By Correspondent, Victor Kerney

Los Angeles - For the first time in years, the Black LGBT community marched at the 24th Annual Martin Luther King Day Parade in South Central, Los Angeles.

After the disastrous Prop 8, three LGBT groups: Here To Stay Coalition, National Black Justice Coalition and The Jordan/Rustin Coalition got together and decided it was time to put a face to the LGBT community of color.

 

 
 
Yardenna Aaron, founder of Here To Stay Coalition, knew something had to be done. “People needed to see that we are here and we care about our community,” she said. “Our visibility is very important on this historic day.”

Once the group was approved to march, they immediately sent information out from their websites, inviting any and everyone to join them for this historic event. Once I saw the invitation, I knew I had to be there.

During the parade, we realized the significance of each step we were taking. We were telling the Black community that yes; there is a Los Angeles Black LGBT community. We are just like you and we are not going anywhere. However, as we marched, a few of us became a bit nervous as much as excited.

“I realized that I was coming out to my people, and that frighten me and inspired me at the same time,” a fellow marcher stated.

The crowd showed nothing but love for us. Thousands of people were able to see and hear us as we walked roughly two miles from Crenshaw to Western Avenue down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

I can’t tell you how the smiles and cheers just encouraged everyone to move on. Of course there were some people who were not happy to see us, but the interesting part was how the crowd around them responded. Many people chastised the ‘haters’ and quickly turned it around. Many of us were moved by this gesture.

This was truly a momentous event. We hope we inspired others to take a stand and possibly join us next year.