A Report from the National Equality March, Washington DC

Today was an extraordinary experience to be part of this national call for justice and equality for LGBT people and our families along with thousands of rainbow-flag waving hope-filled Americans.  It was a sacred privilege to represent More Light Presbyterians at the March, the HIV/AIDS Rally and Vigil, and the national interfaith worship service.  I carried all of you in my heart today as I marched, sang, and prayed."  said Michael J. Adee, Executive Director & Field Organizer.

MLP was one of the national sponsors of the National HIV/AIDS Rally and Vigil on Saturday evening at the Ellipse, in front of the Washington Monument.  George Kerr, Westminster Presbyterian Church, served on the planning committee.  The Open Doors MLP Chapter and Westminster Presbyterian Church were national sponsors of the rally and vigil, too.  With the rising HIV infection rates for young gay and bisexual men, and the continued high rates of infection for African-American and Latino persons, all of us were called into compassion and action.

On Saturday night, President Barack Obama spoke at the National HRC Dinner.  President Obama told LGBT Americans that his commitment to end discrimination in the military, in the workplace and for loving couples and their families is "unwavering." 

Obama told us that he understands, and in fact, encourages our activism even when we are rightly impatient with the pace of change.  Regarding the repeal of the discriminatory military policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," he said that "I am working with the Pentagon, its leadership and members of the House and Senate to end this policy. I will end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  That is my commitment to you.   
Obama spoke of renewing the Ryan White HIV/AIDS funding and ending the ban on travel for those with HIV.  He spoke of his absolute support of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act.  With respect to marriage equality, Obama said:  "You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman." 

I encourage you to watch President Obama's speech and to forward this email & link to your family, friends, church, campus ministry and seminary community.  To watch President Obama's historic, inspirational remarks from last night's National HRC Dinner: http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/site/Ecard?ecard_id=1061&autologin=true

Today is National Coming Out Day.  Speakers and musicians at the today's Rally in front on the U.S. Capitol included:  Julian Bond, Chairman, NAACP; Judy Shepherd, mother of Matthew Shepard; Lt. Daniel Choi, West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran; Cynthia Nixon, actress; Christine Chavez, grand-daughter of Cesar Chavez; Kate Clinton, political humorist and Urvashi Vaid, activist; Christine Quinn, NYC Council; Dave Koz, jazz saxophonist; Lady Gaga, pop star; Dustin Lance Black, Academy Award winner for his screenplay for "Milk," and the Broadway Cast of "Hair."  Many of the speakers spoke of the clear choice of "being on the right side of history."  
Cleve Jones, Founder of the Names Project and friend of the late Harvey Milk, along with David Mixner, called us to March on Washington on this day.  Cleve told the thousands gathered today in front of the Capitol very simply, "you are equal, act like it."  

This morning at the National Interfaith Service at Plymouth Congregational UCC, Rev. Madeline Jervis, MLP Board member, offered the invocation.  Rev. Irene Monroe offered a powerful challenge to the Church to love its own LGBT children.  I had the privilege of bringing "Presbyterian greetings" which I grounded in the ancient blessing of Psalm 139 to remind all of us that it is God who has made us; that God knit us together in our mothers' wombs; and that all of us, not just some of us, are "fearfully and wonderfully made."  

During these 48 hours in Washington, D.C., in the midst of an obtensibly political rally, speaker after speaker declared that all of us are children of God, that God loves all of God's children unconditionally, and that we should love each other.  Clearly the Christian ethic of loving God by loving neighbor, plus being loving of one's self was part of the spiritual fabric of this remarkable National Equality March.  My hope and prayer joins the thousands of others here today in our nation's Capital who came here to march, to call for justice, and to continue working for equality until it is achieved in our country and around the world.  

October is GLBT History Month.  Go to www.mlp.org to see short video of a "GLBT Icon" each day until the end of this month.    Your financial support and spiritual partnership enabled this pro-LGBT Presbyterian witness throughout this National Equality March weekend in Washington, D.C. Thank you. Together we are building a Church and world for all God's people.

with hope,
Michael   Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., Executive Director & Field Organizer More Light Presbyterians

PS -- Please support the outreach & ministries of MLP.  A current matching grant automatically doubles your donation to MLP now.   You can make a tax-deductible secure donation online now at www.mlp.org at the top of the home page "contribute."  Or, you can mail your donation check to MLP, 4737 County Rd. 101, Box 246, Minnetonka, MN 55345.  

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