NYC mobilizes for LGBT march

August 31, 2009

NEW YORK--Over 300 people gathered in Central Park's Delacorte Theater on August 28 to mobilize support for the October 11 National Equality March in Washington D.C.

In attendance were the entire cast of the musical Hair and several LGBT rights leaders, including Cleve Jones, the creator of the NAMES Project AIDS memorial quilt. "It's not about sexuality, it's about economic justice," said Jones about the upcoming march to demand equal rights for the LGBT community.

Jones explained that he originally wanted to avoid a march because organizing them is "a freaking nightmare," but after passage of Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage in California and the election of Obama, he decided that it was time to make our voices heard.

"Now is the time," he said. "This is an historic moment. The door is open, but it is pushing shut."

Even though it was raining on the crowd sitting in the bleachers of the outdoor theater, they stayed enthusiastic by cheering and chanting. Many were frustrated with President Barack Obama's lack of action.

"It is especially disappointing that now he is in the White House he tells us to wait," said David Stone, a Broadway producer. "I want my fucking rights and I want them now."

Another complaint often heard was that political leaders were just courting LGBT votes and money and then not delivering on promises. "We still have [the Defense of Marriage Act]. We still have no health benefits," said photographer Alan Stone. "We've become a fucking ATM machine."

Everyone was encouraged to attend a meeting to organize buses and contribute ideas for the march at the LGBT Community Center in Midtown New York on September 8 at 6 p.m.

Some attendees were nervous about not enough people traveling to the event because of the recession, but Jones stressed urgency. "I'm not waiting for the economy to recover to get my rights," he said.

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