Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Washington Blade - September 16, 2005
Eartha Jane Melzer
After months of confusion over the role that gay groups will play in the event, and uproar over anti-gay statements made by march executive director and D.C. minister Rev. Willie Wilson, the National Black Justice Coalition and the D.C. Coalition have announced plans to host a series of events for gay men and lesbians during the march weekend.
The "We are Family Unity Weekend," features a Friday night reception hosted by Us Helping Us at the group's new headquarters at 3636 Georgia Ave., NW. On Saturday before the march begins, gay and lesbian activists intend to speak at a rally at Freedom Plaza. After the march there will be a community party at Kili's, a restaurant in Northwest D.C., and on Sunday afternoon an interdenominational service of faith at the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ is scheduled.
Earlier this month representatives of NBJC and the D.C. Coalition participated in a teleconference with Farrakhan and reiterated a request to be involved in the organizing of the conference and to have a place on the Millions More Movement stage during the rally.
Those requests were denied, said Ray Daniels, a spokesperson for NBJC.
According to Daniels, Farrakhan said that having a gay man or lesbian address the crowd at the march would be, "too political."
During the conversation - which he said was his first ever with openly gay people - Farrakhan seemed to not understand why homophobia is an issue that impacts the black community, said Sterling Washington, co-chair of the D.C. Coalition.
Washington said that his group and others have been careful to make clear that they are not trying to win openness for gays from the Nation of Islam, but trying to build a coalition across religious lines to focus on problems that impact the entire black community.
Black gays and lesbians are scapegoats for the spread of HIV and AIDS within the straight community, but overwhelmingly HIV is spread through heterosexual sex or drug use, Washington said.
"Women feel that if their man is straight they don't need to worry about HIV."
The plans to go ahead and organize gay events within the Millions More Movement have so far elicited no response from Farrakhan, according to Daniels.
Defeating anti-gay legislation and building community with gay and lesbian people around the country will be among the subjects expected to be addressed at the gay and lesbian rally. Organizers said that though they expect the "We Are Family Unity Weekend" to be attended mostly by black gay men and lesbians, friends and allies, and people of all races are welcome to attend the events.
Long-term goals
While having a gay presence at the Millions More march would be an important achievement, Washington said, he is not clear on the events' overarching value in terms of social change.
"Hopefully this will be the beginning of a movement that will address economic disparity, homophobia and sexism," Washington said, adding that if he were allowed into the "inner sanctum" he would strategize on how to make the movement more effective by stimulating people to register to vote, stay informed and not be duped by politicians.
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