100 organizations to March for Equality

The National Equality Rally at Independence Hall on Sunday, May 3 announced that over 100 national, statewide and regional organizations from across the nation are Co-Organizers of the Rally and will March for Equality on Independence Mall.

Among the most recent Co-Organizers are the national organizations Lambda Legal and the National Organization for Women (NOW). These two organizations join an impressive list of organizations that will March for Equality on Sunday, May 3, at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.


Read more after the jump.

Other participating organizations include One Iowa, Unity Mississippi, YES! Coalition, Out at AOL, International Federation of Black Prides, Gay American Heroes Foundation, Trans-Health Information Project (TIP), Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Global Justice Committee of the MCC, CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers, Boulder Pride, GALAEI, West Chester East High School and Temple University Student Government, among others.



Regional, state and national organizations, people of color, progressive religious institutions, high school and college GSAs and straight ally organizations are invited to be Co-Organizers without cost.



Gay Pioneers Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz will lead the March for Equality followed by members of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association. Activists, organizations and straight allies will be offered American and rainbow flags and after the March will fill in Independence Mall for a one-hour high impact Rally in front of Independence Hall.



The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware will open the Rally with a choral tribute, and 100 members of the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, Anna Crusis Women’s Choir and the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia will sing a special rendition of “America the Beautiful” to end the Rally.



For a complete list of National Equality Rally Co-Organizers and to find out how to participate, visit www.nationalequalityrally.org.



Equality Forum is a national and international GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. The National Equality Rally at Independence Hall will be held on the concluding day of Equality Forum 2009 (April 27 to May 3), the largest and premiere annual national and international GLBT civil rights forum. There is no registration fee and all panels are free. For information about Equality Forum, visit www.equalityforum.com.



The Lesbian and Gay Band association plans to rock March for Equality

The Philadelphia Freedom Band and members of the national Lesbian and Gay Band Association will join the March for Equality on Independence Mall on Sunday, May 3, at Independence National Historical Park, in Philadelphia. The Lesbian and Gay Band Association marched in President Obama’s inaugural parade.

The Philadelphia Freedom Band invited other members of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association to March for Equality. “We’ve had a good reception from bands from across the nation. They are making their plans to attend,” says Christopher Johansen, president of the Philadelphia Freedom Band.


Read more after the jump.

Gay Pioneers Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz will lead the March for Equality. Activists, organizations and straight allies will be offered American and rainbow flags and after the March will fill in Independence Mall for a one-hour high impact Rally in front of Independence Hall.

The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware will open the Rally with a choral tribute, and 100 members of the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, Anna Crusis Women’s Choir and the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia will sing a special rendition of “America the Beautiful” to end the Rally. To date, 95 organizations from across the nation will March for Equality on Independence Mall.

For a complete list of National Equality Rally Co-Organizers and to find out how to participate, visit www.nationalequalityrally.org.



March for Equality

Make your voice heard! Join the National Equality Rally at Independence Hall on Sunday, May 3, and tell our President, Congress, and people everywhere that the world you want cherishes diversity and supports Equality - for all. March for Equality on Independence Mall on Sunday, May 3.

Gay pioneers to lead March for Equality

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.