National Equality March = Fantastic!

This Sunday, a few of us interns went to the National Equality March, decked out with signs, stickers, buttons, and of course tons of enthusiasm (which we supported with free coffee provided by the Human Rights Campaign.)

The main thing I can really say about the march is: WOW.
Marchers filled the streets all the way from the Capitol Building, around the White House, even all the way to the Human Rights Campaign building, essentially making the city stop to listen to our demands (though one bus tried to push its way through the crowd--we were highly amused).

While waving a rainbow-colored flag and taking pictures of the awesome signs and outfits, I wondered how many tens of thousands of people had come out to support the cause. According to Phil Siegel, a spokeperson for the march, more than 150,000 people showed up! (From the LA Times).

There were a lot of high-powered spokespeople: Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and civil rights advocate; Cynthia Nixon, actress from Sex and the City; Lady Gaga, openly bisexual pop icon; and Dustin Lance Black, writer of the movie "Milk."

We cheered; we hoisted our signs up high; we shouted slogans like "Out of the closets, into the streets!" and "What do we want? Equal Rights! When do we want them? Now!" The mood was optmistic, but also impatient, as one sign said "Do we have equality yet? I'm tired from holding up these signs." Marchers nodded to each other with the recognition of similar goals: the end of DOMA, the elimination of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the introduction of hate crime legislation, and Federal laws allowing gay couples to marry.

I can't wait to go to my next march!

Photo Credit: Jason Pier on Flickr.com