New GLBT March on Washington DC - save the date

[dickthegrouch]

One of the calls to action from Fresno on Saturday was a call for a March on Washington over the Coming out day weekend (October 10th 2009). I went to the one April 1993 and it was one of the largest gatherings ever to have occurred, and lots of fun.

With so many States deciding in our favor, it's thought time to go and DEMAND our rights at the federal level too.

Please mark your calendars, save your money and make your reservations.

[FreeState]

1. And contact your Member of Congress now to get in a tour of the White House!

Question: What do I have to do to arrange for a tour of the White House?

Answer: Public tours of the White House are available for groups of 10 or more people. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first come, first served basis approximately one month in advance of the requested date.

The White House encourages you to submit your request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. All White House tours are free of charge. For the most current tour information, call the 24-hour line at 202-456-7041. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.

http://godc.about.com/od/faqaboutwashingtondc/f/faq9.htm

[JackBeck]

2. Three other groups have already secured permits for that weekend:

http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20324166&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=6

Gotta side with Petrelis:

"Without a single public, open-to-all meeting anywhere in the nation, a few LGBT leaders called for another march on DC," he wrote in an email. "A federal holiday weekend, four short months away, was picked as the date for the march. Now, we find out other events, including the very important action against breast cancer, are already permitted for the Mall on October 10-11... I charitably suggest those calling for this misguided National Equality March put aside their massive egos and attend a few courses in Effective LGBT Community Organizing 101."

[keepCAblue]

3. Petrelis and other nay-sayers remind me of ...

the 1963 March on Washington. The two most prominent black civil rights groups, the NAACP and the National Urban League, both opposed a march on Washington and offered neither support or encouragement. Bayard Rustin and A. Philip Randolph, who alone conceived and planned the march, initially did not even have King's or the SCLC's buy-in until after the Birmingham protests pushed them to embrace it.

So one of the greatest moments in American history -- the civil rights march on Washington highlighted by King's "I Have a Dream" speech -- was born of the vision of just two men, Randolph and Rustin, who fought to bring their vision to fruition in spite of the obstacles, criticisms and balking of all the major black civil rights groups of the day. I am so glad that their vision wasn't killed by all those nay-sayers.

I hope those who are planning *our* march on Washington, likewise succeed, with or without the blessings of our so-called LGBT leaders.

[JackBeck]

4. The problem with your analogy is that no one is opposing this march.

There's a disagreement on the date that was selected, not some vast conspiracy to undermine the entire effort by "so-called LGBT leaders".

And given the coordination and eventual outcome of the last LGBT March on Washington, the expectations are pretty high for this next march to be a lot more productive and inclusive.

[keepCAblue]

6. I've seen many comments here and elsewhere on how...

a march on Wash is a bad, stupid or silly idea (their words, not mine). Also, you need to read David Mixner's blog -- when the word went out to the community about having a march on Washington, only ONE national (DC-based) org responded:

Just by writing about the need for a March on Washington, I was totally stunned by the thousands, yes thousands, of emails from organizations and individuals all over America ready to move. Most of them young and eager to be part of a great moment in their history. Only Chuck Wolfe of the Victory Fund in DC responded to their call. Most likely this March will now be organized by leadership outside Washington and by people who are willing to do it via the new technology and, thus, much cheaper. Sounds like 1963, doesn't it?

From Mixner's blog, "http://www.davidmixner.com/2009/05/on-becoming-a-civil-rights-movementby-david-mixner.html">On Becoming A Civil Rights Movement...by David Mixner"

Perhaps you should redirect your criticism and accusation of "vast conspiracy theory" toward Mixner. And if you don't know who Mixner is, try doing some homework. :eyes:

[JackBeck]

7. As hard as I try, I can't find

Any collective effort by the community to suppress this March on Washington.

Please share with us where you have seen on DU that the March would be a "bad, stupid or silly idea". If this minority voice does exist on DU, so the fuck what that someone said some stupid bullshit about organizing a protest. Are you going to let that stop you from organizing?

Were you one of those "thousands, yes thousands" of emails to Mixner from those who support this march?

Even if you didn't have a chance to initially email him on a blog post from less than two weeks ago, what have you pledged to do to make sure that this march happens during the October weekend you seem so hell bent on supporting?

What's your plan for facilitating a meeting between the thousands of protestors on Washington and their Congressional Reps?

[imdjh]

8. I like Michael but I lost a lot of respect for him a few years back.

When he announced that he was moving to SF about 15 years ago, I suggested that his talents would be more appreciated in some place that wasn't wall to wall gay activists. He then gave the DUMBEST reason I have ever heard for such a decision. While I won't say what it actually was, imagine that he said he was moving there because a local brewery produced the best beer.

[dickthegrouch]

5. The date reflects several anniversaries

Coming Out Day and Matthew Shepard's ordeal