Not So Silent Night

It looks like Saturday's Light Up The Night event was not quite the silent protest requested by the organizers at Join The Impact, at least in NYC. The clip below was sent to us by Richard Davis at NYC's LGBT Center.
Also check out Eric Leven's coverage of the protest in Miami and Rex Wockner's report from San Diego. Wockner says that things were "silent" in San Diego, which he rightly took issue with.

As this was a "silent vigil," there was no chanting -- and participants were told not to bring protest signs. That's all good and well as long as passersby have some inkling what you're silently doing. Unfortunately, that did not seem to be the case here. People kept asking. The pretend nuns in face paint likely added to the confusion.

Join The Impact has posted hundreds of photos and videos from around the country. Their next action will be a January 10th march on the nation's state capitals to demand a repeal of DOMA.

Saturday: Light Up The Night

Join The Impact sends a reminder about this Saturday's Light Up The Night rally in NYC which includes the corrected locations to the ones I posted earlier this week. Find the protest in your city via the links at bottom.

NYC MARCH FOR EQUAL RIGHTS AND GAY MARRIAGE

Saturday, December 20, 6 PM, 35th Street And Sixth Avenue

This Saturday, December 20, the LGBT community of New York will again take to the streets to demand equality in marriage and all civil rights. The march is part of "Light Up The Night," a nationwide protest organized by Join The Impact. JTI organized the previous national day of protest on November 15, which included a rally at New York City Hall attended by more than 5,000 people.

For "Light Up The Night," we will meet on Saturday at 6 PM, at the intersection of 35th Street and Sixth Avenue (the north side of Herald Square) for a candlelight march to Times Square. (Bring your own candles, flashlights, etc.) We will end the march at 7 PM with a rally at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street. Gay and lesbian couples will talk about their personal struggle for equality in the face of discriminatory marriage laws.

JTI is also holding a food drive to show that the LGBT community also gives back to society. On Saturday, December 20, from 10 AM to 4 PM, we will be collecting canned and dry food in front of the Whole Foods Store on the south side of Union Square, and in front of the Trader Joe's Store on 14th Street and Third Avenue. We will be donating the collection to the Sylvia Rivera Food Pantry, which serves the LGBT and HIV communities and all of New York.

Links:
Join The Impact Nationwide
Light Up The Night NYC
Facebook Group Page

Light Up The Night

The next Join The Impact demonstration takes place this Saturday, December 20th at "commercial centers" around the nation. In NYC, marriage equality advocates with gather at Columbus Circle and march to Times Square. Facebook link here. Find the location in your city here. From the site:

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?

• Hosting peaceful candlelight vigils
  
• We will stay silent unless asked a question, we will not yell, instigate, or bear signs. Instead, we will let our shirts do the talking and our candles pay our respects. Bring candles (battery powered if you'll be huddling inside).
• Singing and/or silence encouraged...chanting is not....keep it peaceful and in the holiday spirit.