a free country as equals. It’s something we’ve all been raised to believe isn’t just possible, but fair and just.
If nothing else, we hope the gathering of LGBT friends is actually the least significant part of Oct. 11. It’s one thing to book a plane ticket and hotel stay, design a makeshift banner, and walk by the White House with likeminded Americans. It’s an entirely different commitment to dedicate hours and days in the weeks and months ahead angling for the rights of your people.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
We’ll be smiling that afternoon, surrounded by people we know have our backs, who want the same thing, who are tired of living in the shadows. But there will be a weight felt in the Sunday sunshine, knowing full well we’re still a community that, come Monday morning, will be right back where we started.
Unless, of course, we refuse to accept that reality. And carry on the good fight.
kiltnc
I will be there along with about 30 of my friends from all over the country. We have no specific agenda but to support the folks who have organized this event!
Andrew
I think you’ve fairly described the March as a way to meet some of our friends and allies, but not a contributor to our equality. That is why so few of us are going. Washington is well aware of our plight and they will continue to religiously vote against us.
Bill
And guys, let’s try and keep our dicks in our pants, huh. Every media outlet will be there looking for those of you circuit bois getting blown and butt-fucked in front of the great lawn. So please try and remember that this isn’t about you meeting some hot guy and getting a public blow job, OK? This is about making a statement to our Government, to our Country and to the World.
So behave yourselves for once!!!
DO NOT EMBARRASS US!
Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com
The full Gay Agenda will obviously be addressed by speakers at the rally. But those who specifically want to protest the indefensible continuing existence of DADT are invited to join LGBT Movement legends Frank Kameny and Troy Perry and DADT victims Dan Choi & Anthony Woods and gay veteran Eric Alva and several others in uniting to publicly say it’s waaay past time we got back to kicking some Administration & Congressional ass again as they continue to refuse to even seriously talk about stopping DADT discharges…which are now at circa FOUR HUNDRED & THIRTY-TWO just since President “All that is required is leadership” Obama was sworn in and the gay-money lovin’ Dems took over Congress.
It is also a memorial honoring Leonard Matlovich, the first servicemember to out himself to fight the original ban in 1975. That’s right….THIRTY-FOUR YEARS ago when Barack Obama was only 13! SEVEN PRESIDENTS ago! Dan Choi and Anthony Woods weren’t even born yet but grew up to be kicked to the curb by the same kind of homohating dinosaurs in the Pentagon’s Jurassic Park that Leonard was.
When is enough enough? When are we going to reclaim our rightful outrage…awake from the poppy field too many fell asleep in after Obama’s repeated hollow promises at the White House Gay Tea Party and Gates’ bullshit three months ago about looking for “humane” options in DADT regulations [a 12-yr. old could show him where they are]? We had them running scared for a while [resulting in the Tea Party and Gates’ smile fucking], but the momentum stalled. Still no repeal bill in the Senate. Still not enough sponsors in the House. Still no hearings. Still no answer from Obama to TWO letters from Cong. Alcee Hastings and his colleagues asking for a freeze. Hastings and Gillebrand pressured into withdrawing their anti DADT amendments. Obama’s DOJ defending DADT in court. And the Commander-in-Chief still pretending he doesn’t have the legal authority from Congress to freeze discharges in the name of national security. He does. Period.
This protest the day before the March will be an historic gathering of people involved in fighting the ban for over 40 years and an opportunity for everyone not just to meet them in person but join them in saying STOP THE BULLSHIT!
October 10, at 2 pm
Congressional Cemetery [where Walt Whitman’s lover Peter Doyle is also buried]
1801 E Street SE at Potomac Avenue.
[Within walking distance of Potomac Ave & Stadium-Armory DC Metro stations.]
