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National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights

Back in the day on October 14th, 1979, the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights took place. According to numerous sources, between 75,000 and 100,000 people turned out for the major demonstration on the nation’s capital. Among the speakers at the D.C. rally were the notable poets Allen Ginsberg, and Audre Lorde. Leonard Matlovich, who challenged the discriminatory ban on gays in the military as a Sergeant, also spoke on behalf of the organized effort. With President Jimmy Carter in office, the activists mobilized after backlash campaigns by conservative groups to repeal state-based rights for gays and lesbians proved successful. Established organizations feared that a low turnout for the march would make the movement appear weak, but the massive convergence for the first event of its kind that day was more than reassuring.

Thirty years later, with many rights still not granted to gays and lesbians, activists returned once more to DC this past weekend to demonstrate for “National Equity.” The march goes on…

For Uprising, this is your truth professa’ saying it’s no mystery why they conceal our people’s history