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NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn to address National Equality March

by Michael K. Lavers

National News Editor

Thursday October 8, 2009

Openly lesbian New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is among those who plan to participate in the National Equality March in Washington on Oct. 11.

Quinn announced in a YouTube video posted earlier this week she will travel to the nation's capital with a group of New York activists. She is also scheduled to address march participants from the West Lawn of the Capitol.

"This march is designed to send a very important and simple message that we as LGBT Americans-that we as friends and family of LGBT Americans-that we demand that all of the civil laws in every state give every aspect of our lives and family equal protection," Quinn said.

Quinn told EDGE in a follow-up interview her partner Kim Catullo will be among those who accompany her to Washington.

"This is an important moment-a moment where the community has an opportunity to send a message. I wanted to be part of that and make sure my voice and my city's voice is a significant part of the chorus on Sunday that is calling for equal recog

"This is an important moment-a moment where the community has an opportunity to send a message," she said. "I wanted to be part of that and make sure my voice and my city's voice is a significant part of the chorus on Sunday that is calling for equal recognition."

Quinn further concluded the National Equality March and similar gatherings are "energizing." And she added she feels it will send a message to New York State lawmakers and other legislators around the country to act upon marriage for gays and lesbians, efforts to add sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to existing non-discrimination and anti-hate crime statutes and other LGBT-specific bills.

"I have no doubt folks in Albany and in most state houses around the country will be watching what's happening in DC on Sunday," Quinn said.

She further acknowledged the doubts some within the movement for LGBT rights continue to have about the march. Quinn pointed out the ongoing debates over health care reform, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the recession that continue to dominate both the White House and Congress' agenda. She added, however, she feels the time is right for lawmakers to extend rights to LGBT Americans.

"These issues are fairly simple," Quinn concluded. "This is not complicated."

Based in Washington, D.C., Michael K. Lavers has appeared in the New York Times, BBC, WNYC, Huffington Post, Village Voice, Advocate and other mainstream and LGBT media outlets. He is an unapologetic political junkie who thoroughly enjoys living inside the Beltway.