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March or not' debate tired

There's been a lot of back and forth banter about the National Equality March, both nationally and here in Michigan. Was it necessary? Should we support it? Will it take away funds and volunteers and commitment from local battles and LGBT initiatives?

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, historically known as "the" gay voice of Congress, called the march "a waste of time, at best" and urged everyone to stay home. "The only thing they're going to be putting pressure on is the grass," he jabbed.
Here in Michigan, the Triangle Foundation released a statement encouraging activists to focus efforts on local action. "We will not actually oppose the march – we do understand the importance of such an event to activists and we think all activism is a good thing," the statement read. "But instead, we will encourage activists to take specific actions in Maine, in Kalamazoo, and in their own states.
Some Michiganders chose to stay in their home state, whether due to lack of funds or lack of desire to attend. Some canvassed in Kalamazoo and volunteered in Grand Rapids. They held National Coming Out Day events or maybe just hung around at Affirmations.
Still, several hundred Michigan activists joined the estimated 100,000-200,000 (depending on who you ask) who marched in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 11. They braved a 10-hour bus ride and little to no sleep to take part in something they saw as infinitely important – not just to national LGBT equality, but to their own causes in their home cities.
So who is right? Was it better to work for LGBT rights at home or at the Capital?
The answer is: both. It takes all kinds of people to create change in this world, and here at Between The Lines we believe that no one should ever be criticized for taking action to fight discrimination – even if you personally think it's the "wrong way" to get what we want accomplished.
Local door-to-door canvassing helps, but so does making sure our state has a presence at a historic national march. Volunteering at Affirmations is great, and so is donating to the Human Rights Campaign, the National Black Justice Coalition, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and a host of other national non profits who have worked tirelessly for decades pushing this full equality and social justice agenda forward.
The problem isn't that we're not all doing the same thing and on the same page at all times; it's that we're often wasting time criticizing each other's methods for achieving our common goal or burning out arguing. CSPAN brought the march into our offices here at BTL. It was uplifting to see the see of faces across the mall – the majority of whom seemed to be under 30 who are clearly determined to see the dream of full equality realized in their lifetime.
The march may not have been the right choice for some. But for others, it was both a personally and socially important journey. Yes, some believe that the march was useless. But no one can say it set us back.
And what's more – we can do both.
Rep. Frank was wrong when he called the march a waste of time in the past and he is wrong now. The community building that occurs at a gathering like a National Equality March is well documented. Community organizers go back home and contribute to organizations, political campaigns, build community centers and other critical projects.
Michiganders who spent their weekend in D.C. are not coming home and saying, "Well, I've done my part and now I'm going to sit on my couch for the rest of 2009." They're coming back with renewed spirit and energy and ideas to continue the work that needs to be done at home.

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