More info at
http://equalityacrossamerica.org/blog/?p=5041
[img]http://wiedamark.com/nem/Mat.jpg[/img]
Charles Merrill
Count me out. I don’t want to alienate those in Congress helping us to repeal DOMA, and the President. LGBT’s going to the march are going to be branded as Communists because of socialist propaganda from March organizers Sherry Wolf and Cleve Jones:
Both are giving a major workshop on socialism scheduled at the march. Wait till Glen Beck and FOX hear about this dizzy propaganda:
Quote from Sherry Wolf:
“As a lesbian Marxist who came of age in the neo-Cold War, AIDS-ravaged 1980s, I too am a member of the post-Stonewall generation who encounters suspicion that struggle and organization are anachronisms. But reality is forcing those alternatives. I would caution leftists against narrowing our sights, presuming that LGBT battles will or should necessarily rise independently of wider outrage against expanding wars and a collapsing economy. Sexual minorities, after all, are directly affected by these unfolding catastrophes and our demands can and must be brought into broader battles that will eventually erupt and can be shaped by leftists.
and this is not the way”.
With Marxists like this preaching socialism President Obama will turn away even further from us.
adamblast
Isn’t this our third or fourth March on Washington? Just how important a “mile marker in the history of gay civil rights” were the others?
Sure I support the march and would be there if I wasn’t an unemployed pauper in the rural west coast.
But it’s like the 2010/2012 debate for 8 repeal. I have no way of knowing whether the strategists FOR the march are any wiser than the strategists AGAINST the march, and I’m disinclined to support or demonize either side arbitrarily.
The gay rights movement is in chaos. Of course, Obama is proving himself an impotent leader generally, so his failure on gay rights is just one frustration. Fox News is probably who the movement should be targeting, since they and their ilk are proving to be the real power in America.
adamblast
@adamblast: So to be more concise, what the March means to me: Another chance to shout slogans and momentarily feel energized, coupled with another chance to be misrepresented and ignored.
Jon B
Fuck you all. You know why nothing gets done in the LGBT community? Because of bitches like you guys whining about nothing getting done instead of actually doing something. I’ll be at the march. Do I think it will change much? Probably not, but at least I’ll show up, and support the rights that I want, show my face for the cause. Hell, I’ll even make a pretty sign with a sassy slogan for good measure.
For every person who puts the onus on everyone else, there’re another thousand people doing the same, and then no one shows up. When that happens, all of you bitchy jaded fools will take to this board like moths to a flame griping about how pathetic the march was and how useless David Mixner and Cleve Jones and the rest of the LGBT activists are, like always. But the truth is, you’re the pathetic ones. You’re the ones complaining about living in a country that treats you as second class citizens, and yet you won’t remove one effete finger from your martini glass for a single day to fight for equality.
It’s fine if you don’t want to show up, don’t care to fight, but if that’s the case at least be respectful to shut the fuck up and keep your opinions to yourself so that you don’t contribute to further apathy.
Mike
@Jon B: Thank you!! I am tired of people bitching about how they have no rights, how nothing is going to change, etc etc… and then when an opportunity arrives to actually do something and make a difference they bitch about that too. The energy you spend bitching on this forum about how this march is going to fail could be better spent supporting this march and actually making a difference.
Joe
Here’s a letter I posted on Birmingham Examiner and National Equality March picked it up also. I got a lot of response from (especially) southerners who agreed:
I recently attended a dinner sponsored by Equality Alabama at which Congressman John Lewis was the keynote speaker. Lewis is an unwavering supporter of LGBT equality, and his speech was inspirational as he drew upon his experiences as a civil rights activist and the common humanity we all share in his call for equality.
Next month, an unpredictable number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trangender people and our allies will gather in Washington DC to march peacefully for our rights. Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states is all we ask.
In addition to fighting for equal rights over the years I have also studied the movement and the effect it has had. Some say we should devote our resources to local and state issues, others to the national scene. Some have said we need to do it all.
I fall into the “do it all!” category.
The vast majority of LGBT people in my state are not active in our fight for equality. While a few thousand may show up for Central Alabama Pride’s annual Pride Week, and hundreds may attend Equality Alabama’s Equality Weekend, the numbers pale in comparison to the gay population in our area. My feeling is that the gay public does not believe that their participation in the process will make a bit of difference in our state. After all, we are dealing with a state legislator who wants to ban books with gay characters or gay authors and a candidate for governor who says the state carries the “power of the sword” which it can use to stop exposure to homosexuals.
