Leaders of San Antonio’s LGBT community organizations are circulating an email among their members and allies encouraging them to participate as one large contingent in the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. March on Monday, January 15.
“All LGBT organizations and their members, as well as any interested individuals are invited to march together for a show of unity and strength of our community, in the 50th National Anniversary March,” the email states.
“This is not really being organized by any particular organization, It’s actually more organic,” Darrell Garcia Parson, board president of Fiesta Youth, told Out In SA.
Groups like the PFLAG San Antonio, the LGBT LULAC chapter, Pride Center San Antonio, the LGBT Chamber of Commerce, MCC San Antonio, Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio and others are encouraging their members to attend the event and march as a community.
Participants from Pride San Antonio at the 2015 MLK March. (Photo: Julian P. Ledezma)
Groups plan to meet in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, located at 3501 Martin Luther King Drive, starting at 9:00 a.m. Marchers should look for the rainbow flags and other banners of local LGBT organizations. Participants are encouraged to bring their own banners, flags, or signs with “messages of hope, courage, and love.”
The march, begins at 10 a.m. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy, travels 2.75 miles up 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.
Rev. Dr. Raymond “R.A.” Callies, Sr. began the S.A. march in 1968. His efforts have resulted in what has become one of the largest commemorative marches for Dr. King in the U.S.
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 13 at Roy Maas Youth Alternatives Turning Point Program, a shelter for kids, one of the few in South Texas that is welcoming to LGBT youth.
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 13 at from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Roy Maas Youth Alternatives, 3103 West Avenue. If you are interested in volunteering, send email to: stevemoore.hrcsa@gmail.com.
