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06/13/2009
Permits Approved, LGBT March on Washington is on in October
Cleve Jones' call for a National March on Washington appears to be moving forward. Yesterday, he reported that permits have been approved. There's a website and a newly approved video.
More to come, I'm sure.
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 2:07 PM EST by Andy Towle in Activism, Barack Obama, Cleve Jones, Gay Rights, News, Washington DC | Permalink
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This is going to be amazing
Posted by: Derek | Jun 13, 2009 2:58:09 PM
It's been reported that Both Houses of Congress are going to be home on Fall Recess for that weekend, so what's the point?
- More useless shouting and arm-waving?
- More impotent speeches by (demonstratively) ineffectual G/L leadership to a empty Capitol facade and the trees on the National Mall?
- A few in-crowd heated-discissions and more hand-wringing at some tony Georgetown and DuPont Circle cocktail parties?
Obama doesn't care about the G/L agenda; Prop-8, DOMA, ENDA nor DADT. Congress doesn't care either. And all the Democratic National Committee cares about is making sure the G/L community continues it's unquestioning, non-accountable support of the Party and continues to fill it's coffers like "The Gays" were an ATM-machine.
Posted by: Ted B. (Changing Rhino) | Jun 13, 2009 3:50:30 PM
Ted B:
You are such a bitter hag. Lemme guess, you (a) live in CA where you already blew your chance for equality or (b) you're some sort of self-loathing, fatass, shut-in, Log Cabin Republican. Do this world a favor and leave it.
Posted by: LeoInDc | Jun 13, 2009 4:11:49 PM
geez guys, please leave the hating for the biggots and the narrow.
Posted by: M. Clay | Jun 13, 2009 4:26:51 PM
To all of those that think this is a waste of time and energy, I ask....WHY?!! What else would you be doing? It's one day out of your lives.
We can all whine about the ineffectiveness of demonstrations, advertising, organizing, writing letters, phone banking, knocking on doors, lobbying the government, fundraising, etc. We have to use every weapon in our arsenal to make change. Discouraging others from standing up for our rights is the truly counterproductive act.
Posted by: Kyle R | Jun 13, 2009 4:55:29 PM
Ted,
I think you need to read a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. from his "I Have A Dream" speech:
"In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."
Please, stop drinking from your cup of bitterness and hatred. If you don't agree with the march, then do something else to help the LGBT cause, and don't try to ruin the march.
Posted by: SFNative | Jun 13, 2009 5:12:07 PM
I'm all for it. This state by state shit is going to take 85 years.
Posted by: Dan | Jun 13, 2009 5:24:54 PM
March On Washington, YES, absolutely. But why not do it when CONGRESS is in session? Our Congressmen and women are the ones that need to see the anger and the crowds. They are the ones that the media needs to interview as they view this protest. They are the ones that should have their offices blitzed with protesters.
Marching on Washington during a Congressional recess isn't going to be effective or newsworthy when the people who should be seeing the march, are going to be home, campaigning for the 2010 elections.
Posted by: Taylor | Jun 13, 2009 5:51:02 PM
Yeah, the state-by-state crap will take forever. Plus, why are we even ok with that method?
Why does the state of California have any more place to deny me marriage rights than the U.S. Government?
"I think it's an issue best left up to the states"
When Obama and others say things like this, we need to call them on it, because it's a completely hollow statement.
Posted by: Kevin | Jun 13, 2009 5:54:08 PM
So everyone who can't make it to DC for this go and picket outside your state's representatives home on the 10th. Someone needs to compile thier home addresses so we know where to go.
Posted by: Jersey | Jun 13, 2009 6:10:04 PM
YES!!! I will be there, my family will be there. It's time!
Posted by: Feral | Jun 13, 2009 6:33:04 PM
"March On Washington, YES, absolutely. But why not do it when CONGRESS is in session?"
It doesn;t really matter if they are in session or not. The media will be there. There is no extra statement made because Congress is there it not like you'd get to see them or they would come out for a meet and greet. Its really a sign and symbol of standing up and being counted and being there. As I said the media will be there and there will be enough media coverage so I am sure they will hear about it. The PRESIDENT will be there though if thats any consolation.
I also believe that Columbus Day weekend was picked so more people would be able to attend withoput missing work.
After yesterday I for one am certainly going to be there.
Posted by: Wolfie | Jun 13, 2009 7:27:15 PM
Yes, a 3 day weekend with no one in the city, the President will probably be at Camp David and and the rest of the country will be doing anything but watching the news. We'll get a two minute blurb on network news, before they cut to how the US is celebrating Columbus day this year. That is if there isn't a huge upset in college football and they need to extra time to devote to that. Sounds like a plan to me.
Posted by: Taylor | Jun 13, 2009 8:06:59 PM
I just hope it's a march. I'd hate to see people turn this into an excuse for another circuit party. That's all the media would cover.
Posted by: Steve | Jun 13, 2009 8:36:26 PM
Taylor,
Sounds like you're a bit bitter about this. Like I said to Ted earlier, I suggest you to stay away from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
Change comes in leaps and bounds at times, and overall change comes slowly. It took us 40 years from Stonewall to get so far, and we achieved legal milestones along the way, and we now face a real war ahead of us as we aim for our federal equal civil human rights, the whole enchilada, over the next few years, and continue to press persistently and consistently as an LGBT community and population as the overall change continues to evolve in our favor in the coming decades.
You need to have hope, my friend. Maybe there are aspects about the march that you may not see as favorable. Please, do not hurt the march, and if you do not agree with it, if you are not already, go out there and do what you can do in making change with us.