But it is important for people to be involved. It helps to create a sense of worth in an individual, knowing that one is fighting for what is right. Occasionally we are surprised, as when several hundred showed up for a meet and greet political event sponsored by Alabama Stonewall Democrats that attracted candidates and elected officials of both parties. In part, I believe, this was inspired by the results-based activism that resulted in Jefferson County voting blue in the 2008 presidential election. We certainly hope this interest in political activity by the voters, and realization that the LGBT community is a player by elected officials, continues.
Each year the gains (or failures) of the LGBT community are assessed, and this year the results were probably the best we have seen in our state. We have elected openly gay candidates, one of whom was named “legislator of the year” and have passed an anti-harassment/bullying bill which will be enacted next year for schools. We are excited about the things that are happening in our state, and when we take into account that a mid-America state like Iowa can pass same-sex marriage while a left-leaning state like California bans it, we realize that progress is unpredictable, if not unstoppable.
We were all thrilled when Barack Obama was elected president, and most of us believe that if the roadblocks of a failing economy and a planet in peril were not interfering that rights would be being granted right and left. Justice department briefs and DADT executive orders notwithstanding, we believe we have a friend in the White House.
Reality tells me that our years of incremental progress in Alabama have not provided for me a single right or protection out of the many that are lacking.
The history of my state along with the history of our country shows me that while a lot happened in this state along the road to equality for blacks, that only when rights were handed down from Washington did a difference begin to occur. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 did what years of demonstrations and marches could not do for Alabama. Martin Luther King, Jr spoke at Brown Chapel in Selma, Alabama, on January 2, 1965 and said the pace was too slow and that it would take “one hundred and five years” at the rate they were going to register all of the voters but he realized the importance of local activism along with lobbying congress on the issues.
In much the same way, we must never abandon our fight in our home states, as Congressman Lewis reminded us this week. At the same time, we must make congress aware that we are serious in our quest for equality. Those of us in red states are depending on congress to do what might take our state legislatures decades to accomplish. And while our local efforts might get us hate crimes laws or employment non-discrimination, the right to marry will never come to Alabama without federal intervention of some sort.
So let’s gather in Washington next month and make a statement to the nation and to the world. And when we are finished, we will all return home to our states, be they red or blue, and resume our fight. Maybe we will convince a few blue dog democrats or light red republicans to support our cause or risk rejection at the ballot box next election. And maybe when we return we will have more inspiration to work in our own states for change. We might even decide that more of us need to help those in other states fight their battles. The marriage fight in Maine comes to mind.
We should push for equality on all fronts. I hope to see you in Washington.
Demand Equality
Is this your lame attempt to apologize for all the hatred you spewed about the march organizers? Well…it’s a little late now that the march is about to be a major success…no thanks to you!
Shawn
@Jon B: Thank you Jon! These people on here do not a damn thing but bitch and cry like two year olds. one person said that there’s going to be nobody there…fuck you. There is going to be thousands of people there…and you know what…please, do stay at home… I don’t want your whiny ass there.
You know what…I don’t even remember the last march…and I’m 23 years old. So what could this possible mean to me? Think outside your pathetic little mind.
You want your freedom…stop sitting in front of your computer screen crying about how you don’t have freedom and do something about it.
The only reason I’m even on this site again is because NEM posted it on there Facebook…and after the shock wore off…i came on here. I still expected the same old crap that I use to read…and guess what…I was right. Here they still are.
Grow a pair and actually do something instead of acting like little babies.
Shawn
Oh, and Queerty…you should really be ashamed of yourselves. Seriously, you have said nothing but negative things until now. It is way too late for you. There is no excuse for what you did until now.
adamblast
It’s nice that at least a couple people are responding to the topic question, rather than bitching about how they hate everyone else’s answers.
Demand Equality
Fuck you Adam and your need to be more precise.
