Voices of Equality

“Voices of Equality” Singers to Perform at

National Equality Rally at Independence Hall

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Singers from three of Philadelphia’s leading choral groups—the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, Anna Crusis Women’s Choir, and the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia—will perform at the National Equality Rally at Independence Hall on Sunday, May 3. The patriotic musical tribute will conclude a one-hour, high-impact Rally, following the March for Equality on Independence Mall.

The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, under the artistic direction of Joseph Buches, is the region’s largest all-male chorus with over 100 members, and one of the nation’s first gay men’s choruses.

Anna Crusis Women’s Choir, under the artistic direction of Jacqueline Coren, is the country’s oldest feminist choir.

The Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, under the artistic leadership of Alan Harler, has been presenting innovative choral performances for more than 100 years.

With these three amazing choruses joining forces at the NER, their moving performance will be the perfect ending to a powerful and united Rally for LGBT Equality!

The "Voices of Equality" will also perform in conjunction with Equality Forum 2009 on Friday, May 1st from 8 to 10pm at The Church of the Holy Trinity. You won't want to miss this.

Frank & Lilli

Gay Pioneers Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz

Will Lead March for Equality on Independence Mall

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Gay Pioneers Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz will lead the March for Equality at the National Equality Rally at Independence Hall on Sunday, May 3. Kameny and Vincenz were among the Gay Pioneers who organized the first gay and lesbian civil rights demonstrations. These demonstrations called “Annual Reminders” were held at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell each Fourth of July from 1965 to 1969. The Annual Reminders laid the groundwork for the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and the first New York Pride Parade in 1970.

“In the face of toxic homophobia, the Gay Pioneers heroically launched our movement. We are honored to have Gay Pioneers Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz lead the March for Equality on Independence Mall. They gave birth to the dream and within our lifetime that dream will be realized,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum.

Kameny, known as the “father of the GLBT civil rights movement,” has been an activist for over 50 years. Kameny was the first openly gay candidate for Congress. He led the successful effort to remove a prohibition that precluded gays and lesbians from working for the federal government. Kameny and Gay Pioneer Barbara Gittings led the effort to have the American Psychiatric Association remove homosexuality from their list of mental illnesses.

Vincenz demonstrated at the Annual Reminders from 1965 to 1969. She was the only lesbian to participate in the first White House picket line in 1965 and was an officer of the Mattachine Society of Washington, one of the earliest gay organizations. Vincenz has been a GLBT civil rights activist, writer, and psychotherapist for over 40 years.

Kameny and Vincenz will lead organizations, grassroots activists and straight allies in the March for Equality on Independence Mall (from the National Constitution Center to Independence Hall) to rally for:

• Passage of trans-inclusive hate crimes legislation and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
• Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
• Support for GLBT health issues
• Equal benefits for same-sex families
• Same-sex marriage Equality

Organization representatives will carry the name of their organization on pole-mounted placards. Movement leaders will carry Equality messages. Organization members and the public will be offered American and rainbow flags.

Information about the National Equality Rally and how to participate can be found at www.nationalequalityrally.org.

Combat Bigotry, Support Equality

I just read a short article from 365 Gay News today (Donors Pour 83M into Prop 8 Campaign) and it blew me away! 83 million dollars?! That is an overwhelming amount of money!

Now, apparently I’ve been living under a rock (read: at work too much) because this didn’t seem to surprise anyone else quite like it did me. But that’s besides the point.

The real point is this: Our Community and Allies raised more than $43M to combat bigotry, discrimination, and inequality! That kind of effort is something to be proud of—and something the opposition should be worried about.

Yeah, the proposition was passed and some might say that the money and actions to “fight H8” were in vain, but not really. As we’ve all seen over the past several months, and even before, Our Community has come together, has united like never before! Protests and rallies have sprung up all over the country to support pro-LGBT causes and oppose those that are founded on bigotry and hatred. We should be proud; we took a blow and are only stronger for it.

Now, Obama is in the White House and will support legislation that will further Our Rights. (Not to mention that having an LGBT Ally for a president will combat homophobia and LGBT-stigmas across the county and around the world.) We’ve been energized and empowered to make Ourselves known and Our voices heard. Let’s not let the momentum stop; not for one second until we are treated as the first-class citizens that we are.

Rally for Equality: Sunday, May 3^rd at the National Equality Rally on Independence Mall, in Philadelphia.