EQUALITY LOUDOUN FLOAT IN LEESBURG 4TH OF JULY PARADE DRAWS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE RESPONSE
(July 5, 2005) Equality Loudoun, along with contingents from several area churches, participated in the 2005 Leesburg 4th of July Parade, marking the first participation in the parade by a GLBT group. About 45 members and supporters of the group walked with the float, which carried the message “With Liberty and Justice for All.”
Loudoun County is generally described as a “conservative” area, not likely to be welcoming of such a presence. Despite this reputation, the crowds lining King Street were enthusiastically supportive.
“I was hearing from a lot of people how surprised they were that there were no hecklers,” said Equality Loudoun president David Weintraub. “I think it demonstrated the disconnect between the illusion that some anti-gay legislators and activists are trying to create, and the reality. In reality, a lot of people do recognize that we are their friends and neighbors, and are fed up with seeing us slandered. If there were individuals who wanted to heckle us, they were too ashamed to do so in front of their neighbors.”
Equality Loudoun is a nonpartisan community and advocacy organization working to improve the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in Loudoun County, and eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.