Monday, August 31, 2009

WHY AM I GOING TO WASHINGTON D.C.? By Derek Washington


WHY AM I GOING TO WASHINGTON D.C.?
By Derek Washington


The opening of the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, states as follows:
“ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

What is Equality?

Well, according to Webster’s Dictionary the following is the official definition of “Equal”.

1: the quality or state of being equal: like in quality, nature, or status c: like for each member of a group, class, or society

When I am asked why I am going to participate in "National Equality March” my first reaction is to explain what I am not going for. At the top of that list is hate I’m not going to express hate. I don’t have time to hate. We as a community don’t have the time to hate. We can’t afford the energy to hate.

I’m also not going for some sort of revenge. Revenge is not on the agenda. It’s a dish best left uneaten.

So, why am I going?

I’m going to honor the Constitution of The United States of America and our founding Fathers’ original ideas and principles. From the very beginning, the Founding Fathers told us that we were all created equal.

Of course, we all know that hasn’t always been the case. Women, Blacks and other people of color know that isn’t a principle that has been always followed as written in the Constitution. Japanese American citizens were unlawfully interned during WWII without reason. Women only got the right to vote in the early 20’s. And we all know the struggles that we Blacks have gone through (and continue to go through) for our voting rights.

But, it’s also very true that because we are great country, we have consistently identified problems in our society and set out to correct them for the good of all Americans. However, we still have a ways to go. Until recently, the LGBT community was considered an officially “sick and ill” community that needed to stay underground or in dark corners where no one would see those who “practiced the Love that dare not share its name.” Well, our country has evolved. We now are a recognized part of American society. Whether you like it, or not.

What has not changed in over 200 years is the definition of what an American is entitled to according to The Constitution. And that is why I am going to Washington D.C.

I’m not going to only to ask for the right to be married to whomever it is that I love. I’m actually going to demand it. I’m really not going to Washington to “ask” for anything. Gays have fought in every war for this country. We have taught the nations children. We have built the roads and tilled the fields. We fly the nation’s planes and deliver its goods. We were there at the very beginning of the Civil Rights movement in the form of a man named Bayard Rustin who, by the way, planned and organized a little historic event called The March on Washington.

So, I am not going to “ask” for anything in Washington, D.C..

Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

We have died on the battlefields to protect our rights as Americans. We deserve them. We have earned them. I am going to demand my rights and those of my fellow brothers and sisters which we are guaranteed by the most precious government document on this planet.

This document that cements “The American Dream” in little children’s minds across the continents.

The Constitution of the United States of America.

PLEASE READ, COPY AND EMAIL ME BACK THE APPROPRIATE LETTER BELOW TO SHOW YOUR OR YOUR ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT FOR EQUALITY. EMAIL: derekisademocrat@gmail.com

FORMAL LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL EQUALITY MARCH 10-11 OCTOBER 2009

Dear member:

OUR ORGANIZATION has formally endorsed the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) National Equality March on Washington, October 11, 2009, in Washington, D.C. calling for “Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.” There will be multiple events planned throughout the weekend and we hope that you will visit their website to learn more www.nationalequalitymarch.com
Like the march organizers, we feel that LGBT people are members of every race, class, faith and community. We see the struggle for LGBT equality as part of a larger movement for peace and social justice. We want to take this opportunity to encourage our members and allies to go to the National Equality March Web site at www.equalityacrossamerica.org and sign up to help mobilize for and attend this grass-roots demonstration for civil rights for all LGBT people. We are also attaching a flyer that may be used in your efforts to help organize others to join us in DC.

Whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity may be, the best way to ensure that all of our struggles for social and economic justice progress - we must stand together in solidarity. As the old labor slogan so aptly expresses, “An Injury to One is an Injury to All.” Please, plan to march in DC on October 11, 2009 at 12 noon and stand in solidarity with us at the National Equality March rally at 2pm on the West Lawn of the US Capitol, that same day.

Thank you,

Organization leader’s name here

Public Endorsement of the National Equality March on Washington, October 10–11, 2009

Public Endorsement of the National Equality March on Washington,
October 10–11, 2009

As we watch the continued struggle for equality across the US, we also can not deny THE EXPLOSION of grass-roots activism that continues to galvanize our movement for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

As members of every race, class, faith and community, we see the struggle for LGBT equality as part of a larger movement for peace and social justice. Our emerging civil rights movement is mobilizing for a National Equality March on Washington, October 11, 2009, in Washington, D.C. behind the single demand: “Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. We will accept no less and will work until it is achieved. Equality Across America exists to support grassroots organizing in all 435 Congressional Districts to achieve full equality.” There will be multiple events planned throughout the weekend and we hope that you will visit our website to learn more www.nationalequalitymarch.com

As with other struggles of the oppressed and exploited in this nation’s history, LGBT people are looking to draw solidarity from a broad range of individuals and organizations representing the needs and demands of others. In this vein, the National Equality March is asking you and/or your organization to sign on as an endorser for the October 11, 2009 National Equality March on Washington and to do whatever is in your power to publicize, mobilize for and support this national organizing effort. To do so, please email your name, title, organization affiliation and contact info, as well as your logo. You may also go to our Web site at www.equalityacrossamerica.org and sign up.

The old labor slogan so aptly expresses our need for solidarity in order to win social and economic justice: An Injury to One is an Injury to All! Please sign onto this statement by email or by visiting our website, no later than August 15, if you’d to be listed on the national press release announcing individual and organizational endorsements we have secured. We would love for you to use the attached language on your website to help promote the march to your community of support. Please feel free to modify the language and encourage your allies and members to join us in D.C.

In Solidarity,

National Equality March Steering Committee