When local activists Darrell Garcia Parsons and his husband, Jason Garcia Parsons, learned that no local LGBT group was organizing the community to participate in the city’s Martin Luther King, Jr. March on January 16, they decided to take on the task themselves.
“Jason and I were planning on marching anyways and had not heard of any other effort to get people together, so anyone is welcomed to join in. Spread the word!” Darrell writes in a Facebook event page he created for the march.
“Please join the LGBT and allied community in marching and representing our LGBT community in our quest for full equality. This year we are asking our friends to join us in the march to show our visible and unwavering support for the transgender community, which is under attack in our state,” Darrell writes in reference to the recently introduced Senate Bill 6.
Like past years, groups like the Human Rights Campaign, the LGBT LULAC chapter, Pride Center San Antonio, the LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Stonewall Democrats, Esperanza Peace and Justice Center and others are expected to attend the event and march as a community.
According to organizers, approximately 300,000 marchers are expected to participate in the event.
The march, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, begins at 10 a.m. and starts at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy, travels 2.75 miles along Martin Luther King Drive, and ends at Pittman Sullivan Park.
VIA Metropolitan Transit is providing complimentary bus service.
To access the free Via bus service, riders are asked to park at Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St. (Lot 1), or St. Philip’s College, 1801 Martin Luther King Dr. (Lot 22), between 8 and 10 a.m., Monday. The drop-off point for service to the march will be on MLK Drive, west of Upland Drive. The pick-up location for return service will be at Pittman Sullivan Park, 1101 Iowa St. Buses will return between noon and 3 p.m.
For more information about this bus service, call (210) 362-2020 or visit this link.
MLK Day of Service
In addition to participating in the MLK March, the local chapter of the Human Rights Campaign is sponsoring a “day of service” on Saturday, January 21 at Roy Maas Youth Alternatives, a shelter for kids, one of the few in South Texas that is welcoming to LGBT youth.
HRC volunteers will spend the day assisting with grounds maintenance, participating in activities with the residents and sharing lunch with them.
HRC San Antonio MLK Day of Service, Saturday, January 21 at from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Roy Maas Youth Alternatives, 3103 West Avenue. If you are interested in volunteering, please email: Irene Galindo-Cantu at irenegalindocantu@gmail.com.
Check out our slideshow from last year’s MLK March.
