Cleve Jones to co-marshal NYC Pride parade

When tens of thousands of LGBT people march down Fifth Avenue this Sunday for the city's annual Pride parade, activist and founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Cleve Jones will be among those at the helm.

Being at the forefront of gay rights efforts (and the occasional celebration) is nothing new to Jones. What is new, however, is the increased notoriety he has gained from the release of "Milk" last fall. EDGE spoke to Jones earlier this week about the purpose of Pride, the upcoming March on Washington and his suggested strategy for achieving equality for LGBT Americans within the next few years.

Jones' early lessons in activism came from time spent as a student intern for Harvey Milk after his election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Like the grainy newsreel footage that opens "Milk," the limited rights granted to LGBTs during the 1960s and early 70s seem distant and quaint to those born after strives made in recent years. While the current generation sets their sights on marriage for same-sex couples and other goals, Jones reflected on the era in which he grew-up.

"We had no rights," he said. "When I first came out of the closet, it (homosexuality) was a felony. We couldn't dance; we couldn't congregate."

Forty years on from Stonewall, Jones acknowledged progress has been made.

"We certainly have come a long way, that's indisputable; but we have yet to get even close to full equality," he said.

With many of those who march in the parade celebrating the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, Jones notes "we should take pride in the advances we've made." He stressed, however this is a crucial point in history in which "we all need to recommit to the struggle and redouble our efforts." To that end, Jones said would like to see this year's Pride observances reflect the work yet to be done - even if it comes at the expense of having one less party in favor of one more meeting or activist action.

"We have a lot of parties all year round," he said. "I would like to see a more serious tone this year. I'd like people to put aside the party and focus on the political challenges at hand."

The need to meet those challenges with action is all the more urgent, given Jones' unhappiness with the new administration's lack of action on behalf of the LGBT Americans.

"I am deeply disappointed by Obama," Jones said. "There are a number of bills which could get us close to equality, and he has taken action on none of them. He has great power to persuade and great political capital. We need him to spend some of that on us."

As for those who say this president needs to focus on the war and the economy, Jones points out he feels waiting for the good times to roll again is no guarantee LGBT Americans would be better off. And he recalled the Clinton era to emphasize his point.
"We had eight years of peace and prosperity, and what did we get? The Defense of Marriage Act and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell.""

As for what can be done under the first term of an Obama administration, Jones said the White House has a two year window of opportunity to sign any LGBT-specific bills into law.

"Within a very short period of time, he's going to be focused on getting re-elected; so I think we need bold, decisive leadership from him and we need it right now," he said as he blasted those who maintain activists need to tread carefully in their efforts to secure marriage for same-sex couples, workplace non-discrimination and transgender rights. "I am tired of people talking about political expediency."

Jones added he feels these activists will have more success if they push lawmakers in Washington-as opposed to in state legislatures.

"It's time to talk about doing what's right," he said. "We need to remind our own people about 1964, when King and the civil rights movement realized they had to go beyond Selma - to the Congress and the president - and demand federal action."

The piecemeal victories gained by advocating for LGBT rights on the state level has left Jones frustrated and "tired of compromising, bargaining, and strategies that say 'give us this crumb of equality now and we'll wait 10 years for the rest of it."

"I am tired of parsing it." he said. "We must demand full equality now."

Jones added he hopes the March on Washington in October will jump start federal efforts. Currently in the planning stages, the march will "demand equal protection under the law in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states." Jones remains hopeful the march will energize its participants to "create a truly nationwide grassroots movement that unites us all across state boundaries." He also hopes they will return to their home Congressional districts and lobby their legislators ahead of the 2010 mid-term elections.

History will, he asserts, show gains were made not by Obama, but by those who achieved legislative advances gained by the election of more allies in 2010.

"Obama's people are telling us we don't have the votes in Congress to achieve our goals," Jones said. "We need to change that reality."

Once there are enough votes on Capitol Hill, Jones foresees swift change.

"A door has been opened, If we push hard now, I believe we can achieve full equality in three or four years," he said. "If we do not seize this moment, I fear it will be decades."