LGBTQ Groups Participate in March on Washington – Georgia Voice – Gay & LGBT Atlanta News

Hundreds of activists and spectators attended the sixtieth Anniversary March on Washington on Saturday, Aug. 26. Advocates and leaders from labor unions, religion communities, political teams, and group organizations traveled to the Lincoln Memorial on the historic web site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech to name for a continuation within the battle for racial justice and equality.

A number of audio system on the rally included a name for LGBTQ equality as an integral a part of the broader battle for social justice. Leaders of LGBTQ organizations have been among the many audio system on the Lincoln Monument. Notable LGBTQ audio system included activists Ollie Henry and Hope Giselle representing the Nationwide Black Justice Coalition; Kierra Johnson, government director of the Nationwide LGBTQ Activity Drive; Stacey Stevenson, president and CEO of Household Equality; and Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Marketing campaign.

A number of audio system remarked upon the legacy of out homosexual activist and chief Bayard Rustin, the architect of the unique 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

“I’m honored to be right here amongst so many leaders, however particularly the legacy of Bayard Rustin,” HRC President Robinson stated in her remarks. “Bayard Rustin was the lead organizer for the primary March on Washington and he led proudly and loudly as an out homosexual Black man, y’all. And I say that as a result of the reality is that lesbian, homosexual, bi, trans and queer individuals: We’re right here immediately and we now have at all times been right here.”

“I’ve a easy request,” Robinson continued. “You probably have a queer or trans youngster: love them and love them utterly. You probably have a Delight flag: fly it, waive it, and waive it proudly. And when you’ve acquired a vote: by God, use it.”

Activity Drive Govt Director Johnson spoke concerning the challenges dealing with members of the LGBTQ group, notably those that reside within the intersections of identities that face discrimination.

“Our lives are actually beneath assault,” Johnson stated. “Our transgender, genderqueer and non-binary kids are being focused, faith has been weaponized to disclaim care and rights to our family members. The erosion of voting rights, the dehumanization of immigrants, the policing of Black and brown our bodies and makes an attempt to erase our contributions from the historical past books. And but, right here we’re.”

Johnson continued, “We deserve congressional leaders that may go important, life-saving and affirming laws just like the EACH Act, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Renewing Immigration Provisions Act, and the enlargement of civil rights in passing the Equality Act.”

Within the pre-program speeches, non-binary activist Ollie Henry remarked, “The March on Washington has at all times been a march in direction of. A march in direction of actualizing the desires our ancestors laid into every marble slab positioned on this stolen soil. They’d a dream to be seen, accepted and celebrated simply as they’re. A long time in the past, queer people within the motion have been stored to the outskirts of our group’s backyard. However immediately, we stand within the daylight.”

Hope Giselle of Get Phluid and the GSA Community addressed the group.

“As I stand right here, the place 60 years in the past somebody believed in a dream, as a Black trans lady, my dream is to have the ability to stroll round amongst my individuals on the very cookout that so many are invited to who don’t belong and really feel protected,” she stated. “My dream is that after I stroll into my dwelling, after I see the faces of the folks that appear to be me, they aren’t turned up in disgust due to the way in which that I present up and that the contributions that I and the remainder of my group make towards the betterment of Blackness is accepted as helpful.”

“To face on the steps the place this lovely speech was given and be acknowledged within the fullness of who I’m each being Black and being a trans lady on the identical time feels superb,” Giselle instructed the Blade. “However I additionally really feel prefer it’s commemorative of the message that Dr. King gave, which is one, I imagine, about solidarity of all individuals and concerning the coming collectively of everybody for the rights of oldsters.”

Following the speeches, activists held indicators and chanted in a march starting at Lincoln Circle continuing south on twenty third Avenue, N.W. The march continued alongside Independence Avenue and concluded at West Potomac Park close to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.