Broadway for Equality

by Michael Jones · 2009-08-30 18:51:00 UTC
Topics:

Broadway Impact

A group of theater folk rallied this past weekend in Central Park with one clear message: it's time for equal rights for LGBT people.  The group?  Broadway Impact.  And they'll be taking their message to Washington later this Fall to support a nationwide gathering for equality.

Organized by Hair actor Gavin Creel, Broadway Impact is organizing 42nd street (and the neighboring vicinty) to support the National Equality March, which is scheduled to happen the weekend of October 10-11 in Washington, D.C.

The National Equality March is being organized by Equality Across America.  They're working to get grassroots leaders in all 435 Congressional districts to come to Washington, DC on the weekend of October 10-11 to stand for issues that are near and dear to all of us: Ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, passing inclusive hate crimes legislation and an employment non-discrimination act, and standing for full marriage equality.

Broadway is stepping up to the plate, which should take care of NY's 14th Congressional District.  The entire production of Hair will be suspended on October 11 so that the cast and crew can travel down to DC and attend the National Equality March.  And if this past weekend's rally in Central Park is any indication, more Broadway folks will be heading down as well.

Oskar Eustis, the Public Theater's artistic director, said that the message of Hair dictates that the production ought to be supporting rallies like the National Equality March.  "Hair has never been just a show; its message of change and hope and inclusion is one we try to live, not just preach. This is the moment when we need to recognize the right of all citizens, gay and straight, to have their love and their unions acknowledged by the state," Eustis said.  "Peace now! Equality now! Justice forever!"

Rally cries!  We look forward to hearing the same message come October 11.

(Photo from http://broadwayworld.com)

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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