2 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

October 9, 2009

www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

Countdown to National Equality March nears zero

by Anthony Glassman

Washington, D.C.-The countdown to the October 11 National Equality March has almost reached zero.

Gay civil rights advocates are scrambling to make last-minute plans to get to the nation's capital in a display of political and social power aimed at the passage of national laws ensuring equality for LGBT citizens.

Various groups across Ohio have organized mass transportation to Washington for the event, including a bus being chartered to take people from Akron for $40. Last-minute reservations, if there is still room, are available by e-mailing Charlie Snyder at charlie929@aim.com or calling 330-

535-1708.

The Mahoning Valley Stonewall Democrats are also trying to organize a contingent. As of October 3, two options were being examined: an overnight trip for $85, or a day trip for $28. Information is available by contacting Don Rowinsky at mvstonewall@

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yahoo.com or 330-207-6437.

Trips are also being planned through campus organizations across the state.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid issued a letter on September 30 endorsing the march and the fight for LGBT equality.

"I write to join in your commitment to ensure equality under the law," Reid wrote. "As Senate majority leader, I will continue to work tirelessly to pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Act and the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, as well as to repeal the 'don't ask don't tell' policy."

"I will also continue to advocate for funding of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, research and housing programs," he continued, concluding, “I believe that every American should be treated equally under the law regardless of religion, sexual orientation, gender, race, or other forms of identity. I see your struggle for equality as part of a larger movement for peace and social justice."

With the march permits now officially in hand, organizers released de-

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tails of the route, with staging being held at 15th Street and I Street, near McPherson Square. Taking H Street to 17th Street, and then 17th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, the march goes past the White House to 15th Street, then down Pennsylvania Avenue all the way to the west lawn of the Capitol for the rally.

Once there, an extensive list of speakers will address the throngs, including activist David Mixner, one of the first to call for this march, as well as cochairs Cleve Jones, Lt. Dan Choi and Nicole-Murray Ramirez. March directors Kip Williams and Robin McGehee will also speak.

Perhaps one of the biggest names behind the podium will be Julian Bond, board chair of the NAACP and a founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an elder statesman of the struggle for civil rights for African Americans and a fervent supporter of LGBT civil rights.

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from a second-tier rust-belt city to an artistic metropolis that values its LGBT residents.

Not all of the organizations involved operate solely based on those lofty and selfless goals. The event is expected to bring around $60 million into the area's coffers, which would be a great boost to the local economy.

The lower cost of living in Cleveland was likely a contributing factor to its selection as the 2014 host city. Previous host cities like Sydney, Australia, New York City, San Francisco,

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"We had a dream and marched on Washington to demand our right," Bond said in a statement released by the National Equality March. "I am proud to stand with the LGBT community as they march for theirs,"

Judy Shepard, mother of slain college student Matthew Shepard, will take the stage, as will Dustin Lance Black, Academy Award-winning screenwriter for the film Milk.

New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn is slated to talk, along with former National Gay and lesbian Task Force head Urvashi Vaid, among dozens of others.

For more information about the National Equality March, the websites www.nationalequalitymarch.com and http://2009equalitymarch.org have full details, including a schedule of the events on Saturday, October 10, which will see a full day of workshops and activist trainings.

Chicago, Amsterdam and even Vancouver are all more expensive cities, as are contenders Boston and Washington.

With the country mired in recession, the thought of lower-priced hotel rooms and transportation must certainly have been appealing to the Federation of Gay Games.

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"Cleveland demonstrated to the Federation of Gay Games that they understood the mission of the Gay Games and our principles of 'Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best,' federation co-presidents Kurt Dahl and Emy Ritt noted in a release. "We were highly impressed by the facilities and infrastructure, the widespread community support, their financial plan and the city's experience in hosting largescale sports and cultural events."

The final presentation to the Federation, made during their annual meeting in Cologne, the site of the 2010 Gay Games, was attended by Ward 13 Councilor Joe Cimperman, Cleveland Chief of Governmental Affairs Valarie McCall, Continental Airlines representatives and staff from Cleveland + and the Akron-Summit CVB. They came in

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"We congratulate the winners," said Vince Micone, the president of Metropolitan Washington Gaymes, organizers of his city's unsuccessful bid. "Their team did an outstanding job. we wish them all the best and look forward to having Washington, D.C.'s multitude of LGBT sports teams participate in the Gay Games in 2014.”

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