Gay organizers urge mass participation in October 2nd March on Washington

[Better Believe It]

"This is a first of its kind - a march primarily of straight people of color embracing LGBT goals"



One Nation Heads to Washington
Huge progressive rally planned at Lincoln Memorial on October 2
BY PAUL SCHINDLER
September 15, 2010

In what looks to be the largest gathering of progressive activists in Washington in recent memory, major civil rights groups, such as the NAACP and the National Council of La Raza, and leading labor unions, including the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union, are planning to converge on the capital on October 2 in a rally for “jobs, justice, and education” under the rubric of One Nation Working Together.

And according to leading gay organizers involved in the effort, the explicit incorporation of LGBT-inclusive language in the event’s “core policy principles” — with specific reference to equality of opportunity and nondiscrimination protection, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, and to the need for “respecting all families” — represents “an historic opportunity,” in the words of Jeff Campagna, who heads up the LGBTQ effort in the march’s New York office.

Noting the prominent role played by civil rights groups and labor unions with large African-American and Latino memberships, Stuart Appelbaum, the out gay president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, said, “This is a first of its kind — a march primarily of straight people of color embracing LGBTQ goals.”

Perhaps mindful of criticism directed at opponents of California’s Proposition 8 for failing to engage voters in people of color communities, Appelbaum added, “I think the notion of being part of this coalition is enormously important. These are people with whom we don’t have enough dialogue.”

Appelbaum, who acknowledged that he recruited Campagna to work on the effort after an initial march organizing meeting in New York failed to address gay issues, argued, “If we put busloads of LGBT people on buses from New York City, our issues will be put more clearly on this coalition’s agenda. If we are there, speaking at the march, joining in the march, that’s a very important thing.”

From the perspective of Jasper Hendricks, III, director of public engagement at the National Black Justice Coalition, an LGBT advocacy group, the embrace of the queer community by march organizers is now whole-hearted. “We were heavily recruited,” he said. “There hasn’t been a moment where we felt we were being pandered to. They want us to be part of the discussions, be active participants.”

“My goal is that the LGBT community recognize that they are part of the broader progressive coalition,” Campagna said. “And that they recognize that this is a big step forward. I can’t remember a time in history when the NAACP and the major unions asked us to join them in a march on Washington. And it is important for the organizations in our community that provide leadership to say that we are part of this coalition.”



Labor union leader Stuart Appelbaum said the One Nation march can spur needed dialogue between the LGBT and the people of color and working class communities.

Please read the full article at:

http://www.chelseanow.com/articles/2010/09/15/gay_city_news/news/doc4c911ea490554576720416.txt


And for more information on the October 2nd March on Washington including transportation to the event go to:

http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=130038760366906#

http://www.onenationworkingtogether.org/pages/transportation

[TxVietVet]

1. Why not join up with Ed Schultz's rally?

[starroute]

4. This *is* the same rally Ed Schultz has been promoting

https://www.wegoted.com/events/detail.asp?eventID=37

One Nation March

Date: 10/2/2010
Location: Washington DC

"Ed Asks...will you march with me?"

Lets all join together and march as "ONE NATION" on October 2nd! . . .

ONE NATION is a multi-racial, civil and human rights movement whose mission is to reorder our nation's priorities to invest in our nation's most valuable resource - our people. . . .

The march aims to bring working people, young people, retirees, civil rights activists and many others together on the Mall to show the obstructionists in Congress that we are many and diverse, strong and that united-and we will fight together for the American Dream.

Many of our unions are already committed to work as a part of ONE NATION. The unions of the AFL-CIO proudly join this coalition and pledge to work collectively to add our support to this great effort.

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[w4rma]

3. Awesome. The varied groups are realizing that we will either hang together or hang seperately. (nt)

[AuntPatsy]

5. Kicking and R but it is too bad that the march was not today with the people

standing by the thousands shoulder to shoulder and hand to hand right outside the very doors where this obvious illegal ruling was held, perhaps those inside might have been forced to rethink thier illegal views concering certain citizens of this country...it would trully have been a sight to perhaps make them realize who should be in charge even as the will of the majority of american citizens continue to be ignored by our failure to truly be solitary in our anger....

It is only a matter of time before every group is made to pay the price of lost liberty if we as a whole continue to ignore our brothers and sisters...

[Better Believe It]

6. Kick