Gay History Month has march for equality

October is Gay History Month with National Coming Out Day and the National Equality March in Washington D.C. held on Oct. 10 – 11. To address Gay History Month, President Barack Obama spoke at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Dinner and discussed national equality issues facing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered (LGBT) Americans.  

“I will end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell. That is my commitment to you,” Pres. Obama said. According to the HRC’s Web site, HRC President Joseph Solmonese stated, “Finally, we heard something quite remarkable from the President: ‘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.’”

President Solmonese added, “This was a historic night when we felt the full embrace and commitment of the President of the United States. It’s simply unprecedented.”

The more celebratory events of the gala included a performance from Lady GaGa and the cast of the hit TV show Glee, both of which support the gay community. 

The University contributed to Gay History Month by having socialist, gay rights activist and author Sherry Wolf of the International Socialist Review. Wolf gave her presentation and speech on Gay Liberation and discussed her recently published book, “Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics, and Theory of LGBT Liberation.” 

As part of her book tour throughout the United States, she is touring various community centers and campuses. During her speech candidly stated, “No one ever talks about gay liberation we should talk about what it means to express ourselves sexually in the world.” Other topics included being out in the work place, homophobia and transphobia, the history of the Stonewall Riots and the NYC Gay Pride parade.

Junior Noor Fatima said, “I agreed with her speech and found it empowering because it brought light to many issues that the LGBT community is facing due to close-minded perspectives of others. I felt like her speech was amazing and helped me change my approach to things differently. I am really interested in reading her book and hearing more about her movements and events.”

Wolf closed out her speech by exclaiming, “We want our rights, we want our movement, this is our Rosa Parks movement. We want to move to the front of the bus, we’re tired of crumbs!”  After the presentation, the audience had a Q&A with Wolf. They even had a chance to purchase her book, sign up for her news-letter, purchase other books and to sign up for transportation opportunities to attend The National Equality Movement in Washington D.C. 

Activist and comedian Wanda Sykes held her HBO comedy special I’MA Be Me live in Washington D.C. the night before National Coming Out Day. Her set included discussions on her marriage and her children and other personal and social changes.

Approximately one year ago Sykes wed her wife before Proposition 8 (Prop. 8) was enacted in California immediately after Pres. Obama was elected to office. Celebrities such as Sykes came together to speak out against Prop. 8. One nationally known celebrity movement is the NO H8, campaign to repel the proposition.  

The LGBT equality movement still presses on. Lobbyists and activists continue to speak out and pressure the U.S. government to pass laws for equality in jobs, health benefits, marriage and military rights.  

The National Equality March is the modern day Civil Rights Movement in Washington D.C.  More events will come to light as the Prop.8 generation makes it loud and clear that they want equality and will not stop until they get it.