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By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Oct 27 | Equality Forum, the Philadelphia based LGBT activist organisation which coordinates LGBT History Month, undertakes high impact national initiatives, produces documentary films, and presents annually the largest national and international LGBT civil rights forum; announced today that it will be co-sponsoring a demonstration in-front of the White House on October 28th, 2009.
Parents of gays and lesbians, teachers and activists carrying photos of hate crime murder victims including Harvey Milk and Matthew Shepard will demonstrate in front of the White House on Wednesday, October 28, from noon to 2 p.m., prior to President Obama signing the Matthew Shepard Amendment.
Equality Forum celebrates the Matthew Shepard Amendment, salutes Judy Shepard and praises President Obama and Congressional leaders who support including sexual orientation and gender identity in federal hate crimes protection.
The demonstration focuses national attention on the increase in gay hate crime murders and over 16,000 hate crimes committed against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans since Matthew Shepard's death in 1998.
According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, in 2008 there were 29 hate crime murders of LGBT Americans. Since 1998, there have been an average of about 1,450 LGBT hate crimes per year.
“Homophobia has fueled carnage since Matthew Shepard's murder 11 years ago,” states Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. “The Matthew Shepard Amendment is the beginning, not the end, in recognizing, addressing and eliminating homophobia in our schools, neighborhoods and culture.”
To join the demonstration, meet in front of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue at 11:30 a.m. The demonstration is from noon to 2 p.m.
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