Masses of people ascended upon the Capitol steps today chanting, “What do we want?” “Equal rights.” “When do we want it?” “Yesterday.”
The crowd was there participating in the 2nd annual Equality March, an event succeeding the Baton Rouge Pride Fest, presented by Capital City Alliance and Equality Louisiana, along with various other sponsors.
Kayla Mulford, board member and programs and activities committee chair of Capital City Alliance, said the idea behind Equality March is to bring awareness to the inequalities the LGBT population faces not only to the community but also to the legislators who prevent their equality.
Bruce Parker, coalition manager of Equality Louisiana, said the crowd has grown since last year and he’s noticed an increase in state-wide participation reaching from Shreveport to Lake Charles.
The march also caught national attention by drawing in Jody Huckaby, executive director of PFLAG National, to speak at the event.
Another change from last year is the presence of the group Louisiana Trans Advocates whose president Elizabeth Jenkins spoke at the rally. Louisiana Trans Advocates is a group that’s grown a lot in the past year and is becoming more visible, Parker said.
Marriage equality is a well-known issue by many, but the Equality March speakers raised awareness for other inequalities such as employment discrimination and creating all inclusive anti-bullying laws.
Ian Watson, one of the 300 plus participants at the event, said he came out to the Equality March to unite with his friends and strangers for the cause of equal treatment.
“Me and all of friends and plenty of people that I don’t even know are waiting for America to recognize LGBTQSA as people. We are American citizens, and we deserve all the rights that American citizens get,” Watson said.
LGBTQ Pride ralliers end their march on the steps of the State Capitol June 15, 2013 in downtown Baton Rouge.
