October 11, 2009 National Equity March on Washington

Varying LGBT organizations have been nay saying Cleve Jones' call for a march on Washington, D.C, this coming October. On October 11, 2009, to be exact. One of the main arguments against a march is that the funds involved could be better used on local LGBT civil rights endeavors. While this perhaps true, by the same token a march on Washington might energize LGBT Americans who to date have sat on the sidelines and never been involved politically. In Virginia, it has been the passage of anti-gay legislation that has made a number of LGBT Virginians finally wake up and get off their butts. At present, we have a President who promised real change and to deliver on a number of promises for increased rights for LGBT Americans. To date, that President, Barack Obama, has delivered absolutely nothing. Maybe those broken promises combined with seeing other LGBT citizens engaged and demanding equality will cause others to awaken politically. Of course there are other reasons for supporting the march as well. Fellow Bilerico blogger Bill Browning has a post that looks at why a march makes sense:

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I choose to believe Hope's retention is meant to be comforting and not a bane to our existence. In that spirit, I've decided to whole-heartedly endorse Equality Across America and the National Equality March.

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It's clear now that this is our strongest and best opportunity to make a communal statement that will resonate. Going to Washington does not take away or diminish other efforts. Consider the IMAX experience versus the Netflix version. The impact of what you see on widescreen can never be entirely duplicated at home.

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The reach of the march extends far beyond the individual in-your-face. It is a show of solidarity and force, a statement that is in proportion in its volume to the need for such a statement. The communal voice has been silent since the loss in California. That voice was heard in the wake of Prop 8, but not since. It's time for that voice. While the idea may have been the province of only a few people in its inception, it is now, in its full discussion, owned by many.

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Gay, Inc. is not the enemy of the grassroots movement. The young new activists and online media gurus are not diametrically opposed to established lobbying efforts and infrastructure. We have to find a way to bring all of our best activists, strategists and lobbyists together in a way that allows them to work in conjunction while checking our egos at the door.

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I'm putting my own reservations aside in favor of Pandora's last and best gift to humanity. None of us can open this box on our own. This time to pry the lid open, it's going to take all of the muscle and determination of our community. After all, we too are "All Gifted." It's time to take Hope out of the box and use it.

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Personally, I plan on going to Washington and the boyfriend no doubt will go with me - as will a number of people I know from the Hampton Roads area. I am tired of being a second class citizen and having my rights diminished solely because I do not subscribe to the fear and hate based religious beliefs of the Christianists who have for far too long controlled the lives of others in total abrogation of the right to freedom of religion promised to all citizens under the U. S. Constitution. Damn right I'm going to Washington to voice my demands for equality.