In less than two hours, one of the most important social and political events in the history of the fight for LGBT equality will begin. A march in D.C., a culmination of a weekend of breakout sessions, trainings, breakfasts, dinners, will take off and head to the Capitol Building.

I spoke with the co-communications director for the National Equality March, Phil Siegel. He addressed the situation as the GLBT community prepares for this monumental event:

“Right now, what the situation is people can still be thrown out of their jobs and taken out of their homes for being GLBT in several states. On the general level, there's no legislation protecting a class of American citizens and therefore it's really difficult to talk about all men are created equal when there's such a disparity of rights throughout the country.”

I asked Siegel to address the fact that religious extremists will be at the event and explain whether he thought religious interests will be able to stall the agenda of the LGBT community as it moves forward:

"They can argue all they want. They are out of touch with the mainstream of America. When you look at polls, when you look at young people in America, when you look at where this country is going, the idea of discriminating against a class of Americans for being who they are is un-American. So, the religious right can belly ache all they want but that's their religious belief and they have every right to have their religious belieft but they have no right to have their religious belief being dictated to a large percentage of the American population.

Truth be told, whatever the religious right has done historically seems to be irrelevant. They will not be what prevent a class of Americans from having equality. The president and Congress are what really stand in the way.

This march has been organized to spark action in all congressional districts across America. Throughout the weekend, Siegel explained, Congressional District Action Teams (CDATs) have been organizing. With the support of Equality Across America, these teams plan to “act locally, think federally” and allow for Americans to constantly be pressuring the congressmen to pass reforms that grant lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender people equality throughout America.

I asked Siegel to address the fact that congressmen like Barney Frank consider this to be a waste of time. I explained that I do not think Frank is the only one in Congress who thinks this. Siegel responded:

“Whenever you get thousands and thousands of people ignited on fire going back to congressional districts to move the dialogue along " Look, last night there was a dinner at HRC. There's no way President Obama would have spoken at this dinner had there not been all the buzz that had been created about a march. It's furthering a dialogue along.”

And Siegel added, think of what it would have been like to tell “Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights March of 1963 you should have stayed home and lobbied Congress people.”

Dustin Lance Black, the screenwriter who won the Academy Award for the film “Milk” has called this the “civil rights fight of my generation.”

Indeed, especially for me, it is. And that is why it pains me when I see Obama reluctantly supporting this group that is gaining more and more mainstream support each and every day.

His reluctance preserves the taboos in our society that should not be maintained. And, he as a leader has the power and capacity to further dialogue with Americans who have personal issues with granting equality to all Americans but he has chosen to not be transformative on this issue.

Unfortunately, groups like Human Rights Campaign (HRC) have given cover to Obama and made it possible for legislators and the president to be slow on reform. HRC said recently in an emailed newsletter he would not be judged on his actions until January 19, 2017.

Essentially, HRC is asking the LGBT community to not criticize Obama until 2017. They are choosing to sell the LGBT community they represent the Democratic Party instead of trying to sell the LGBT community to the Democratic Party.

Obama opted to attend the HRC dinner instead of the march. And, Obama's attendance was prompted based on the repeated requests of LGBT groups who wanted him to be there. He did not go because when he saw this was being organized he wanted to be there for this moment in history.

Cleve Jones, an AIDS activist and author who has been a key player in the organization of this march, said in an interview with Reel Gay TV after the dinner:

“"Leaders of our own community are attempting to provide cover to the Democratic Party for its failure to live up to its promises. It's sad, but it's the reality and I think it's going to add steam to our protest tomorrow [the National Equality March].”

Obama's inaction has divided the community. But, this event is uniting everyone, members of the GLBT community and allies, in support for something that cannot and will not be denied and should not be denied any longer. There is no reason any GLBT person should have to wait for equal protections under the law that most Americans take for granted.

Siegel summed up the event before hanging up to go march on the Capitol:

“[This was] Organized by grassroots activists. We want full and equal protections in all matters governed by civil law. The march is just the beginning of the struggle.

We want people to organize in each of the congressional districts to add equal protections under the law."

 

All the major networks know of this march. The organizers earned coverage from C-SPAN proving you don't have to simply be waving a teabag to get your protest featured on national television.

The dialogue is being furthered. Check back for updates throughout the day and tune in to C-SPAN at 2 pm ET to see the rally in front of the Capitol.