Marches on Washington, D.C. can serve many functions: to protest peacefully, to make visible the commitment and volume of support behind a movement, to mobilize and nationalize otherwise more fractured, local efforts to organize. The LGBTQ community and its allies have marched on the nation's capital on numerous occasions, beginning with a march and rally that took place on October 14, 1979.
The organizers identified the following Five Demands:
- Pass a comprehensive lesbian/gay rights bill in Congress.
- Issues a presidential executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the Federal Government, the military and federally-contracted private employment.
- Repeal all anti-lesbian/gay laws.
- End discrimination in lesbian mother and gay father custody cases.
- Protect gay and lesbian youth from any laws which are used to discriminate against, oppose and/or harass them in their homes, schools, jobs and social environments.
Subsequent marches have taken place in 1987, 1993, 2000, and 2009.
Library Resources
- Queer mobilizations: LGBT activists confront the law, KF4754.5 .Q44 2009
- The dividends of dissent: how conflict and culture work in lesbian and gay marches on Washington, HQ76.8.U5 G53 2008
Subject Headings
- Gay liberation movement -- Washington (D.C.) -- History
- Civil rights demonstrations -- Washington (D.C.) -- History
- Gays -- United States -- Washington (D.C.) -- Political activity
Other Resources