Posted by: SFNative | Jun 13, 2009 9:25:55 PM
Not everyone who disagrees with the timing of this march is bitter. Calling me bitter or full of hatred, is like me calling you a Pollyanna because you think everything is all sunshine a lollipops and that no matter when or where we march it will be effective. It's simply not so.
You need to come up with a better line...because bitter doesn't cut it. And calling someone bitter or full of hate because they don't agree with you, is not exactly a unifying statement, is it? Physician Heal Thyself.
We need to make sure that when we do these marches and protest, they have the MAXIMUM affect, otherwise it's wasted effort and with each wasted effort, the next protest becomes that much more difficult to organize and carry off.
I simply fail to see how having a march in a city that's going to be empty, on a holiday weekend, when people are going to be doing countless other things, is the most effective way to protest or maximize the effort. It has nothing to do with bitterness and everything to do with common sense. Would you mount a theatrical production, hoping for acclaim and then perform it without an audience?
Posted by: Taylor | Jun 13, 2009 10:19:52 PM
I'm sure Cleve and his dozens of gay white male friends with disposable incomes will have a great time.
That nothing will come of this -- attendance will be small, media won't show, government won't change, the event will be wildly disorganized -- is a foregone conclusion, but I can't imagine how it could cause any harm, either. It's just one weekend and, hopefully, the people who go will still have time and money to put toward good uses once it's over.
And it would be great if Cleve would command his minions to do something worthwhile once this is a bust, since apparently he's calling the shots for some people for some reason. I guess because a character based on him was in that movie we all liked so much last year? Everyone realizes this isn't really that cutie Emile Hirsch organizing this, right?
Posted by: ohplease | Jun 14, 2009 5:02:53 AM
Flight booked, hotel confirmed, ready to march on Washington and demand equality. Naysayers can speak their piece, but NOTHING ever changes without public protest.
My flights from LA to DC on Virgin America cost $220 return (including tax). While the current economy is hurting us all, this amount is not out of reach of many people. I'm sharing the hotel room I booked with some friends, so that the whole weekend will cost around $450. So, if you can afford to use some savings to come to DC, get a group together and save on costs. Book early and there's some great deals.
Millions of American trekked to DC to experience and celebrate the inauguration of Obama, and no one condemned them for their actions. And they certainly weren't all "wealthy white men".
I call on anyone who can't afford the time or money to travel to DC to organize local marches so that this is a MARCH ON AMERICA. If every city and every state has marches, we'll be getting a LOT more media attention. I think we also need to stretch the protests out for the entire weekend.
And we don't need to wait until October. We need to come up with ideas for national protests between now and then. A one day protest alone is, OF COURSE, not going to change the status quo, but it is an effective and essential tool in our fight for equality. I hope everyone who cares about this issue will do what they can to make the effort to get involved, in any way you can!
Posted by: Lewis Payton | Jun 14, 2009 5:30:21 AM
Oh yea, this is really gonna change things. I hope there's massive civil disobedience. Imaging people chained to the W. H. fence. That I'd go to Dc for. Otherwise. ZI'll stay home & have a beer
Posted by: haddie weinreb | Jun 14, 2009 7:00:42 AM
Wow .
You guys are incredible...So bitter and complacent!....For each Person at the March there are probably 10 whiners like you at home...
1987 changed my life and 1992 was a powerful experience You can sleep in your car if you have to I did also camping is not too far. It has nothing to do with money.Get over yourselves for at least that one weekend fuck your issues and get yourself to WAshington...Plus video and pics will prove we were there
Posted by: John Normile | Jun 14, 2009 8:20:49 AM
Your President and your Senate and Congress have drawn a line in the sand for you and are daring you to cross. You are going to need to be willing to fight and possibly die for your rights and your beliefs. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
Freedom will not come without it's martyrs.
Posted by: Marc C | Jun 14, 2009 11:27:45 AM
I think the MOW is a great idea and doing it on a three day weekend will help attendance. Regarding "Congress is not in session" - who cares. As some one else pointed out, this is not a "meet and greet" - and believe me, if this event is as large as I think it will be, Congress WILL know! The important thing will be that we have a large turnout. And to the comment that "the city will be empty"... more better for us, makes it easier to travel there and get accommodations! It's about symbolism and PRESS coverage.
Posted by: Mike | Jun 14, 2009 11:49:06 AM
Marches don't change minds or votes. Not even the 1963 march did.
Legislators respond to personal lobbying esp by constituents, mail campaigns, contributions or the lack of contributions, and the financing of challengers.
The most effective organizations/groups that influence government action don't march, like the NRA and AARP.
Have fun. But don't pretend it's the most effective use of time and effort.
Posted by: BillyBoy | Jun 14, 2009 2:58:39 PM
It's easy to let our emotions get the better of us. It's understandable to let negativity get us down. But what if we jumped beyond this limiting view? What if we did something positive? What if we just took a chance and pitched in to make a difference? What if we joined together as a community and made our presence heard? There is a tremendous opportunity in front of us. It's a great to see so much passion. It's our right to choose what to do and that I leave up to you. What I wonder is will you look back at this moment and wish you would have done something? Will you wish you were there in the moment when change really happened for the LGBT community? No one knows what is going to happen but it's better to move forward. I hope our community can let the little things go and rise to hear the issue of our equality clearly. The moment to be the change is here. Be a part of change for you and our families and those who come after us.
Posted by: James Manon | Jun 15, 2009 7:22:38 PM
as I have said before...this is too soon for a March. A year from now you would/will have more pissed off people with money to get there!!!
Posted by: lenny | Jul 1, 2009 5:23:03 PM