This weekend is the National March on Washington which calls for equal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.

I know some people who will be attending,  including folks from MCCA.  The NM Gay Veterans Color Guard will marching along with all of the Elders from MCC Churches.

I have attended two of the “March on Washington” events and both times were powerful and emotional.

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My first march was the the second march on Washington, which took place October 11, 1987.  The march  drew 500,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to protest for equal civil rights and to demand government action, especially by the Reagan administration, in the fight against AIDS.  The AIDS quilt was displayed and I still remember the impact it had on me as I viewed the many panels which represented those we had lost from AIDS.

My second march was April 25, 1993.  At this march the AIDS Quilt was displayed and it would be the last time that all of the panels in the  quilt would be displayed together.  The size of the quilt reminded me of how many have died and the sorrow at losing so many.

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Let us all keep the March on Washington events in our prayers.  May God stir the hearts of lawmakers that they will do the right thing and pass a bill which would guarantee equal rights for all citizens.

Rev. Judith Maynard