Posted on 09/20/2005 6:22:25 AM PDT by Perseverando
On Sunday morning, approximately 70 people met in Elmwood Park to be part of the first gay pride march in Roanoke.
By Courtney Cutright 981-3340 The Roanoke Times
In 1990, Sam Garrison, a Roanoke lawyer and gay rights activist, helped organize the first Pride in the Park event, a picnic coordinated by about a dozen people, a low-key event.
Now 16 years later, the colorful gay and lesbian festival has grown to attract a crowd of approximately 2,500 people, event director Charles Richards said. On Sunday, men and women of all ages, families, children and dogs congregated in Elmwood Park to celebrate their pride.
During the planning stages of the first festival 16 years ago, Garrison said talk about a pride march was quickly shut down. Marches are often a common element of gay and lesbian festivals in larger cities and venues.
"They [the people planning the first event] said 'Are you crazy?'" Garrison recounted. "That was then. Sixteen years later it's different."
On Sunday morning, approximately 70 people met in the park to be part of the first gay pride march in Roanoke. Garrison credits changes in attitudes, especially "the self-confidence of the gay and lesbian community and the tolerance and acceptance among the people of the Roanoke Valley" for the first march.
"The march is a way to get in celebration mode," Richards said.
It began with a singalong of the emancipatory song "We Shall Be Free." Participants circled Elmwood Park with posters and chanted, "Equality now. Equality now." One woman's poster read "Virginia is for Lovers. Some restrictions apply."
"Some restrictions" include the bill that seeks to void other states' same-sex marriages and civil unions in Virginia - a topic that was in the limelight during last year's presidential election.
With Election Day approaching, Sunday's event also provided a venue for politics. Equality Virginia, a nonpartisan group that seeks equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens in the state, was on site to provide information about the organization and how to fight for equality in Virginia. Equality Virginia is advocating for anti-discrimination legislation.
Garrison, who also serves as chairman of the Roanoke chapter of the Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club, was campaigning for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim Kaine Sunday afternoon.
"Tim Kaine personally believes marriage should be between a man and woman," Garrison said.
Garrison said Kaine has not endorsed House bill 751, which declares any civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement granted by another state to a same-sex couple void. The reason, Garrison said, is because of the bill's wording.
"Tim Kaine is friendly and supportive of the gay and lesbian community," Garrison said.
Garrison said Kaine has also shown support for anti-discrimination policies.
"He has testified in favor of adding gays and lesbians to the state's hate crimes laws," Garrison said.
How many used gurneys and wheelchairs?
Homosexual Agenda Ping.
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