Los Angeles LGBT pride: message of unity

Thousands of people lined the streets of Los Angeles on June 11, celebrating another extremely successful Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Trans Pride March. The International Action Center contingent, from both the San Diego and Los Angeles branches, carried an assortment of placards showing support for many different causes—from saving the South Central Farm, to bringing the troops home now and stopping the illegal war in Iraq, to defending women’s reproductive rights. Other placards read “LGBT equality now!” and “Marriage rights for all.”

IAC contingent, Los Angeles, June 11. WW photo: Gloria Verdieu

Chants included: “Gay, straight, Black, Brown, and white, all unite to fight the right!” and “When trans people are under attack, what do we do? Act up! Fight back!” Many on the sidelines joined the chanting and were noticeably pumped up by it.

Justino Jimenez of San Diego FIST—Fight Imperialism Stand Together—and the IAC kept the crowd moving by dropping knowledge in the form of hip hop. He shared rhymes on many current issues while John Parker beat boxed.

Jimenez said: “The thing I will remember the most about today is seeing the gay community representing hip hop. It was amazing that LGBT hip hop heads got to come out representing the culture and got to see an emcee rock the mic to show support for their struggle. Today was a big step in the direction of unity.”

Unity was the main message of the day, combining all these struggles into the working-class struggle against imperialism. This was reflected by the lead banner carried proudly by the contingent, which read: “Come out against racism and war—United we fight for full rights for LGBT and immigrant communities.”