On Sunday, November 15, 100 mainly young people attended a march and concert for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in Minneapolis. The march was organized by activists in Join the Impact-Twin Cities, Socialist Alternative, Youth Against War and Racism, and the International Socialist Organization.

The event was held to mark the 1-year anniversary of last year’s demonstrations after the passage of Proposition 8 in California, which banned same-sex marriage. On November 15, 2008, hundreds of thousands of supporters of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights took to the streets in over 200 cities across the U.S. in one of the largest and most visible days of protest for LGBT rights in U.S. history, signaling the birth of a new movement.

This movement has gained further traction this year, although there is also growing anger at the political establishment for failing to make any real progress in granting LGBT rights. At the pre-march rally, several speakers gave reports from the National Equality March in Washington, D.C. on October 11, which drew 200,000 people to the capitol to demand full equality under the law for LGBT people in all 50 states. Others reported from Maine, where they were part of the struggle to turn out the vote to stop the passage of Referendum 1, which banned same-sex marriage there. Unfortunately this measure was passed by voters in early November.

The concert, held at the Bedlam Theater, featured a diverse group of outstanding local Twin Cities musical acts. The performances included hip-hop from Guante and The Tribe, the beautiful acoustic music of the duo Sleeper and the Sleepless, and a closing set by punk band Burn All Flags. There were also performances by slam poets Syd Arnold and Khary Jackson. Khary, a member of the national poetry slam champion St. Paul Soapbox team, read a moving poem written from the perspective of Brandon Teena (the trans man whose rape and murder was the subject of the film “Boys Don’t Cry”) to Caster Semenya (the South African sprinter who was subjected to gender testing this year after winning the World Championship).

Richard Aviles, originally from Los Angeles and now a student at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, summed up the spirit of a new generation of activists in his speech: “Always lift your fist to show that you are in the fight. Never give in and don't please those people that want to see us down. Let's show them that the LGBT community is strong and we don't take B.S. from anyone. We will fight until we get equal rights!”


Activists hope to use the momentum from this demonstration to revitalize Join the Impact-Twin Cities, as part of the Equality Across America coalition formed out of the National Equality March. This coalition aims to form local grassroots organizations in all 435 Congressional districts to push for equality for LGBT people, including the right to marry, the right to work and go to school free from harassment and discrimination, the right to openly serve in the military, and the right to equitable healthcare and immigration policies.

CONCERT
3 PM - 6 PM Bedlam Theater, Fireplace Lounge
1501 S. 6th St. (West Bank, Minneapolis)
Featuring: Guante / Top Twin Cities slam poets / The Tribe / Sleeper and the Sleepless / Eyewitness reports from the National Equality March, tables by community organizations and more!
FREE and All Ages!

I have some ideas about how to do things better. How can I get involved in the decision-making process for future events?

Come to the organizing meetings. If you have any ideas on how to improve, let the organizers know and we will include you in the next meeting. New ideas are always welcome! Email equalitytwincities@gmail.comto get looped in.