What you didnÍt see or hear about in the mainstream coverage of the 40th anniversary of the historic 1963 March on Washington by African American civil rights supporters is that queers were there, too.
      The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force co-sponsored the march, and director Matt Foreman spoke from the podium. More than 1500 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (lgbt) people participated in the commemoration, which drew an estimated crowd of 15,000. A ñWe Walk With Youî banner and 100-foot long rainbow pride flag led the LGBT contingent from the northeast corner of the Reflecting Pool to the Bayard Rustin Rally near the Lincoln Memorial. Rustin was instrumental in the planning of the original march, but stayed in the background because of concerns that his homosexuality would discredit the civil rights movement.
      Lgbt issues were addressed in multi-issue teach-ins. Unity with gay people and the entire lgbt community was called for by many speakers from the Lincoln Memorial Rally podium itself, starting with Martin Luther King, III, who said, ñƒ homophobia is hate and hate has no place in the beloved community.î Congressman John Lewis, the last surviving speaker from the 1963 rally, said, ñƒ gays and straights must pull together for the common good.î At least three of the Anniversary Rally speakers (including the Task ForceÍs Matt Foreman and Southerners on New GroundÍs Mandy Carter) were openly gay or lesbian.
      ñThis is the first time ever that our community has been invited to participate in the March and be represented at the rally,î said Foreman. ñI was honored to walk with my African American brothers and sisters in this inclusive 40th anniversary of our nationÍs historic civil rights March on Washington, and I am proud of the lgbt community who came together from across the country to support it.î
      ñAs a Black woman and a lesbian, I think itÍs important to not only emphasize equal civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people as a whole, but specifically for lgbt people of color as well,î said Mandy Carter, Executive Director of Southerners on New Ground (SONG). ñItÍs unfortunate that Bayard Rustin couldnÍt bring all of his identities to the table in his fight for civil rights. We are not only proud to be a part of this 40th Anniversary March, but we are extremely proud to be honoring Bayard Rustin for his work from decades ago.î
      In his speech, Foreman acknowledged, ñThere are differences between parts of the beloved community.î But, he continued, ñwhat we agree on far outweighs our differences.
      ñWe all agree that all discrimination is wrong, that everyone deserves full equality under the law. We agree that hate violence still stains America. We agree that centuries of legal racial oppression can only be overcome through forceful and affirmative action.î
      Foreman then issued a call to action against the current federal administration and the Republican-dominated Congress, saying that ñthe hard-won progress achieved over the last 40 years in civil rights and economic justice is in mortal danger.î He identified the right wingÍs tactics in gaining power as knowing ñhow to set aside their differences,î turning out to vote, and ñrepeatedly and successfully driv[ing] wedges into the heart of America and into our beloved community.
      ñAnd mark my words, they are already geared up to make gay people and our relationships the Willie Hortons of the 2004 election cycle,î Foreman predicted. ñThis time, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people will be their chosen prey to distract the nation from the mess theyÍve created at home and abroad.