I was not at the National Equality March but I know many Interstate Q readers were. Here’s the space to share your experience, process the event, and ask questions.
I’m looking forward to all of the insight!
Open Discussion: National Equality March
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About the Author: Brian
Brian G. Murphy, 24, was raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC and despite a four year forlough in sunny Southern California, recently returned to the east coast--sharing a house in New York. He is a filmmaker, activist, web-designer, friend, and Christian. You can connect with him at www.begeem.com.
6 Responses to “Open Discussion: National Equality March”
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October 12th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go to the March, either. Work here in Charlotte kept me in town. From what I’ve heard turnout was good, although some folks are disappointed it wasn’t more. The estimates I’ve heard range from 150,000 to 200,000 or more.
I’ve also heard the March was well-attended by young people. That’s phenomenal. I just hope the momentum doesn’t die out and Equality Across America will be able to continue to organize in all 435 congressional districts.
A friend of mine was doing some freelancing up there for Q-Notes. Can’t wait to read his account.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
The March accomplished exactly what Cleve Jones intended. It took the focus off of action on the state level, particularly Maine and Washington state where we are fighting critical battles right now, and put it on him. So three weeks from now when Question 1 passes and Referendum 71 fails, I want to see (a) the actual text of Cleve’s Magical Omnibus Federal Queer Equality Act, and (b) his schedule for getting it enacted. The cry is ”Full equality now.” If we’re demanding specifics and a timetable from Obama, let’s see the same from our own ‘new leaders.’ If we don’t see it, we’ll know The March was just an act of mass self-gratification after all.
October 13th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Even though I live in DC, I wasn’t able to attend the equality march mainly because my Russian obyfriend came back from having spent seven weeks in Russia and we had a lot to do now that he’s back. However…we did go around DC watching all the activities, the people going to and returning from the march, and the huge numbers of gay youth, and those that support gay youth, walking around with their rainbow flags…holding hands. We were seeing our people even walking around the Marine Barracks on 8th Street SE. Of course, what we also noticed was the extra security that the Mraines placed around that place. We couldn’t understand why, since everybody was very well behaved! I guess the USMC still has issues. Along the Mall, the crowds were also well behaved and long after the march was over, we saw people milling around doing what many people do when they go the DC – sightseeing! It was a great mixture of gay and straight walking around just being themsleves. Many gay couples, like straight couples, were holding hands as they walked around. For a few straights, this was a shock. For us, it was a healthy shock and something that is needed – something we need to do more often. When Yevgeniy (Eugene) and I go visit Colonial Williamsburg, we, too, hold hands as we walk. We don’t mind the stares.
Oh, yes…the weather this past weekend was just great! My popular watering holes were filled with many visitors from out of town. I talked to a few that came from the Midwest , or other conservative areas of our country, and they were estatic about being able to be more open around DC. I explained to them that it didn’t have to be like this. We have thriving ocmmunities in our large Midwest cities as well. Anyway, the rainbow flags were abundant Sunday.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I was there. I rode up with a group from Greensboro, NC on a packed full charter bus. Most of the group was young and about half were straight allies.
Upon arrival we gathered in the starting pong (somewhere near “I” street is all I remember about where that was). The march started a little late (about 45 minutes) but there were so many people that I was petrified that I would get separated from my group and have to find alternate transportation home! Luckily, that didn’t happen.
Just before the march began I looked to the sky to notice a rainbow. No, not a flag, but a natural rainbow. That’s not to say there were no rainbow flags, because, as I’m sure you can imagine and have seen in news reports, there was no lack of such insignia. Once the march began we chanted and drummed and made our way to the capitol building.
The speeches on the lawn went on for quite some time, about three hours or so. I was famished, so I skipped a few to run to have a bite to eat but returned in time for Lady Gaga, that girl from Queer as Folk, Clive Jones, and someone from the labor unions among others. The overriding theme of these remarks were encouragement to lobby on the state level even though we must demand equality on the national level as well.
While exhausting, this was perhaps one of the most beautiful days I have lived. Seeing such a large crowd including so many straight allies warmed my heart and when the masses sang “America the Beautiful” together a tear came to my eyes. Did you know that song was written by a lesbian?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:29 am
I just hope the momentum doesn’t die out and Equality Across America will be able to continue to organize in all 435 congressional districts… ?
October 29th, 2009 at 8:07 am
I was there! I had gone to the HRC dinner the night before where I saw President Barack Obama give his famous speech about ending don’t ask don’t tell and signing ENDA and the Matthew Shepard Act. And Lady GaGa performed Imagine by John Lennon and the cast of Glee spoke and performed and Rep. Patrick Kennedy paid tribute to his father and awarded the Edward It was quite a magical evening.
The next day – hundreds, thousands of us headed over to the Capitol Building. HRC members from all over the country congregated and walked together. We had rainbow flags and handmade signs everywhere. Chants of Equality were everywhere.
We heard several people speak (a few too many unfortunately) but a few that stood out were – Cynthia Nixon, Judy Shepard, Bruce Bastian and of course Lady GaGa.
There were students from UCLA to NC State, there were gay people and straight people, old and young. It was wonderful to be a part of such a movement, such a historical march. But I am not really sure if it really achieved the purpose or how much it managed to do – in terms of making a difference.