March

Continued from page one

Although the speakers started last long before the marchers reached the rally because of the sheer numbers of marchers, most of the marchers were fortunate to hear the only presidential candidate to even acknowledge the march, Jesse Jackson, who spoke of unity for all people.

Other speakers included actors Whoopi Goldberg and Robert Blake; former NOW President Ellie Smeal; labor leader Cesar Chavez; Danı Bradley, Person with AIDS and Legal Services Director under the Carter Administration; lesbian rights activist Virginia Apuzzo, Deputy Executive Director of the New York State Consumer Protec tion Board; Rev. Troy Perry, cofounder of the Metropolitan Community Churches; Barbara Smith, Board Member of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays; lesbian rights activist Kareri Thompson; comedian Robin Tyler and others.

Among highlights of the event were 13 lesbian and gay marching bands and choruses, religious contingents and marchers from nearly every state of the nation. A special delegations included

Names Project

Continued from page one

Glitter, feathers, sequins, and mementoes were woven into the vast tapestry. Hundreds of pa nels,

some simple, some ornate, each one pieced together by the loving hands of lovers, friends, and families of those who have died, ranged one after another in a sobering and interminable procession: Jerry

Martin

Perry

Jack

Chris

....

Jan Bill Mark

...

Gary Rosa Robert Terry

...

....

for

.. and, simply, "Unknown". Meri and women grieved their fallen brothers and sis-ters; many wept openly. Some, who unknowingly attended the exhibit alone, were left shaken by the graphic representation of humani loss and in need of the comfor ting presence of a friend. And ordinary social boundaries dissolved strangers as embraced

November 1987

veterans, parents and friends of lesbians and gays, elected officials and other over 30 major contingents. "This week marks a new stage for the lesbian and gay rights movement," said Washington, DC, Attorney and March co-chair Kay Ostberg. "We've come to Washing-

ton to show our visibility, but also our strength, our anger, our resilience and our hope. This civil rights movement has come of and we are not age politically, silent going back to the days of We are here to demarid suffering. an end to discrimination now.

The National Masch On Washington For Lesbian & Gay Righ

Houston proves Texas has plenty of pride.

weeping strangers and shared with them their sorrow.

Over half a million lesbians and gay men were able to participate in the March and experience the Names Project. A great numof the gay community, how-

not were

ber ever, fortunate. While the March, of course, is over, orie Clevelander, Dale Melness, has begun working to bring city.

the Names Project to this

The Names Project will begin a tour of the U.S. next spring, starting in the Southern states. Northern cities to be visited by the exhibit include Albany, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Madison Wisconsin. soned Melness, Cleveland be part of itinerary?

Detroit, Why, reashouldn't

the

Currently,

Melness and others

are seeking funding and exploring ways to promote the Names Project in Cleveland. Future issues of the CHRONICLE will provide progress reports on their efforts to bring the exhibit here. But there is something the gay community can do right riow to help.

The

not route of the tour is Melness. The yet final, says central office of the Names Project in California has advised that Clevelanders should conduct letter-writing campaign to

Cleveland. bring the exhibit to Those who saw the Names Project in Washington can tell their friends arid acquaintances that bringing the exhibit to this city is a cause worthy of a 22-cent stamp. Letters requesting that Cleveland be included in the U.S. tour of the Names Project should be mailed to: The Names Project, P.0.Box 14573, San Francisco, CA 94114. Kaija Berzins

The CHRONICLE