Right-wing intimidation fails
Biggest Gay Pride march ever in Buffalo, N.Y.
By Bev
Hiestand and Marge Maloney
Buffalo, N.Y.
By far the biggest Pride march in this city's history wound
its way down a major downtown avenue into Lafayette Square on
June 19. There the march was unexpectedly swelled by rivers of
spectators and supporters who filled the rally site, 4,000
strong.
It was big and it was fun. But this year's annual lesbian,
gay, bisexual and trans event and the unprecedented support it
received all along the route also had a special political
significance.
In April a national right-wing mobilization labeled
"Operation Save America" had descended on Buffalo. These
reactionaries tried to marshal their forces to shut down
women's abortion services and to intimidate the
lesbian/gay/bi/trans communities.
But eight weeks later, the turnout for this year's Pride
event demonstrated that the rainbow communities are not about
to be pushed back into the closet by bigots.
Unity was the theme from speakers at the rally podium. And
solidarity among the diverse elements in this movement was
reflected in the march.
Groups included Shades--Lesbians of Color, Gay Fathers,
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Gay and Lesbian Youth
Services, Workers World Party, Dykes on Bikes, and Empire State
Pride Agenda. Imaginatively constructed floats represented gay
and trans bars.
The march and rally included the colorful and festive
presence of the Imperial Court of Buffalo--drag queens and
their supporters who raise funds for gay-related charities.
Buffalo United for Choice '99 activists of all sexualities
and Rainbow Peacekeepers marched jointly behind a banner that
read "Together to stamp out bigotry!" Both groups arose in
response to the April onslaught of the bigots.
The grassroots coalition BUC '99 was organized to expose the
right wing's entire agenda and galvanize broad-based opposition
to it. Lesbian, gay, bi and trans activists played a
significant role in building BUC '99.
Aware that the right wing might target the gay and trans
communities as a result, the Gay and Lesbian Spring Action
Committee of BUC '99 organized squads of Rainbow Peacekeepers
to protect the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans meeting
places.
Rainbow activists were aware that at the same time as a
well-advertised national drag queen event, a national
right-wing rally was scheduled at the Christian Center--a
building adjacent to the drag show.
Activists helped ensure the safety of the 300 drag queens
and their supporters as well as patrons of the city's 11 gay
bars.
Almost as soon as the reactionaries arrived, local lesbian
and gay bars and individual activists received threats. The
Peacekeepers dealt with incidents that might have erupted into
violence and not one gay or trans person was reported hurt or
injured.
Volunteer Rainbow Peacekeepers continued to protect their
communities by lining the June 19 Pride march route.
The buzz from participants at the rally focused on the fact
that not one incident of harassment was reported for the first
time in the seven-year history of the city's Pride marches.
During the past six events--which numbered in the
hundreds--marchers had braved slurs and harassment from some
bigots along the route.
This year an unusually large number of supporters lined the
streets and applauded. Passing motorists honked or gave a
thumbs-up sign.
"This year felt different," a lesbian healthcare worker who
had marched in the 1993 Pride event said. "No fear this
year."
"So empowering," others commented.
Referring to the April victory , one leading Peacekeeper
stated with satisfaction, "We scared them away again."
Hiestand and Maloney are members of the Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Trans Caucus of the Buffalo branch of Workers
World Party.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
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