Boston LGBTQ Pride

Boston LGBTQ Pride, June 11. WW photo: Steve Kirschbaum

Led by UNITE-HERE Local 26, labor and community activists took to the street in Boston’s 2011 Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Trans/Queer Pride march on June 11. Tens of thousands defied a downpour and either marched or lined the parade route of the annual event which demanded “Equality: nothing more or less.”

Members of the Boston School Bus Union, Steel Workers Local 8751; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Stonewall Warriors; Women’s Fightback Network; and the International Action Center marched to say “Stonewall means fight back, smash LGBTQ oppression!” and “Union jobs and health care for all!” The activists demanded an end to the pro-war, racist, sexist, anti-LGBTQ attacks of Sara Palin and Tea Party bigots and supported the boycott of Hyatt Hotels.

Hundreds of Workers World newspapers and flyers for a Stonewall Warriors/Workers World forum were snapped up by the crowd. The forum will take place on June 23 at the Action Center, 284 Amory St. in Jamaica Plain, Mass. Featuring long-time trans anti-war and anti-death penalty activist Imani Henry, the meeting will take up the impact of the economic crisis on the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ fightback.