Gay Pioneers Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz will lead the March for Equality at the National Equality Rally at Independence Hall on Sunday, May 3. Kameny and Vincenz were among the Gay Pioneers who organized the first gay and lesbian civil rights demonstrations. These demonstrations called “Annual Reminders” were held atIndependence Hall and the Liberty Bell each Fourth of July from 1965 to 1969. The Annual Reminders laid the groundwork for the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and the first New York Pride Parade in 1970.
“In the face of toxic homophobia, the Gay Pioneers heroically launched our movement. We are honored to have Gay Pioneers Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz lead the March for Equality on Independence Mall. They gave birth to the dream and within our lifetime that dream will be realized,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum.
Read more after the jump.
Kameny, known as the “father of the GLBT civil rights movement,” has been an activist for over 50 years. Kameny was the first openly gay candidate for Congress. He led the successful effort to remove a prohibition that precluded gays and lesbians from working for the federal government. Kameny and Gay Pioneer Barbara Gittings led the effort to have the American Psychiatric Association remove homosexuality from their list of mental illnesses.
Vincenz demonstrated at the Annual Reminders from 1965 to 1969. She was the only lesbian to participate in the first White House picket line in 1965 and was an officer of the Mattachine Society of Washington, one of the earliest gay organizations. Vincenz has been a GLBT civil rights activist, writer, and psychotherapist for over 40 years.
The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a First Amendment permit to Equality Forum for the National Equality Rally at Independence Hall on Sunday afternoon, May 3, 2009 at Independence National Historical Park
Kameny and Vincenz will lead organizations, grassroots activists and straight allies in the March for Equality on Independence Mall (from the National Constitution Center to Independence Hall) to rally for:
Passage of trans-inclusive hate crimes legislation and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
Support for GLBT health issues
Equal benefits for same-sex families
Same-sex marriage Equality
Organization representatives will carry the name of their organization on pole-mounted placards. Movement leaders will carry Equality messages. Organization members and the public will be offered American and rainbow flags.
Information about the National Equality Rally and how to participate can be found at www.nationalequalityrally.org.
