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Loading ...Gay rights activist calls for march on Washington
06.08.2009 8:09am EDT
(Salt Lake City) An activist who worked alongside slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk announced plans Sunday for a march on Washington this fall to demand that Congress establish equality and marriage rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Cleve Jones said the march planned for Oct. 11 will coincide with National Coming Out Day and launch a new chapter in the gay rights movement. He made the announcement during a rally at the annual Utah Pride Festival.“We seek nothing more and nothing less than equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states,” Jones said.
He stirred up a crowd of thousands just blocks from the Salt Lake City headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, part of a conservative coalition that worked last fall to pass California’s Proposition 8, which overturned a court ruling legalizing gay marriage.
“I’ve got a message for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Jones shouted. “I’ve got two words from California … I’ve got two words for the prophet … Thank you. Thank you for uniting us. Thank you for galvanizing us.”
Mormons were among the campaign’s most vigorous volunteers and financial contributors, giving tens of millions of dollars to back Proposition 8, which Jones said has helped awaken and unite the gay rights movement in all 50 states.
Like many faiths, Mormons hold traditional marriage as a sacred institution. The church has been active in fighting marriage equality legislation across the U.S. since the 1990s and, in 2006, joined other faiths in asking Congress for a marriage amendment to the Constitution.
Gay marriage is legal in six states. A handful of others allow civil unions for same-sex couples and about 40 either bar the recognition of same-sex marriage or have explicitly defined marriage – through legislation or constitutional amendments – as between a man and a woman.
Jones was a protege of Milk, San Francisco’s first openly gay elected official, who was shot and killed by a fellow member of the Board of Supervisors in 1978. In the mid-80s Jones founded the NAMES Project, the AIDS memorial quilt that recognizes the more than 80,000 Americans who have died from HIV/AIDS.
In an interview Friday, he said a confluence of events – a new president, the success of the movie “Milk” and Proposition 8 – makes this the right time to intensify the fight for equality.
Since November, Jones said he has received hundreds of e-mails from Latter-day Saints who apologized and said they were uncomfortable or ashamed by the faith’s fight against Proposition 8.
“It’s unfortunate that a church and a people who experienced persecution in the past could not come to some accommodation that would allow them to maintain their faith without so vociferously seeking to deny other people their rights,” Jones said.
Go, Cleve! I will see in DC. This is way, way overdue, but I am happy to burn some shoe leather for you! We need to rally!
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” – Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi
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“Mahatma Gandhi on Homosexuality”
Two gay Englishmen came to Gandhi in the 1930s and asked him what he thought of their relationship.
The Mahatma asked some questions and for a short time fell silent.
Then he said, “The greatest gift God gives us is another person to love.”
Placing the hands of each man in the other’s, he quietly and with a smile asked, “Who are we to question God’s choice?”
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Ah Harvey Milk. The very man that Withers basically puts down when he forces his belief that we should not resort to anything to resolve our issues.
This march is a great idea. Look what the million man march did for Obama.
My partner and I are actually getting married Oct 10, so we will be having a mini-march of our own!
Sorry, Cleve, we won’t be seeing you there.
We can’t afford the trip, much less hotels that rent for triple digits a night in the District of Columbia.
Why don’t you focus all the money and energy that would be spent on this event on the fights we have on our plate this fall where we can win and actually advance the cause for gay people? Saaaaay, the likely referendum in Maine, or the New Jersey campaigns for governor and legislature. Or perhaps the work to repeal Prop 8 in California.
I appreciate Cleve’s enthusiasm, but marches on washington do absolutely nothing to advance legislation. I’ve been involved in such events in the nation’s Capitol before that resulted in no bills advancing in Congress–just like all the other various special interest groups who have held similar DC marches without any legislative payoff.
While organizing and standing in solidarity with thousands of others definitely feels good, don’t expect to actually see results from such action.
Rather than spending your money traveling to Washington, I’d suggest sending it to moderate (”on the fence”) congressional representatives along with a note asking for their support on specific pieces of gay rights legislation.
ITS ABOUT TIME!! FINALLY !! JUST TIRED OF WAITING,,,,,,,,,,, EVERYONE GET READY TO MARCH !! SE YA THERE !!
Marches on Washington do do something. They get us counted by the federal government. They energize the people. And they give those who never marched before a chance to feel connected to gays the country wide.
It Is Time to march for our long over-due rights as Americans, gay or straight! I will gladly join the march on Washington or any other city in U.S.!
This is all well and good for the cause. Although having the Supreme Court force all 50 states to fall in line with our Constitution: has unforseen side effects that will adversely effect the public. People that support Prop 8 will be angry, and this anger will no doubtingly be felt by the public, and caused more friction on the streets of our communities. Since Prop 8 is a microcosm of what is also felt in all 50 states.
I feel all rights will be legally given to All the People, as they were meant to apply to All the People, in a ruling handed down by the Supreme Court – when America is ready too handle it properly and as adults. I think concentrating on a local level is a better way to go. The GLBT community must prepare common people: like our neighbors, for what will eventually happen. We would fair better, if we helped people understand the importance of Every American enjoying the freedom’s that is justly due.
Organizing on a National level is still a good idea. Although we should not make any demands during this campaign. Rather apply this attitude on a State level, where it will do the most good. Use D.C. as solely a means to get recognition on a National awareness level – The theme should be more in line with a good faith, or good will gesture, devoid of any demands: at this time.
The last thing the GLBT community wont’s to do, is force our values down others people’s throat. The better approach would be to take our time with this – and do it right. We won’t to make friend’s in our community’s not enemies.
has anyone told Cleve that three other groups have already reserved the Mall in DC for that weekend? I’m all in favor of a march, but let’s not announce a date prematurely.
About F*CKING time!!!! My husband and I will be there with our two daughters – regardless of cost. For all the naysayers – marches do impact the public and they unify the groups marching. It has been 40 years since Stonewall this month – we have momentum with the vile Prop 8 ruling, we have been trying peacefully for 40 years to “talk to our neighbors”…it is time to march, show solidarity, unify our community not just about marriage…this is a march for CIVIL RIGHTS….so the mall has other reservations, so congress isn’t in session, so what….it is time to send Obama a powerful message that we do have numbers, we are vocal, we won’t be silent and just “talk” anymore….and for those that think we should focus on “state by state”…that is utter BS. This is about the federal government upholding the values of the Constitution…until we get federal recognition and equality, winning marriage or civil unions or DP does nothing…doesn’t give you the rights you deserve…doesn’t let gay servicepeople live open and honestly, doesn’t protect you from violence, doesn’t give you equal taxation…doesn’t let you sponsor a spouse from another country…and the list goes on and on. I have been married to my husband for 2 years and while it was personally very fulfilling and important for us, it doesn’t allow me to check that little box when I file my taxes that says MARRIED. It won’t get us social security protection should something happen to one of us, doesn’t make him my next of kin by law…you get my point. WE FULLY SUPPORT THE MOW AND WILL BOOK AS SOON AS IT IS SOLIDIFIED!!!!
No doubt Obama is racing to fill his appointment book for that date right now. But I’m sure we’ll get some pre-taped “well wishes” from afar (same language as the “proclamation”).
I will be there!
It is worth investigating the reasons that underlie the curious social phenomenon that those who have most recently obtained their civil rights are so adamant in opposing those next in line.
My husband aand I plan on attending the Washington March and I hope we will be joined by at least one-million other alles. We need to make this statement to our Government and the people of America and they must know how criticval of an issue this is for the US Congress to take action on