Tracy Greene
If you are coming to the march come by the Sign Making Happy Hour: http://nem.gaycities.com/events/718-sign-making-happy-hour
Get a discount for all your sign making supplies at:
Utrecht Art Supplies
1250 I Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
For 20% off (non-sale items)at Utrecht Art Supplies use keycode 89568 in honor of National Equality March![img]http://www.sfvequality.org/images/SWI_Sign&FriendMaking_Flyer_F.jpg[/img]
PopSnap
Actually, the march is going to be a huge success. You’re kinda months behind schedule here. I predict at least 200,000 people will attend, maybe more.
Brian
@Joe: “So let’s gather in Washington next month and make a statement to the nation and to the world.”
They already know. THAT is not the problem. Religion is. Every other person you meet, every day, thinks you are WRONG. They got that belief from religion. Until we change that belief, we will never be equal. Every LGBTQ person needs to proclaim “We are Not Wrong.”
If you insist on making a statement via protest – bring your voices, posters and slogans to your nearby Church. Let them know you are Not Wrong.
Andrew
What does the March mean to me?
It means that the LGBTQ Community does not have a strategy or plan for equality. The idea of the March is to show up in DC and let the politicians know we’re not happy. Something they already know.
We have a Congress that is 98% religious, while the country is only 70% religious. Nothing gay-related has any chance of passing the Senate.
We need to work on creating a strategy for our equality. HRC does not have a strategy and just keeps collecting millions to lobby politicians – with no verifiable success (28 years and +$200 million). Some of the current legal battles may provide small victories, but we’ve already seen that what the Courts “order” the people (lead by religion) take away. Maine is next.
So, I believe we would all be better served by creating a strategy/plan and then enrolling the LGBTQ Community with the goal of winning, not whining. As is the case with this March – we’re just making a little noise and wandering about aimlessly. We have no direction or strategy to win. Because of that reality we don’t even deserve to win. We must create a plan.
Lloyd Baltazar
I was SHOCKED to see that Queerty finally wrote a positive article about this march. I find it pathetic, hypocritical and pure BULLSHIT.
All this time, Queerty’s writers talk shit against the National Equality March and now they show up with these happy-peppy optimistic article. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.
Ok, I take that back. I’m a forgiving person—-I just wish that Queerty didn’t bash the National Equality March, its leaders and supporters in the first place. WHY choose to divide the LGBT community instead of uniting it?
Anyway, my friends are going and we are also having a Pride rally in Los Angeles on the same weekend. I hope Queerty learned their lesson and choose to be LGBT SUPPORTIVE next time for the sake of keeping this cause together! You make your readers NOT want to read your articles—from Madonna bashing to your Snarky, sarcastic articles! It is so disingenuously distasteful!
Brian
From The Atlantic: “The march, announced just 6 months ago by Harvey Milk protégé and AIDS quilt founder Cleve Jones — has garnered criticism in the gay blogosphere, slammed as a vanity project for Jones and a distraction from state-level gay marriage initiatives in Maine and Washington state. And D.C. advocates are asking why local organizers were not asked to the table so close to the city’s own marriage-rights battle.”
Almost every article or comment I have seen has called this March exactly what it is: poorly conceived, poorly planned and probably poorly attended.
Honesty from observers is far more important than cheerleading bad ideas. If Cleve is now laying the groundwork to blame the community – that just adds insult to injury. We can only hope this is his last hurrah (or small round of applause) on October 11th.
Ken
Thank You Queerty! I appreciated reading this article.
Demand Equality
@Brian When will you stop using commenting twice under the other name of Andrew? I.P. check exposes your ass. You troll the blogs all over the place with the same message. We are so over you. Get a job and a life.
Joe
@Brian: And the churches are made up of people and the more people are exposed to our problems and the inequality we face the more they will influence their churches to become accepting. That’s why you see most denominations wrestling with the issue, when a decade or so ago they would not have even addressed it. Some are making it past wrestling and are becoming accepting. I don’t need to name the denominations, but you know who they are – the accepting ones, and the hateful ones.
