@BYLINE = BY LIZ A. HIGHLEYMAN @DROP CAP = T<%6>HE 1993 MARCH ON WASH<%4>INGTON FOR LESBIAN, GAY, AND BI <%0>Equal Rights and Liberation will take place on April 25. This event will be the largest queer action since the 1987 March on Washington, and organizers are predicting attendance by up to a million people. The Love & Rage Network is calling for a contingent of anar<%-2>chists as an alternative, anti-authoritarian presence at the march. Many Network members are queer themselves, and the Network has consistently supported queer liberation.<%0> <%4>The march is being organized by delegates from across the US, as well as representatives of special groups such as AIDS activists and prisoners. The organizers are committed to gender parity and participation by people of color. <%0> <%2>The march platform contains a wide range of issues and was hashed out at national meetings over the course of the past year. As might be expected, there has been considerable controversy. More- conservative people opposed planks concerning civil rights for people of color, reproductive rights, and universal health care, wanting to maintain a single issue focus on gay civil rights. More radical queers opposed the focus on mainstream electoral politics, on the demand for gay participation in the military, and on the demand for same-sex marriage. Needless to say, many people will not agree with every position in the platform, and participation does not imply 100% support. (In fact it may be even more important for those who do not agree to attend and make their voices heard.)<%0> This march appears to be the beginning of a broad coalition for sexual and gender liberation, which encompasses and goes beyond the existing gay and lesbian movement. After much discussion and debate, bisexuals were explicitly included in the title of this march. Transgender people were not included in the title this year, but their concerns are represented in the platform and many transgender people plan to participate. Leatherpeople plan a strong presence as well. Several broad based (non gay-specific) politically progressive organizations have endorsed the march and plan to take part. Hopefully there will be a large showing of non-gay/lesbian/bisexual people who support the freedom of sexual choice. After the showing by the ultra right in the recent election, many are considering this march to be a show of queer strength and support in the face of reactionary attacks, as well as a reminder to the new administration that sexual minority concerns cannot be ignored now that the election is over. It is important that anarchists have a presence in the march to let people know that we cannot rely on laws and the government to guarantee queer liberation. Direct action groups such as Queer Nation and ACT UP will have a strong presence. In addition to the march itself, civil disobedience actions are planned for the following Monday (April 26). The Love & Rage Network Council meeting will be held on the same weekend of the march, on Friday Saturday, April 23 24. Plans for any actions that the anarchist contingent might want to take during the march or the day after can be discussed at this time. It was decided at the conference in Atlanta that a black bloc is probably not the best tactic for this march. As queers and supporters of queer liberation we want to be seen, not hide behind masks. (This relates to the historical need for queers to keep themselves hidden.) We also discussed the need to be very careful, especially as a non-gay-specific group, to select appropriate targets for any actions and to make our message clear. (Many felt that this was not done well at last year's reproductive rights march.) The provisional plan is to see what ACT UP and other direct action groups have planned and to plan our actions accordingly. We hope that many anarchists and anti-authoritarians will participate in the contingent, not only those who consider themselves Love & Rage affiliates and supporters. <%4>Because so many people are expected in DC, travel and accommodations will be tight. (Several national organizations are holding their yearly meetings that weekend as well). So plan early, and come to DC to support queer liberation! Contact Love & Rage atr (212) 569-0989 for information on travel and lodging arrangements<%14> @END MARKER = @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @ _Love & Rage_ is a Revolutionary Anarchist newspaper produced @ by the Love and Rage Network. The Love and Rage Network is a @ continental network of groups and individuals in Canada, Mexico, @ and the United States. Subscriptions to the newspaper cost: @ $13 for first class (fast, envelope), $9 third class (slow, no @ envelope), $13 international (outside of United States), free for @ prisoners, GI's, published bimonthly. @ Please write to us at POB 3, NY, NY 10012 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@