To: stonewall25@queernet.org
Subject: Inclusion
Date: Tue, 31 May 1994 21:37:47 -0700

STONEWALL 25 IS ABOUT INCLUSION

There are many rumors circulating, primarily in Metro NY, that Stonewall 25
organizers are seeking to "sanitize" the March on the U.N. on June 26. There
is considerable apprehension about the annual Pride Parade being modified
this year to become an international protest march designed to begin uniting
our communities globally. Queers from more than 70 countries are coming to NY
in June to participate in Stonewall 25. There are many places around the
world, from Eastern Europe to Africa, from the Middle East and Asia to South
and Central America, where people are regularly hunted, jailed and even
killed because of their sexual and/or gender orientations. The radical right
is already united world-wide. At last year's Johannesburg's Pride March,
right wing protesters were directly funded and organized by Chrisian
Coalition members from California. Stonewall 25 is about starting to catch-up
with the Right. It is about forcing the international community to address
the human rights abuses suffered by transgender, drag, bisexual, lesbian and
gay people. It is an important start of a next step in our movement.

Stonewall 25 is also a celebration of an uprising carried out by drag kings
and queens, many of whom were African American and Latina/o. In 1969 queers
in Greenwich Village - lesbians, bi's, gays, people of all colors, hustlers -
they all united to provide fuel to a fire which had been just a flicker. The
March and Rally on June 26, 1994 are a celebration of their courage and of
our rich diversity today. The Stonewall organization includes people from a
wide swath of our communities. People from leather, drag, religious,
AIDS/HIV, youth, elder, disabled, political, bisexual, veteran, pacifist and
labor organizations are all involved. Asian, African American, Native
American, Pacific Islander and international representitives are all
participatng.

Stonewall 25 is not only welcoming but encouraging all of our communities to
come out in full force. Shirtless dykes on bikes, leather people celebrating
their culture, drag queens, mainstream folks - everyone - will march proudly,
together.

Please spread the word.