An estimated two hundred thousand gay rights activists took to the streets and the lawn of the US Capitol Building calling for equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Specifically, marchers called for the repeal of both “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act”. These two laws combined prohibit GLBT people’s from being honest about their sexuality while serving in the military, prohibits federal recognition of committed relationships between GLBT peoples; otherwise known as marriage. These laws institutionalize the notion, at the highest levels of our government, that it’s not okay to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered. They effectively denigrate the GLBT community.

As I marched with the thousands of others committed to equality, I could not help but to be overwhelmed by the turnout and the passion of the people who were there with me. The diversity within the GLBT community, all too often ignored by the media, was represented well as people of all colors, shapes, and sizes marched together for their civil rights, or demanding equality for their family and friends.

The experience of being at the March was beyond amazing. Since coming out in January, I’ve had opportunities to engage my GLBT community members and support candidates friendly to that community. While I wouldn’t say that attending the march is a culmination of this experience, as there is much, much, more work to do; it certainly has been a major highlight in my life thus far.

View Pictures of the National Equality March from Melanie Jones

We know from history that when the founders approved the Declaration of Independence, including the immortal declaration that “all men are created equal“, that they envisioned that all men who where like them were equal. Minorities have always had to fight to prove that they too were equal to the majority, and thus “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The reality is that GLBT people exist, and are a minority in our nation. For far too long they have been forced to live in the darkness of closeted lives due to the disdain of the majority. That seems to be changing as more and more people come out of the closet to live their lives openly as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. People throughout the nation are heeding Harvey Milk’s call to “burst down those closet doors once and for all, and stand up and start to fight.” It’s incredible.

The turnout for the National Equality March was only an extremely small representation of GLBT people throughout the nation. While it is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of GLBT people in the country, it can be estimated conservatively that 1 person out of every 20 people in the United States is either gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered. Imagine that in a school of 500 students, 25 of those students are likely to not be straight. Those of us who are out now, and who can fight, have an obligation to open the doors of equality for the next generation so that they may more easily live open, genuine, and honest lives as GLBT people.

We did much more than put pressure on the grass during the National March for Equality. We marched in affirmation of who we are, with the knowledge of the rights that we, as Americans, should have. We strengthened our own resolve to fight for those rights, and sought to inspire those who were not marching with us to fight for those rights as well. 200,000 showed up as evidence that, yes America; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people do exist, we want equality, and we will not be placed back into the darkness that so many would rather have us exist.

However, having done all that, we must now become involved in the political process to make equality a reality. We must write and call our representatives in Washington and lobby them to support equality. We must be active and we must be vocal, continuously, to drive home the point that issues of equality are not just some liberal phase; they are the very foundation of our nation and we as GLBT people are calling in on the promise of equality. After all; it’s past due.

Related posts:

1. Pictures from the National Equality March 2009
2. For GLBT equality, a coalition must be built
3. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Protest a Success in Virginia Beach
4. Get Involved: Declaration of Independence GLBT Demonstration
5. Obama opens way for expansion of benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees