NGLTF endorses march on Washington

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has endorsed the National Equality March scheduled for Washington, D.C., Oct. 11.

NGLTF joins a small number of other national GLBT groups — among them the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches and Join The Impact — that are formally supporting the grassroots/netroots GLBT march.

“The Task Force will be there at the march to support the voices of new activists, LGBT people and our allies who push and push for the end to hatred, discrimination and unjust laws,” said Executive Director Rea Carey. “The Task Force is excited to support a new wave of activists and advocates.”

Marchers will “demand action from the federal government to protect our rights in all 50 states,” said organizer Kip Williams. “Real equality can only come from the president, the Congress and the Supreme Court.”

Vocal supporters of the march include veteran activists David Mixner, Torie Osborn, Cleve Jones, Ann Northrop and Nicole Murray-Ramirez, along with newer activists such as Dustin Lance Black, Lt. Dan Choi, Corey Johnson and “Meet in the Middle” organizer Robin McGehee.

Black, who won an Academy Award for writing the Milk screenplay, said:
“The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees equal protection under the law, but LGBT Americans are still denied that protection. Now is the time to push for real equality, in all matters governed by civil law.”

The Human Rights Campaign has not endorsed the march but did issue a statement saying it has an “obligation to ensure that in October, we amplify our energy not divert it.”

“With thousands of LGBT people and allies coming to Washington to make a difference, it’s our mission to help them become the citizen lobbyists that they want and need to be,” said President Joe Solmonese.

The weekend also will feature workshops, trainings, seminars and teach-ins, but no official parties, concerts or entertainment. The march route still is not finalized. For more information, see nationalequalitymarch.com.

By Rex Wockner