March on Washington Called for on National Coming Out Day
Long-time gay rights activist Cleve Jones announced a call for a march on Washington demanding full equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Scheduled to take place Sunday October 11, it is also National Coming Out Day.
Long-time gay rights activist Cleve Jones announced a call for a march on Washington demanding full equality for the LGBT community. Scheduled to take place Sunday October 11, it is also National Coming Out Day.
"We seek nothing more and nothing less than equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states," Jones said at Utah Pride Festival in Salt Lake City, where he was the grand marshal of the Pride celebration. He worked alongside gay rights leader Harvey Milk, and founded the NAMES Project. Jones also made specific reference to the Mormon role in supporting Prop 8, which overturned legal same-sex marriage in California.
"I've got a message for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I've got two words from California ... I've got two words for the prophet ... Thank you. Thank you for uniting us. Thank you for galvanizing us."
Even though some activists may be questioning the tactics of a national march, Jones emphasized Friday during an interview that a new president, California's Prop 8 along with the film “Milk” being a great success, are all reasons that now is the right time for launching the next stage of the LGBT civil rights movement with a national march.
