Thousands Rally in Washington for Gay Rights

A massive outpouring of gays and lesbians and their supporters from across the nation gathered here Sunday amid a multihued show of pride in their movement and an appeal to mobilize as a political force in the November elections.

Representing all 50 states and various countries, participants in the “Millennium March on Washington for Equality” trekked from the Washington Monument to the front of the U.S. Capitol for more than six festive hours of speeches and music.

Elected officials, community activists and entertainers urged passage of hate crimes legislation, measures to give same-sex unions equal status to marriage and laws to prohibit workplace discrimination. Organizers said they hoped the rally would help turn out the largest gay vote in history.

“All we want is the freedom to love whoever we want without fear, without discrimination, without bigotry,” said Lorri L. Jean, the former executive director of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center. “If we are not entirely free, then we are not free at all.”

Sunday’s rally, the fourth national gay march since 1979, was the first held in an election year. Videotaped messages from President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore were shown on four giant screens lining the National Mall. Clinton called upon Congress to approve legislation that would allow the Justice Department to investigate crimes that target people because of their sexual orientation, gender or disability.

On a sparkling spring afternoon, a cross-section of participants was evident: military officials in uniform; couples holding hands and embracing; gay and lesbian partners with children (including a lesbian couple pushing triplets in a stroller made for three); parents accompanying their gay offspring, and transvestites in long dresses, heavy makeup and wigs.

A major theme was the family. “Family Values Value All Families,” said one sign. “A Closet is a Terrible Place to Raise a Child” and “Men with Strollers,” said others.

Visible everywhere were the inclusive rainbow colors of the movement--bedecking banners flying above the speakers platform and emblazoning hand-held flags, balloons, signs and all manner of attire, from shirts to jackets to hats.

Small pockets of counter-protesters carrying placards lined the march route. “The Bible says homosexuality is a sin! Please repent,” said one.

The two-day gathering in the nation’s capital was organized over the objections of some gay activists who said the event’s leadership was exclusionary and the rally was commercialized by its corporate sponsorship. These critics, some of whom boycotted the march, said the resources would have been more effectively focused at the state and local levels.

Nonetheless, organizers of the event said they were pleased by the showing, which they said was larger than expected.

“We’re very happy with the turnout,” said Corri Planck, a spokeswoman for the march. “We know these people are going to go home and get involved.”

But the estimate of crowd size, often controversial on such occasions, produced wide variations.

Associated Press quoted unnamed law enforcement officials as saying the figure was “at least 200,000.” Washington Mayor Anthony Williams, who addressed the rally, said at least 310,000 people had turned out. Donna Red Wing, an event co-chair, put the figure at about 800,000.

Meanwhile, some of the movement’s critics said it appeared the number was significantly lower than the last national gay and lesbian rally in 1993. Official estimates put that turnout at 300,000, although sponsors at the time said it was closer to 1 million.

“If you don’t organize democratically, you can’t mobilize the community, and that’s the real failure of this event,” said Billy Hileman, a co-chairman of the 1993 march, from his home in Pittsburgh. “They did not build on the prior marches.”

Among those in attendance was Anne L’Ecuyer, 29, who called the day “one of the very rare opportunities to come out in mass and show in sheer numbers just how important this population is.”

“It’s important for America to know we’re its sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, religious co-congregants and teachers and students,” said Norman Graber, 43, an attorney with the federal government and father of two. “And it’s important for the gay children growing up to see that it’s OK to be gay and you don’t have to hate yourself.”

Anita Haller, 28, a summer camp director, carried a sign that read: “Nebraska Dyke.”

“I’m here for the people of Nebraska who couldn’t be here but who are losing their jobs, who have to deal with hate crimes every day,” said Haller. She said she left Nebraska for Boston 16 months ago because of job discrimination.

One of the most enthusiastically received groups was the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, which basked in the glow of landmark legislation signed last week granting the full benefits of marriage to same-sex couples in the state.

Also marching were eight members of the Lesbian and Gay United Employees of Walt Disney Co., wearing the familiar mouse ears on their heads.

Speakers included Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.), Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), both of whom are gay, actresses Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche, singers Melissa Etheridge and Melba Moore and tennis player Martina Navratilova.

Dennis Shepard, whose gay son Matthew was beaten to death in Wyoming in 1998, told the crowd: “You are a solid, God-fearing part of America and you deserve the same rights. . . . Be smart, be safe and be proud of who you are.”

Participants were asked to sign cards pledging to be part of “the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender turnout in history” and help identify other potential voters.

The event was officially nonpartisan. But the gay community has tended to vote Democratic and was considered an important force in electing Clinton in 1992. Its leaders say gays and lesbians account for 5% of all voters.

Amid the issue-laden speeches, there were flashes of humor.

Margaret Cho, a San Francisco comedian, told the crowd: “I believe that a government that would deny gay men the right to bridal registry is a fascist state!”