Equality Across America

This post was written by Nation intern and freelance writer Daniel Chandler.

Over the weekend of October 10/11, more than 200,000 people took part in the National Equality March in Washington, and thousands participated in strategy and activist events, in a bold attempt to kick-start a movement for full civil equality for LGBT people in all 50 states.

As the march's organizers, a coalition of activists called Equality Across America, kept reminding marchers, the weekend was just the beginning of a movement that they hope will transform the strategy for securing LGBT rights, shifting the focus to the federal level, and refusing to accept ‘fractions of equality'. They called on the crowds assembled in front of the Capitol to go home and create Congressional District Action Teams (CDATs) in all 435 districts.

To keep the momentum going, Equality Across America is currently staging a ‘National Week of Initiative'. (The actions began on Nov. 1) This week provides an opportunity for CDATs, and other individuals, groups and organizations, to come together, talk about what full federal equality really means, and what actions they can take to bring it about.

Those interested in being a part of this growing movement should sign up to receive email alerts, and should join the 57,000-strong National Equality March Facebook group, which has regular postings about new groups and related activities. Then, check out this map with contact details for local groups to see if there is one in your district. If not, think about organizing one yourself. Equality Across America has created a nifty Organizers Toolkit, which has everything you need to know about the goals of the movement, its grassroots strategy, how and why to organize a CDAT, and what to do next.

While Obama has pledged action on a range of LGBT issues, including the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act, there has been little progress so far. Rather than waiting on Obama to act, the LGBT community is seizing this opportunity to push the President using the same grassroots methods that got him to the White House. As Obama said in his speech to the Human Rights Campaign on the eve of the National Equality March, ‘it's not for me to tell you to be patient'.

Comments (17)

1. 200,000 people, Peter?

   Isn't that like TRIPLE the number who showed up for the DC Tea Party a month or so ago???

   Posted by Mask at 11/05/2009 @ 3:08pm

2. 200,000 is higher than any estimate I'd heard before for the Equality March, by a factor of 2. I'm not sure anyone knows how many people showed up either for that march or for the Teabag Nation rally. A dubious number like that is not the best lede for this article.

   Posted by Duncan_Mitchel at 11/05/2009 @ 3:16pm

3. <And yet as the march ended, I wasn't sure if it had just been another party. The Broadway producers of the musical Hair took a great financial loss this weekend by shuttering their production so that the entire cast could sing at the march. As the gloaming approached, it was a moving experience to hear tens of thousand of people sing the words "Let the sunshine in" along with the cast.>

   http://tinyurl.com/ygxmtfl

   Posted by antisocialist at 11/05/2009 @ 3:43pm

4. what's your point larry?

   Posted by urmygyro at 11/05/2009 @ 4:18pm

5. http://tinyurl.com/ygxmtfl

   Posted by antisocialist at 11/05/2009 @ 3:43pm

   What's your point, Lar? Don't like Broadway musicals? Cheerful uplifting songs from the 60's?

   While I certainly don't know the numbers of EITHER march, I am sure that the police in DC numbered the Tea Baggers at about 10,000.

   So, even if the gay march was only 100,000, it STILL outnumbers the straight TeaBaggers 10 to 1.

   Yet, do you hear anything about it in the so-called "Liberal" media? No. Where IS that damn liberal media when you need it?

   And no, Time and Newsweek don't count. If you don't see it on TV (and Randi Rhoades says), then it didn't happen.

   Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 11/05/2009 @ 4:21pm

6. Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 11/05/2009 @ 4:21pm

   It was part of the links to the posting. I just followed it and thought it said something about why young people gather rather than it being a serious march.

   Yes, I do love Broadway musicals. I think many are great.

   Posted by antisocialist at 11/05/2009 @ 4:38pm

7. It was part of the links to the posting. I just followed it and thought it said something about why young people gather rather than it being a serious march.

   Yes, I do love Broadway musicals. I think many are great.

   Posted by antisocialist at 11/05/2009 @ 4:38pm

   OK, so when young people march, it's just because it's a party? Is that your theory?

   How about this: young people decide to have a political march (organized by some old guys) and turn it INTO a party. That sounds much more fun (and accurate).

   I mean, you can't get thousands of gay people together and NOT have a party... (hell, you can't get 10 gay people together and not have a party!) but I guess you'll never experience that.

   Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 11/05/2009 @ 5:52pm

8. It would be good to have some young energy in and around Washington(gay,straight,liberal,conservative) for va change. All I seem to be seeing are middle aged or older people in photo op sessions.

   Posted by whatozz at 11/05/2009 @ 6:24pm

9. "While Obama has pledged action on a range of LGBT issues, including the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act, there has been little progress so far. "

   Thats because he can see as plain as the nose on his face that the country is rejecting those two items out of hand...3 straight defeats on Gay marriage alone...

   and the country doesn't equate civil rights that the MLK struggle for and the Gay agendas..

   Posted by YourJomamma at 11/05/2009 @ 7:55pm

10. As to how many show up for protests and demonstrastions...

    I believe the answer is in the election results last night...that is where the Tea Baggers and silent protesters show up....most are to busy trying to make a living and hang onto it rather than take to the streets...

    If the silent protesters ever do show up in the streets...it will be because they believe the country is lost....

    Posted by YourJomamma at 11/05/2009 @ 7:59pm

11. ...or have lost it way from the Founding Fathers vision....

    Posted by YourJomamma at 11/05/2009 @ 8:00pm

12. ...or have lost it way from the Founding Fathers vision....----Posted by YourJomamma at 11/05/2009 @ 8:00pm

    The vision of slavery still legal and only white, male, property owners being allowed to vote???

    Posted by Mask at 11/06/2009 @ 07:23am

13. Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 11/05/2009 @ 5:52pm |

    How dare they fail to be properly invective!

    Posted by snowball777 at 11/06/2009 @ 09:57am

14. Posted by snowball777 at 11/06/2009 @ 09:57am

    LOL. How DARE they!

    Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 11/06/2009 @ 1:41pm

15. BTW, why can a "bunch of gays" get 200,000 in DC....

    but Michelle Bachmann can only get 10,000 "real Americans" there to "stop socialism"?!?!?!?

    Posted by Mask at 11/06/2009 @ 2:16pm

16. BTW, why can a "bunch of gays" get 200,000 in DC....

    but Michelle Bachmann can only get 10,000 "real Americans" there to "stop socialism"?!?!?!?

    Posted by Mask at 11/06/2009 @ 2:16pm

    because gays outnumber the KKK.

    Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 11/06/2009 @ 5:57pm

17. because gays outnumber the KKK.----Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 11/06/2009 @ 5:57pm

    Quite a few in amongst them too....just staying all "Larry Craig".

    heheh

    Posted by Mask at 11/09/2009 @ 07:47am