YellowRanger
40 years ago, marching might have been impressive. Now? Everyone marches for everything. The world is desensitized to it. They know you’re here, they know you’re queer, they’re plenty used to it…But they still hate you. Peacefully marching and nicely asking the hetero establishment “please sir, I’d like some more rights” isn’t going to change that.
Instead of jetting off to D.C. to attend a glorified birthday party outside of an empty white house, wouldn’t it make infinitely more sense to donate that money to local equality fights that might actually make a difference?
Joe
@YellowRanger: Local equality fights don’t get us rights in Alabama. We need federal laws, just like they did in the 1960’s to get Civil Rights. Alabama never would have adopted equal rights for blacks if left to our own. The same goes for GLBT equality.
Brian
@Joe: “That’s why you see most denominations wrestling with the issue, when a decade or so ago they would not have even addressed it. Some are making it past wrestling and are becoming accepting. I don’t need to name the denominations, but you know who they are – the accepting ones, and the hateful ones.”
Accepting doesn’t make much difference Joe. We don’t need to be “accepted” or “tolerated,” there is NOTHING WRONG WITH US.
Christians need to end their traditional belief that we are “wrong, sinful and deviant.” They need to part ways with that belief because THAT BELIEF is what prevents our equality. Every other person we meet in our daily lives believes we are wrong. So, yeah – I’d like to be able to identify those people. I can’t tell which Catholics believe that and which ones don’t. Just because Episcopalians elect and openly gay Bishop it doesn’t “end the wrong of being a homosexual.”
Religion is changing and the LGBT Community should hasten that reality. In the near future there will be Conservative denominations (keeping the belief that we are wrong) and Liberal denominations (ending the belief that we are wrong) and it is a matter if survival for religion. Churches have consistently lost membership because young people have chosen to be non-religious or spiritual. If they don’t figure out how to enroll young people – it’s just a matter of time before they fail. Putting equality before religion may help them greatly.
I agree with your assessment – we can’t name a single Christian denomination that has ended the teaching/belief that we’re wrong. They’re just “wrestling” with accepting us. That isn’t enough.
Joe
@Brian: “Accepting doesn’t make much difference Joe. We don’t need to be ‘accepted’ or ‘tolerated,’ there is NOTHING WRONG WITH US.”
I don’t quite understand this and the rest of your post didn’t explain it.
The absence of acceptance would be unacceptance which is where we are now. So how can you say “accepting” doesn’t make much difference?
For a church to part ways with their beliefs that we are wrong or sinful, would mean that they now accept that we are not those things.
I agree with the rest of what you say. Certainly putting equality before religion would be good. In fact, that is part of religion, at least mine, the equality bit.
I don’t mind that the churches are “wrestling” with the subject. After all, I had to wrestle with my own feelings before “accepting” that nothing was wrong with me. The church has to go through the same process. The irony is that the church was a big part of why I felt that way to begin with.
One more thing. I am all for protesting the churches as well. The protests in front of Mormon churches in recent months were pretty effective…not so much in changing the views of the Mormon church, but of showing their hypocrisy and misguided tenets of their religion.
Sam
@Charles Merrill:
Charles, for some time you have been one of my heroes. That is why I was sorry to see that you blew 5 grand to support this march. The intentions behind it are great, but it makes absolutely no sense. The march makes grandiose demands that exceed the federal government’s power, with no specificity and with no attempt to define a plan to achieve those demands. It really is a nice gesture but a complete waste of resources.
Our brothers and sisters in Maine need our help. This might be the best chance we have to stop our opponents and procure equality not just in Maine, but in NY, NJ, DC, and RI. The people fighting in Maine are not indulging in a a noble gesture, but are fighting a real battle for all of us. I hope that you would consider supporting them.
Brian
@Joe: “For a church to part ways with their beliefs that we are wrong or sinful, would mean that they now accept that we are not those things.”
The problem with “acceptance” is that it means we are “welcome,” but it doesn’t mean we’re no longer “wrong.” The same goes for the “inclusive” claims – it’s not enough.
