Photo Coverage: Broadway Impact: The Journey to D.C.
By: Eddie Varley Oct. 14, 2009
On Sunday, October 11th, over 150,000 people descended on the nation's capital to support equal rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities. Numerous Broadway celebrities were part of this effort, adding their voices to the cause that had approximately 1,400 people under the Broadway Impact banner alone. Broadway stars likeCynthia Nixon, Gavin Creel, Celia Keenan Bolger & John Ellison Conlee, Audra McDonald, Marisa Jaret Winokur, B.D. Wong, Jonathan Groff and more (as well as theater companies like Ars Nova) sponsored Broadway Impact buses to bring marchers from New York to DC. BroadwayWorld.com's Monica Simoes made the trip and brings us this very special photo essay of the powerful and emotional day in Washington, D.C.
Broadway Impact is a grassroots organization of the Theatre community and its fans, mobilizing in support of marriage equality. Co-founded by Gavin Creel, Rory O'Malley and Jenny Kanelos, it aims to educate and inspire the community into action towardsequality. For more information please visit www.broadwayimpact.com.
Last May, civil rights activist David Mixner called for a national march on Washington in support of Equal rights for LGBT people, calling on prominent LGBT community leaders Cleve Jones and Torie Osborne to execute and organize it. Days later in Fresno CA, at a rally of approximately 5000 people from all walks of life protesting the California Supreme Courts decision to uphold Prop. 8, Cleve Jones stepped to the podium and committed to Mixner's plea.
At that moment Jones' organization Equality Across America was born, along with its first mission: the National Equality March. Equality Across America has developed grassroots leadership in all 435 congressional districts to ensure that their message is heard loud and clear by elected officials all across America.
In October 1979, LGBT activists from across the country marched on Washington to fight for equal rights towards all. Exactly 30 years later a new generation of equality activists will take to the National Mall and continue that fight -- and not quit until LGBT people are granted equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.
Photos by Monica Simoes
The road begins
The days starts
Journey on
Broadway Impact, a powerful voice for many
Follow the signs
Messages of Love
The youngest voice
A passionate crowd
Gavin Creel greets Julia Murney, Kevin Cahoon and Marc Kudisch
The battle is on
All kinds of sights to behold
Will Swenson, a face in the crowd
Flags fly
The march
The crowd
People unite
Upon the Capital
Brother to brother
One hand that represents many
Sing out!
Flags
To the sky
A happy couple
one love
Human rights alive
Equality rocks
Cheers for equality
See the colors of love
More signs for all
The crowd
America 2009
Wave it
Above the clouds
Together and proud
Hear the cries!
The message for all
New friends, old loves
Washington heard the voices of love
A day to remember
A mission compeleted
Making the return
The road back home
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