Photo Coverage: The New York Theater Community's Mobilization Rally for Equality In Central Park
By: Eddie Varley Aug. 30, 2009
The New York Theater Community's Mobilization Rally for Equality, organized by The Public Theater, the cast of HAIR, Broadway Impact and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) was held on Friday, August 28th onstage at Central Park's Delacorte Theater.
Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster joined previously announced participants Oskar Eustis, Cleve Jones, Gavin Creel and David Stone onstage at the Delacorte Theater. The rally was held in advance of October's National Equality March in Washington, D.C.
The producers of the Tony Award-winning revival of HAIR previously announced that, in an unprecedented move, they are canceling the show's Sunday, October 11th performance so that the entire cast can join the National Equality March in Washington, D.C.
Last May, civil rights activist David Mixner called for a national march on Washington in support of equal rights for LGBT people, calling on prominent LGBT community leaders Cleve Jones and Torie Osborne to execute and organize it. Days later in Fresno, California, at a rally of approximately 5000 people from all walks of life protesting the California Supreme Court's decision to uphold Prop. 8, Cleve Jones stepped to the podium and committed to Mixner's plea. At that moment Jones' organization, Equality Across America, was born, along with its first mission: the National Equality March. Between now and October, Equality Across America will develop grassroots leadership in all 435 congressional districts to ensure that their message is heard loudly and clearly by elected officials all across America.
In October 1979, LGBT activists from across the country marched on Washington to fight for equal rights towards all. Exactly 30 years later a new generation of equality activists will take to the National Mall and continue that fight -- and not quit until LGBT people are granted equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.
For more information, visit www.BroadwayImpact.com and www.EqualityAcrossAmerica.org.
Photos By Jamie McGonnigal, (www.TalkAboutEquality.org).
Kacie Sheik, Gavin Creel, Bryce Ryness and Andrew Kober
Kevin Cahoon and Max von Essen
Tommar Wilson and Megan Reinking
Michael James Scott and Anthony Hollock
Andrew Rannells and Dennis Jones
Gavin Creel, Christopher Sieber and Sutton Foster
Sutton Foster and Michael James Scott
Alan Van Cappelle, Executive Director of Empire State Pride Agenda
The New York Theater Community's Mobilization Rally for Equality in Central Park!
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