We have been branded by religion as wrong, sinful and deviant. That doesn’t disappear because they “welcome” us or if they hire gay clergy. They need to end that belief. Some progressive denominations are discussing it – but, no Christian denomination or Church has ended that traditional Christian belief.
As far as time goes . . . they’ve had 2,000 years. Time’s up.
David
“we can’t name a single Christian denomination that has ended the teaching/belief that we’re wrong. ”
Ah, but honest people can name at least two – MCC and UUA.
David
“no Christian denomination or Church has ended that traditional Christian belief.”
This same lie, over and over and over again. Evidence refuting it has been provided here on Queerty time and again.
As yet, though, there is no evidence of any atheist organization that is working to create civil equality for GLBTQ people, nor is there any evidence provided of any atheist organization that explicitly, publically declares “homosexulity is not wrong”.
Brian and his peers are clearly trying to lie up a smokescreen to hide the lack of overt support from atheist organizations, by bad-mouthing some of the most supportive pro-gay rights groups around.
Scott-n-Mark
@David: “”we can’t name a single Christian denomination that has ended the teaching/belief that we’re wrong. ” … Ah, but honest people can name at least two – MCC and UUA.
We know you keep saying that David, but we both go to MCC and we asked this past Sunday if they rejected that belief and we were told “it’s not that simple,” and “we’re all sinners and wrong or even deviant because we’re all imperfect.” This was surprising to us. This Sunday we’re bringing the Declaration. Hopefully, they will sign it.
Brian is a bit over-the-top sometimes, but he made us curious enough to ask. Your links to the MCC website didn’t demonstrate they ended that belief. It was just an article and not something from MCC, but something placed on their site. I think it would actually help MCC if they cleared this up. The debate would be over and you’d stop misrepresenting the truth.
PopSnap
@Scott-n-Mark:
While he does have a point, we shouldn’t become as bad as the very purist, demanding, “think my way or burn” people we put out to be the anti-thesis of our movement and lifestyle. By running around and making people sign a declaration to “agree with us NOW!” we will come off as being forceful, which is the number 1 reason why some people vote against our interests: they see us as crying “homophobia!” too often. While this may or may not be true, we certainly need to be careful not to come off as being forceful and easily set-off.
These people (UCC, MCC, UU, Episcopalians, other liberal christians) vote for us, are nice to us, make friends with us, and stick up for us. If they think we’re sinners, fine; at least they’re being kind about it. We need all the support we can get.
Queerty Non Fan!
I can see the tombstone marker now. Queerty Oct 11 2009 Once a a major force in the LGBT movement but totally fucked up and was a major distraction to our cause. Had a great opportunity to further LGBT causes but died as a result of tearing down the community through their efforts to be so divisive. May they rest in peace with perezhilton.com.
Mark II
@PopSnap: “If they think we’re sinners, fine; at least they’re being kind about it. We need all the support we can get.”
Are you kidding? They are “being kind” thinking we’re sinners? So, you’ll sell who or what you are in order to get some votes? That’s counterproductive. We’re not sinners or wrong, either.
Christians believe we are defective – less “human” than straight people. There is no evidence that UCC or Episcopalians “vote for us.” The problem is you have to ask “what kind of Episcopalian?” They’re splitting into two groups – conservative and liberal.
I think all religions, including christians, are against us (they have been historically) until I have some evidence or statement to the contrary. It seems like it would be easy for these “liberal” Christians to provide some clarity – especially if it’s what they already believe or that they’re supportive of us. It’s real simple to say LGBT people are “not wrong.” Why make us guess?
Cinci Chris
@Jon B:
I couldn’t have said it better myself. People need to shut the fuck up if they aren’t going to be willing to contribute to the movement. (And I agree with the person begging the queers not to embarrass us this weekend. Keep your dicks in your drawers! The media could have a field day.)
Jame's Gang Dallas
@Cinci Chris: +1,500 coming from Dallas. This is going to be big. Maybe 400,000. I knew LGBT would heed the call for direct action. We are going to change a lot of minds next weekend. Cleve was right on target.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
Queerty is Now more Hated than Perez Hilton!