Melanie Nathan 3-19/10. On Sunday, March 21st  the  March for America – will attract tens of thousands of immigrant  and immigrant rights activists to the mall in D.C.  all marching for much needed immigration reform.

The speaker lineup has been announced by the organizers.   Despite a marching  contingent from Immigration Equality, there is no speaker to represent the bi-national LGBT spouse interest or Pro UAFA advocacy in the lineup of speakers.

This could mean a few things, all of much concern; either we have yet to be noticed, our cause is insignificant when compared to 12 million immigrants seeking documentation, or we remain the ‘dirty little secret’ that may be get a nod at the end of the day.  (literally and figuratively.)

This is disappointing and rather odd, especially when the line up is so clergy cluttered.  I plan on sending out some e-mails tonight to some of the speakers begging for hem to give us a mention.  Ben Jealous for one, is first on my list.

UPDATED 3/20/10

I spoke today to the organizers.  They said they were very much aware of the LGBT issue. That they had also received many calls for what the termed a “campaign” to get speakers on the Agenda.  The Media representative said shehad been rudely treated by our community.   They had taken notice of LGBT issues by Inviting Congressman Mike Honda specifically because he is an advocate for LGBT community.

That does not however explain why advocacy groups in our community received no forum.

WHAT:  March for America: Change Takes Courage

WHEN: Sunday, March 21, 2010
Interfaith Service: 1 p.m. EST
Rally: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. EST
March to RFK Stadium: 5 p.m. EST

WHERE: National Mall, 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C.

SPEAKERS:
Cardinal Roger Michael Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles
Andy Stern, president, SEIU International
Eddie “El Piolín” Sotelo, national radio personality
Marc Morial, executive director, National Urban League
Carlos Saavedra, national coordinator, United We Dream
Ben Jealous, executive director, NAACP
Lucia Mendez, Actress
Gustavo Torres, executive director, CASA de Maryland
Los Lonely Boys, Grammy Award winning musicians
Deepak Bhargava, executive director, Center for Community Change
Angelica Salas, executive director, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles
Wade Henderson, president, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Janet Murguía, executive director, National Council of La Raza
Pramila Jayapal, executive director, One America
Bishop Minerva Carcaño, Bishop of the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.)
Sen. Robert Menedez (D- N.J.)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.)
Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Michael Honda (D-Calif.)
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.)
Rep. Yvette Clark (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.)
Rev. Sam Rodriguez, Jr., president, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Rev. Derrick Harkins, senior pastor, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, president and general minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rabbi Morris Allen, Beth Jacob Congregation
Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale, senior pastor, Reformed Church of Highland Park
Rev. John McCullough, executive director, Church World Service
Angela Sanbrano, executive committee president, National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities
Esther Lopez, Director, UFCW Civil Rights and Community Action Department
Arturo Venegas Jr., retired Sacramento Chief of Police
Eliseo Medina, executive vice president, SEIU International
Emma Lozano, executive director, Centro Sin Fronteras
Billy Lawless, Celts for Immigration Reform
Ali Noorani, executive director, National Immigration Forum
Chung-Wha Hong, executive director, New York Immigration Coalition
Josh Hoyt, executive director, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Eun Sook Lee, executive director, National Association of Korean American Service and Education Consortium
Maria Elena Durazo, Los Angeles County Federation, AFL- CIO
Maria Rodriguez, executive director, Florida Immigrant Coalition
Arturo Vargas, NALEO
Tuyet Le, executive director, Asian American Institute
Mary Rose Wilcox, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
Justin Rubin, executive director, Move On
Arlene Holt-Baker, vice president, AFL- CIO
Joe Hansen, president, UFCW
John Willhelm, president, UNITE-HERE
Arturo Rodriguez, president, UFW
Juan Salgado, board president, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
Kim Propeack, CASA de Maryland