The Concordian

[Click to enlarge]

Over fall break, members of Concord’s Gay-Straight Alliance traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the National Equality March.

Members of the GSA numbered 10 of the 150,000 who attended the march on Sunday and related activities on Saturday.

“We attended a few workshops involved with LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual] issues. One was geared towards religion and being comfortable with having difficult conversations with people who don’t understand that you can be religious/spiritual and LGBT. We also picketed outside the President’s speech, because he has yet to act upon his promises to the community,” freshman GSA Treasurer Kathryn Alvarez said.

The various activities, workshops, and meetings addressed issues such as the United States’ military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding homosexuals in the military.

The GSA also got the opportunity to listen to more than 30 talented speakers after marching for two hours to a rally in front of the Capitol, Alvarez said.

“I liked all of the speakers at the end of the march,” freshman GSA member Britnee Hall said. “It was inspiring, and most of [the GSA] are interested in meeting the call to action.”

Speakers included gay activist David Mixner; national co-chairs of the march, Cleve Jones, Lt. Dan Choi, and Nicole-Murray Ramirez; co-directors of the march, Kip Williams and Robin McGehee; and civil rights leader Julian Bond. Also, popular recording artist Lady Gaga made a special appearance and speech demanding equal rights for all.

Judy Shepard also attended and spoke at the rally. The mother of Matthew Shepard, who was murdered by two prejudiced men in Wyoming in 1998, she and her husband founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation to educate people and to encourage safe environments for LGBT youth.

The march was a symbol of hope for a long-oppressed community. “It wasn’t a specific event that was my favorite, it was the spirit involved with the movement. It was awesome to be part of a large group with a similar mindset. It inspired a lot of hope within me that perhaps people would organize further and truly change the laws that oppress so many people,” Alvarez said.

The Gay-Straight Alliance plans to raise awareness and promote equality at Concord. “I think that most people were just as inspired as I was, and I think that spirit may help us push the Concord GSA to more actively participate in the movement,” Alvarez said.

For more information on the National Equality March, visit equalityacrossamerica.org. Or for anyone interested in making a difference here on campus, the GSA meets on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. in the State Room.

Article Tools