Editorial: Perspectives on the National Equality March

“A Little Bird Told Me” is a weekly op-ed column that will appear every Monday on Breaking Tweets. It is part of an effort to add more opinions to BT, with the addition of an international roundtable discussion also in the plans.

I love a good rally.

Hundreds even thousands of people marching as one for a singular purpose gives me goosebumps a little bit.

I’m young, opinionated and often very vocal so although I couldn’t actually attended the National Equality March —a march meant to lobby for full LGBT rights in America—I was excited to see what was being said on the ground.

One of my close friends, Jai, who was covering the event for the Washington Blade, tweeted that around 250,000 people had turned out—although she also stated she was wary of that number.

A quarter of a million is an impressive number and many in twitterland were absolutely ecstatic with the march’s success.

“I am soaking up the million images and memories from the National Equality March. This is the beginning folks, not the end,” stated nemtx. “No more assimilation! We want liberation!” added themelking.

Many more reiterated march organizer Cleve Jones’s powerful words, “There’s no such thing as a fraction of equality.”

And I have to admit I got wrapped up in their statements.

Yes PatriciaCausey! “We R closer today than we were yesterday!” And yes Happentolikeny! Many will talk about this day for “the rest of our lives.”

However, I then read a tweet that put everything in perspective, “Between Harwood’s offensive comments and the vandalism of the HRC building, I end the #NEM weekend rolling my eyes.”

The tweet’s author, josephio, had obviously left disheartened, perhaps even drained because one day of powerful demonstration hadn’t changed the world in a single instant.

And so that’s what I’m afraid may be lost in the march’s glorious moment of hope and togetherness, marching is ultimately meaningless until the spirit of the demonstration is applied to the creation of legislation and the voting of elected officials.

I think StonewallDems tweeted it nicely when they wrote, “Great enthusiasm at the #NEM. Now let’s continue the spirit and hold Congress accountable for #LGBT equality!”

Equality was never won in one day, and I think gay and straight allies alike shouldn’t forget this fact.

Tweets Referenced in Column

jaischock RT @GAYTWOGETHER First unofficial numbers upwards of 250,000 #NEM – National Equality March. Don’t know if I believe that… 11 Oct 2009 from web

StonewallDems Great enthusiasm at the #NEM. Now let’s continue the spirit and hold Congress accountable for #LGBT equality! #samesexsunday 12 Oct 2009 from web

PatriciaCausey YES!!! @survivorqueen amen!! RT @broadwaygirlnyc Dreaming dreams of Equality! We R closer today than we were yesterday, y’all. #nem 12 Oct 2009 from web

nemtx RT @bear54: I am soaking up the million images and memories from the National Equality March. This is the beginning folks, not the end. #NEM 12 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

josephio Between Harwood’s offensive comments and the vandalism of the HRC building, I end the #NEM weekend rolling my eyes. 12 Oct 2009 from web

themelking “No more assimilation! We want liberation!” Back from #nem and so drained. 12 Oct 2009 from web

Happentolikeny Yesterday @matthewjames88 said, “we’ll be talking about this day for weeks” I said, “For the rest of our lives. And at your wedding.” #nem 12 Oct 2009 from Echofon

cuffington RT @jessetyler “There’s no such thing as a fraction of equality.” – Cleve Jones #nem 12 Oct 2009 from web