With special thanks to Lt. Dan Choi & Capt. Mike Rankin (Ret). A part of the National Equality March on Washington, this historic event on October 10, 2009, brought together people of all ages from all over the country with heroes whose fight against the military's ban on gays spanned nearly half-a-century. Participant bios here. Potomac Fever from Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC, directed by Jeff Buhrman, began the program.
Event concluded with wreath laying led by Dan Choi and Mike Rankin.
Color guard led by Jim Darby.
Four of the Heroes who spoke: Joe Zuniga, Tracy Thorne-Begland, Frank Kameny, & Rev. Troy Perry. [MWGLAADC]
David Mixner & Chip Arndt
Dan Choi & Michael Bedwell
ABOVE LEFT: Veteran civil rights advocate David Mixner & activist & Amazing Racer Chip Arndt. Just weeks before David had been in intensive care, and he arrived here in a wheel chair. But he rose to the podium and to the occasion for his late friend Leonard andfor what immediately could and should be done about DADT to wild cheers and applause from the audience.... [Photo by Bill Wilson. Video by Curt Morrison.]
David Addlestone, Leonard's lead attorney at discharge hearing
Leonard's inspiration: pioneer Frank Kameny
NEM Chair Cleve Jones & LA City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl.
The event ended with Lt. Dan Choi and retired Navy Capt. Mike Rankin placing a wreath on Leonard's grave but his fight against injustice is carried on by many hands.
Thanks to Mitch Wood-GLAA DC
Special thanks to Denny Meyer, American Veterans for Equal Rigths NY [AVERNY], Patrick Crowley and Cindy Hayes of Congressional Cemetery, and Tom Brown for his assistance; videographer Sean Chapin, Valerie at Avalon Farms. photographers Patsy Lynch, Bill Wilson, Joe Tresh, Elvert Barnes, Mitch Wood of GLAA-DC, Marta Evry, and Carly Collins, Jim Darby & Patrick Bova of AVER Chicago for the color guard flags, Knights Out, members of Advocates for Equality from Indiana State University, Robert York and the florist, Steve Funk, Bebe Sweetbriar, & The Mix, Liz Menon for her graphic design, and Mark Reed & Kyle Buckingham.
Click on image above for article "An Aching Soothed" about this event & LGBT wreath laying at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier earlier that day.
