[SLIDESHOW] UK group walks for equality, gay rights

Story and photos by Adam Wolffbrandt

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The streets of D.C. were shut down Sunday afternoon to make way for the nation’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community and its allies.

Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Washington for the National Equality March with rainbow flags and “boys need husbands too” signs held high. The procession stretched several miles, ending at the Capitol Building.

Molly Dunn, a gender and women’s studies junior, said she came to Washington as an observer rather than a participant. She said she is unsure about her sexuality and is attracted to people based on personality rather than gender.

“I think people really want to label everyone and put them in a certain category,” Dunn said. “I don’t want people to label me based on who I’m sleeping with.”

Her partner, Eli Gross, an arts administration junior and director of UK’s OUTsource program, said she was at the march to fight for equal rights.

Gross said she thinks marriage rights are not the biggest problem the LGBT community faces, but it is one of the largest barriers to public acceptance.

At the Capitol, protesters rallied, listened to various speeches and demanded equal rights for all citizens, regardless of sexual preference, from President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party.

After Obama’s speech Saturday evening about changing the ban on gays serving in the military, many protesters had mixed feelings about whether Obama addressed all equality issues.

D.C. resident Laura Wood and her partner Melissa Mahony felt the Defense of Marriage Act was adequately  covered.

“Everyone was a little too excited after Obama’s speech,” Wood said. “He was great with the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, but he was not as enthusiastic about other gay rights.”

Wood said she has seen several protests and rallies come through Washington, but never one that had such a turnout.

“I had no idea there would be this many people here,” Wood said. “It’s really fantastic.”

Wood is engaged to Mahony. They plan to solidify their marriage within the next year, determined the laws with gay marriage will change.

No matter where they stood with their own sexualities, students with UK’s OUTsource program marched on the capitol  for equality.

“I’m here not only for myself and my future, but I’m here fighting for my gay uncle, for my lesbian cousin, for every kid who has been picked on in school for being different,” said Michael Canales, a student at Elizabethtown (Ky.) Community College. “I’m here marching to make sure everyone is protected.”