March Leads To Change
This march might not have been immediately successful, but it united the community to reach a common goal—equality for all. LGBT members still face discrimination today, but people can be more open about their sexuality. The march brought the LGBT community together as a whole; if the march did not occur, unity would not have happened.
Marchers gather for speeches and preformances, October 14, 1979, Larry Butler.
"The LGBT community has come a very, very long way. There's still boundaries, but, right now, we should be satisfied and thankful for how far we have come."
- Robert Waldron, 2014
A Code Pink protester supports the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, December 2, 2010, Kevin Lamarque
The White House Is Lit Up In Rainbow Colors, June 26, 2015, Evan Vucci
Progress is Made
In 2004, there was only one state in the U.S. that legalized gay marriage. In 2015 same-sex marriage was legalized in all 50 states, after many state and federal court rulings and direct popular votes.
March on Washington sign, October 14, 1979, Larry Butler
“Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.”
- Barbra Gittings, Activist
The march steered equality in the right direction for the LGBT community, yet more progress needs to happen.
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“When you are doing something that is right, you just do it and take care … Someone has to do this.”
- Alice Nkom, Lawyer for Sexual Equality
Header photo credit: LGBT March on Washington, October 14, 1979