National Equality Seemed To Be The Theme Of The Weekend

This last weekend was a definite eye opener. In my home town (La Crosse, WI) on Saturday we had a silent rally for equality where almost 100 people spanned the Cass St bridge over the Mississippi River to protest for equal rights. We also had our gala dinner which included a speaker from Fair Wisconsin and also a local high school activist. The event is one of our largest fundraisers we have for our Seven Rivers LGBT Resource Center here in La Crosse. Many people came in support and some were recognized for their volunteerism, civil unions, and contributions. Rosanne St Sauver who is our center director did a wonderful job pulling off the annual event! We also owe a lot to local businesses and groups that donated to the center. Its safe to say that the city of La Crosse, WI has no trouble standing up for equality and while we have a ways to go yet I am proud to live in this community.

Sunday was National Coming Out Day and the National Equality March. Several of us volunteers and also a few friends got together to watch the march on c-span. Watching the march effected me greatly. It was awesome to see that kind of support on a national level. I was truly moved by several of the speakers and very surprised that so many people turned out. (I don’t know who’s idea it was to make National Coming Out Day in October!)

Just when I thought activism was over for a bit I got a text message from a friend asking if I was going to the Laramie Project. In all this pride and celebration I forgot! The Laramie Project was simulcast to over 150 different theaters around the world. There was an introduction and then a live reading. It was the ten year anniversary and the eleventh year since Matthew Sheppard was brutally murdered. I’m so happy I didn’t miss this event! It was defiantly the final part I needed to piece this altogether.

My eyes have been open. We need to start working as hard as we can if we ever want to be treated as equal citizens! Who knows how long the democrats are going to be in power? We didn’t get hardly anything done under Bush! I understand our community’s frustrations with Obama but I think he gives us an opportunity to make some real change. The DEMOCRATS in office give us an opportunity to make some real change! This next year lets make it count because we don’t know how long we have them in power!

-J O S H

P.S. I'll be posting more about what YOU can do to stand up for your rights!