With equal marriage rights for gay people emerging as a “hot button” issue in this year’s election, the 6th Annual Matthew Shepard March for LGBT Rights will target the issue in an event set for 8 pm, Saturday, October 2nd at the corner of Halsted and Roscoe Streets in Chicago.

While the Bush campaign is using the issue to mobilize their rightwing, anti-gay base, Kerry and Edwards also oppose “gay marriage,” and are doing their best to run away from the issue rather than stake out an honest, equal rights position.

“Most of us in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered community are frankly sick of the politicians using our rights and lives as political footballs to further their political careers,” said Bob Schwartz of the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network and the Equal Marriage NOW! coalition. “Not only do some 1000+ federal benefits come with equal marriage rights, but more fundamentally, the issue has become a referendum on the future of gay people in the United States. At issue is whether or not we will become full citizens in this country, legally entitled to the same rights as others, or permanent pariahs.”

Over the next few months the stakes are high not only for the LGBT community, but others as well. If anti-gay bigots succeed in passing a series of statewide, anti-gay constitutional amendments, the political and social climate will worsen not only for gay people, but others also. When one group loses its rights, it becomes much easier to attack others’ rights as well.

The purpose of the march is to begin rallying public sentiment against these attacks. Rights are never given to people. They must be organized, fought for, and won. As Frederick Douglass put it, "Power concedes nothing without a demand. Never has, never will."

This year’s march is being co-sponsored by the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network and the new Equal Marriage NOW! coalition, that led most of the equal marriage rights protests beginning this spring.

Please download the attached pdf publicity materials and circulate them in your neighborhood (attached materials are, in order: 1/4 sheet handbills, 8-1/2" x 11" flyers, 11" x 17" posters, and posters en espanol).

To endorse the march, please e-mail CABNstopthehate (at) aol.com