Interview: Kip Williams, National Equality March Organizer

[Mark Daniel Snyder]

1. How did you get involved in planning the National Equality March? Tell us a little bit about what the experience was like for you.

Right after David Mixner called for the march, I sent him a very simple email: "Dear David, Put me to work." He let me know that Cleve Jones would be leading the effort, so I reached out to Cleve. I really appreciated Cleve's focus on full federal equality. It was a confusing and exciting mess in the beginning - we had no structure, no plan, and no resources. Our friends at the Courage Campaign gave us money and support to get started - when no other organizations would even endorse the march! The national LGBT organizations and blogs were very negative and unsupportive. But we just screened them out and kept our eyes on the prize. We put together a national grassroots committee, and everyone found their own way to plug in. Our friend Bil Browning from Bilerico reversed his opinion about the march, and endorsed us. He helped us get the support of other organizations and bloggers. When the day finally came to march, everything exceeded our expectations. We had more than 200,000 in the streets that day, all marching for full federal equality. We asserted our struggle definitively as a civil rights movement. We built something incredible out of nothing, and it taught me a great lesson about what you can accomplish grassroots-style, even when people don't believe in you or support you.

2. I was very pleased to see that the speakers included messages about solidarity with immigrants rights movements, reproductive justice groups, anti-war movement and so on. Do you think the intense focus on marriage equality and "don't ask don't tell" detracts from that solidarity sometimes (especially given that some marriage quality organization endorse anti-immigrant, pro-war, etc. candidates) ?

Focusing exclusively on marriage equality or open military service highlights many differences in the community about politics, race, and class. But when we look at those issues as part of a bigger picture of full equality and civil rights, I think it brings us together on a winning strategy.

We clearly stated our philosophy as march organizers from day one: As members of every race, class, faith, and community, we see ourselves as part of a larger struggle for peace and social justice. When we stand for and with each other, we have incredible power. We were proud to develop a speakers platform that communicated a visionary and forward-thinking message of equality and civil rights for all people.

3. You didn't have health care coverage during your work on the march. Did you reach out for help with that from any LGBT organizations? Did anyone offer to help you get coverage? Do you view health care reform as a priority for the LGBTQ Community to fight for?

Since we dived head first into this process, we didn't have time or money to offer benefits. I wanted to do this work with all my heart and soul, so it was totally worth going without coverage. When we finally got set up with the Tides Center as our fiscal sponsor, they brought me on board and offered me health insurance - which kicked in just before I resigned from Equality Across America.

Health care reform should be a priority for all people. No one should be uninsured, and no one should feel like we don't have options because we don't have money. I'm ready to push hard on Speaker Pelosi to make commitments about equality and to deliver - but I support her to focus fully on progressive health care reform right now. But honestly, I'm pretty skeptical that we'll wind up with real progressive reform.

4. You cited differences with the strategy of Equality Across America in achieving full federal equality as a reason for leaving. How do you differ in your opinion on strategy with them? (and who is "them?")

I simply don't want to get distracted by governing structures and internal politics. I want to do good organizing, and focus on campaigns that will have a real impact. Right now I'm turning my attention to my Representative, Speaker Nancy Pelosi. I went to her office unannounced with about 10 friends to demand an emergency meeting the day after Referendum 1 revoked marriage equality in Maine. Rather than watching our rights get stripped away state by state, ballot by ballot, I want to know what the Speaker is doing to lead the House on civil rights legislation for LGBT people. I don't believe we're going to be a priority unless we show up and speak up.

Join us in the call to Pelosi, and invite your friends! http://speakforequality.org

5. I was one of the many people expressing concerns about the timing and potential impact of the march, yet I was pleasantly surprised with the turnout and messages of the speakers. Do you think the march made any lasting impact on our community, politicians, or society at large? If so, how do you suggest we continue that momentum?

The march was a lesson in personal power for all of us. Don't wait for permission or directions. Just get out and do something.

I believe that many people see our struggle as a political movement for a handful of rights - such as the right to marry and the right to serve openly in the military. To me, the march was an opportunity to definitively state that we are a civil rights movement with only one demand ultimately - full federal equality. We have to work out what that means legislatively, but don't get paralyzed by not knowing the answers. I hope that people all across the country will begin putting real pressure on our elected officials. It doesn't matter if you don't think you have any political power. Show up, don't back down, and make them deal with you.