Comments on: Five Alternatives to the March on Washington

By: 2009: The year that was (or wasn’t) · InterstateQ.com

2009: The year that was (or wasn’t) · InterstateQ.com — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:47:00 +0000

[...] LGBT organizations, activists, bloggers and others initially rejected the idea. In June, I offered five alternatives to the Jones-Mixner march. In October, the national march was held and about 250,000 LGBT and straight ally folks traveled to [...]

By: John

John — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:49:22 +0000

I agree whole heartedly with what you say. The MOW is a done deal though. Money is tight everywhere, and I can’t imagine a large turnout during these difficult economic times. And another thing about the MOW, it is still not clear (seems doubtful) that there will be any kind of “march,” (parade)but rather just a large meeting along the mall.

And nobody told me about “circuit parties” at previous marches! Is that even true? I don’t think so.

By: sickntired

sickntired — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:36:25 +0000

ANOTHER damn march in which nothing will get done, except of spending a shit load of money, Congress will be on vacation,, wow what an impact..NOT.. this is why we can’t get ahead..

By: dave

dave — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:45:26 +0000

Oh tell Lonnie or whatever that im the token ‘right winger’ he/she can beat up on.

By: dave

dave — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:44:21 +0000

Matt, I am with you 100 percent on the state issue. As a person of the right I value the states as being test beds of sorts for democratic and social change. Dick Cheney is right about the states and marriage.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:17:10 +0000

GrrlRomeo said, “We have a Democratic President, and a Democratic House and Senate. This is not something that happens that often. That is why the time is NOW to lobby and petition the Federal.”

Then you should march on a day when our national leaders will actually be at work, and not on vacation, so that you can have the chance to lobby and petition them. Right?

By: GrrrlRomeo

GrrrlRomeo — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:40:32 +0000

We have a Democratic President, and a Democratic House and Senate. This is not something that happens that often. That is why the time is NOW to lobby and petition the Federal.

This March is going to happen because enough people want it to whether bloggers want it or not. Please stop trying to make it fail. Please? Some people do feel like they need this. Please let us do what we feel we need to do. Do I have to beg? I mean…if this is what some of us feel passionate about…this particular action, if you try to stomp it out it’ll break some people’s spirit and they won’t want to be involved anymore. You can suggest alternatives out your ears, but it won’t change that a march on Washington is what some of us have a heart set on. So…I’m begging, if you don’t agree with it, then just let those of us who want to do it instead of trying to discourage participation.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:10:55 +0000

Lonnie… If you think I’m a part of some “right wing/conservative leadership” that wants to gain freedom gradually, then you certainly have never, not even once, spent any significant time researching who I am, reading this blog or following the things I have done (mostly on a local level).

Kind of shameful for someone who is trying to take someone to task for not knowing something, huh?

But that’s besides the point. This post and these proposals were directly related to better uses of Cleve Jones’ donors’ $100,000. I never said things like these weren’t in the works, and if they are, then great. We should add $100,000 to their budgets.

And note… it has only been nine years since our last national march on Washington (and that one was just as controversial as the present idea and ended disastrously). It sounds like the author doesn’t know this.

By: Lonnie

Lonnie — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:33:51 +0000

Every single one of these proposals is already being implemented. It sounds like the author doesn’t know this. He should get involved in some of the local activities and organizations already existing. The point is that these things have already been done for the last 30 years and there’s been very little significant progress at the national level. He says “For the record: I think a march on Washington, in this day and time, is a bad idea.” When is a good time to march? Never? The point is we haven’t had a national march in almost 17 years. People told MLK that a march on Washington was a bad idea. And guess what? They were wrong. The March forced Kennedy to recognize the civil rights movement and finally pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act. It’s time to ignore the right wing/conservative leadership who tell us to patiently wait for politicians to grant us our rights. It’s time to stand up and fight for our rights. As the civil rights activist John Lewis wrote “We must say that patience is a dirty and nasty word. We do not want our freedom gradually. We want our freedom NOW!”

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:54:22 +0000

Tom, I completely agree: Activism does need to be a constant, but it should never be a waste.

I think protests and/or demonstrations on July 4th are a fabulous idea, bringing attention to the fact that while we are collectively celebrating our independence and freedom, not all Americans have yet been able to benefit from the dream laid down at our nation’s founding.