National march on washington for lesbian and gay rights

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The challenges we face today may be different in form, but they are rooted in the same struggle for equality and justice. The LGBTQ+ rights movement is no longer just about fighting for legal recognition or protection—it is about addressing the broader systemic inequalities that affect marginalized people within our community.

It was a watershed moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, not just for its scale, but for the message it sent: that our community was united, determined, and ready to demand change.

As we consider this moment in history, we also confront the reality that many of the same challenges persist today. We must also fight for economic justice, racial equity, and healthcare access, particularly for those who are often left out of mainstream LGBTQ+ advocacy.

LGBTQ+ people of color, particularly Black trans women, face disproportionately high rates of violence, poverty, and discrimination. (AP)

The 2020 march underscored many of the same themes as the 1979 march—visibility, resilience, and the fight for legal protection. Today, we see echoes of those same demands in the ongoing push for the Equality Act, efforts to safeguard marriage equality, and the urgent fight against laws targeting transgender individuals.

The march was more than a gathering; it was a declaration that LGBTQ+ people would not be invisible or silent.

Today, we must channel that same courage to resist attempts to erase our progress and to silence us. Their fight for visibility, equality, and dignity was, and is, our fight, too. Trans rights are under attack across the country, and efforts to roll back protections for LGBTQ+ people have become part of mainstream political discourse–our identities are not matters of politics!

If history, and lived experiences, has taught us anything, it is that resilience is key.

In 1979, LGBTQ+ people stood up against a culture that sought to silence them.

In this way, the 2020 march echoed the spirit of 1979 while reflecting the evolving understanding of intersectionality and the need to focus on the most vulnerable within our movement.

Yet, despite advancements and demonstrations of solidarity, the core issues from 1979 remain unresolved for many in our community. The courage required to do so in 1979, when public displays of LGBTQ+ pride were met with hostility, is a reminder of the resilience and bravery that has always fueled our movement.

The 1979 March on Washington laid the groundwork for much of the progress we’ve seen over the last four decades.

As we celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month, we recognize the activists who paved the way by challenging us to make our movement as inclusive and intersectional as possible.

The march of 1979 was a bold, visible act of defiance in a hostile social environment, and the bravery of those activists resonates with today’s movement. The 1979 march had five core demands—comprehensive civil rights protections, the repeal of discriminatory laws, equal parenting rights, freedom from workplace discrimination, and an end to anti-LGBTQ+ immigration policies—were bold and radical at the time.

While we’ve made significant strides in securing legal protections and social acceptance, the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is far from over. As we confront the challenges of today—whether it be protecting trans rights, combating anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, or addressing the systemic inequalities that persist—we must do so with the same spirit of solidarity and resilience that defined the movement in 1979.

On this 45th anniversary of the 1979 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, we honor the past by committing to the future.

Four committees were formed: Media, Logistics & Travel, Fundraising, and Transportation. Six delegates were elected to the National Steering Committee.

Speakers at the march included Audre Lorde, Allen Ginsberg, Flo Kennedy, Steve Ault, and Kate Millett. By reflecting on the courage of those who marched in 1979, we find the strength to continue fighting, ensuring that the march for LGBTQ+ rights goes on—until true equality is achieved for all.

Densil Porteous, is a seasoned leader and advocate for humanity.

These are the intersections that demand our attention if we are to achieve true equality.

The 1979 march focused on the LGBTQ+ community’s legal rights, but today we recognize that legal victories alone are not enough. LGBT Community Center National History Archive.