Cleve Jones addresses Chicago crowd

Activist Cleve Jones has been no stranger to criticism in recent months, but the leading proponent of the National Equality March energized a capacity crowd in Chicago on Saturday, Aug. 29, with his anecdotes, charm and call to action.

The event, held at the Victory Gardens Theater, served as a fundraiser for Join the Impact Chicago, the grassroots organization leading the effort to mobilize a Windy City contingent to travel to the national march in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11. Proceeds from ticket sales and donations at the event will be used to pay for buses to transport Chicago-based activists to the march.

As Jones was introduced to speak, he was met with a standing ovation and roars of applause before he recounted memories of early activism and his close friendship with Harvey Milk. Jones further discussed his thoughts on the state of the movement for LGBT rights.

"I'd never seen what bullets do," Jones poignantly said as he discussed Nov. 27, 1978, the day he saw Milk's body shortly after hearing the news of his death. "It seemed to me at that moment that everything was over. I had lost this man who loved me. We had lost our leader ... Walking [down the Castro] later that day in the river of candlelight, I realized it wasn't over, it was just the beginning."

Jones admitted he originally was skeptical of the idea of a national march. He referenced how he felt the most recent march, in 2000, had become more of "an entertainment event." It wasn't until witnessing the swift organization of protests against Proposition 8's passage in California, however, he changed his mind.

"I think now's the time," Jones said. "We have a historic opportunity and if you don't get that, you need to read more. We are ready to win. We are ready for equality."

Jones criticized the strategy of some LGBT activists to focus on local battles as opposed to what he described as the need to work on the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and other federal issues. He encouraged activists to build coalitions with the labor movement and reach out to other minority communities while pressing the White House to "be held responsible" for promises made to LGBT voters on the campaign trail.

"If you believe you are equal, start acting like it," Jones continued. "Some of us are invested in our own victimhood and I think some are afraid of winning. The march is not the end, but it's the beginning of a new chapter in our struggle. It will lead to a victory for all of us. We're going to win. Si, se puede."

Event organizers viewed the event, which sold out the 300-seat venue and raised just under $2000 in donations alone, as a definite success for the budding organization.

"We had no idea what [Jones] was going to talk about specifically and could not have been happier with how his talk went," Missy Lorenzen, media director of Join the Impact Chicago, said.

She continued.

"It was such an emotional roller coaster," Lorenzen said. "There were several times - especially when he talked about the day [Milk] died - where we were working hard not to cry. All in all, it was a very powerful evening that I don't think any of us will forget anytime soon."

Log on to www.jointheimpactchicago.com for more information.