LGBT Pride celebrated

San Francisco WW photo: Judy Greenspan

Just like in the fable, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” the U.S. military machine was stripped and paraded through the streets of SAN FRANCISCO for all to see. A small but vocal contingent of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer activists used the June 27 LGBTQ Pride parade to condemn the homophobic U.S. military and its many interventions abroad and to demand, “Ban the Army, not the queers!”

The contingent, organized and led by Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism, also carried signs protesting Israeli apartheid and the purchase of Israeli goods. Chants of “Free, free Palestine! Queers say no to Israel’s crimes!” echoed up and down Market Street. The radical, queer, anti-war statement was witnessed by more than one million Pride parade spectators, many of whom cheered and showed their strong support.

New York WW photo: LeiLani Dowell

Trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people and their allies marched through the streets of NEW YORK on June 25 in the sixth Trans Day of Action for Social and Economic Justice. The annual event, which is organized by the Audre Lorde Project, demanded equal access to employment and education opportunities for TGNC people; access to respectful and safe living spaces and community spaces; full legalization of all immigrants; and justice for the many TGNC people who have been beaten, assaulted, raped and murdered.

An anti-capitalist contingent was one of several social justice groupings participating in the annual lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer Pride march on June 27 in Manhattan. The contingent included members of Workers World Party, the Bail Out the People Movement, the International Action Center and the youth group Fight Imperialism, Stand Together.