FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WE HAVE A DREAM TOO! : HERE TO STAY COALITION MARCHES IN MLK PARADE

Los Angeles, CA, January 15, 2009 – The Here To Stay Coalition, a group of community members, artists and activists dedicated to working within the Black community to end homophobia and promote dialogue, is proud to announce its participation in the 2009 MLK Day Parade. It is believed to be the first time a coalition of Black gay groups, including the Jordan/Rustin Coalition and the National Black Justice Coalition have walked in the parade under the banner “We have a dream too!”

On Monday, January 19, 2009, the Here to Stay Coalition will walk to demonstrate how King’s dream of justice, equality and freedom includes all people; gay, transgendered and straight.  ”Bayard Rustin, a Black gay man, is responsible for teaching Dr. King nonviolence and was the architect of the 1963 March on Washington; yet, he is hidden from history. On Monday, we will walk for Bayard Rustin and all of those Black gays who are silenced because of their sexual orientation,” said LaTrice Dixon of Here to Stay.

Here To Stay Coalition members have worked in the spirit of Dr. King for years on issues affecting the quality of life in the Black community such as racial and economic justice, police brutality, media justice and immigration. “I have been an activist in South Central for over ten years and I have marched in the MLK parade with my union-SEIU. Now that Prop 8 has passed, its time to walk with my LGBT brothers and sisters,” stated Yardenna Aaron of Here To Stay.

This historic participation comes a day before the inauguration of the first Black president of the United States and in the wake of repeated violence in the Black community. Here To Stay and the Jordan/Rustin Coalition held a candlelight vigil for the most recent victims of police violence, Oscar Grant of San Francisco and Dante Story of South Central. Here To Stay also stands in solidarity with and remembers the December kidnapping and gang-rape of a 28 year-old openly Lesbian victim in Richmond, CA.

The dream of Here to Stay is that Monday’s march will inspire more and more Black gays to be their full selves in their community and that the larger Black community will set aside its fear, work through differences and openly acknowledge their loved ones. Here to Stay calls on the community to love one another unconditionally.

Contact:

Email: heretostaycoalition@gmail.com,  Website: www.heretostaycoalition.org

Here To Stay is a coalition of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer, Intersex, friends, family and relatives based in Los Angeles, California area committed to working within the Black community to end homophobia, the fear and hatred of same gender loving people.  We have always been, and always will be, here to stay as change makers in our communities.