From: SW25Natl@aol.com Date: Tue, 05 Jul 94 17:50:57 EDT STONEWALL 25 RALLY AND MARCH REPORT AND FINANCIAL PICTURE July 5, 1994. New York City. Human Rights Event Honors Past and Defines Future On Sunday June 26, 1994 the global lesbian, gay, bisexual, drag and transgender community marched on the United Nations for Human Rights. The March, led by a massive motorcycle contingent, the Stadtlanders Mile-Long Rainbow Flag, the Stonewall Veterans and those from the Gay Activist Alliance and the Gay Liberation Front, continued for over six hours filling the streets with a sea of humanity. Flags from a multitude of nations showed just how far the gay and lesbian movement has come in the past twenty-five years. "We have gone from a street riot involving hundreds into a global movement of millions in just twenty-five years. It is quite powerful," stated Co-Chair Fry. The march proceeded to the Rally on the Great Lawn in Central Park, at which performers, speakers and entertainers provided glimpses into the drag, gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender and HIV positive experiences from the world over. Speakers included AIDS activist Simon Nkoli, from South Africa, Rebecca Sevilla from Peru, Anjana "Tang" Suvarananda from Thailand, Transgender activist Aidy Griffin from New Zealand, and European Parliament Member Claudia Roth form Germany. Those from the United States included actress Amanda Bearse, Nebraskan Neva Cozine, and activist Ann Northrop. Speakers represented the full gamut of our struggle as women with AIDS and parents to leather activists and British Labor Leaders. One of the most spirited moments came when the entire audience greeted the assembled Stonewall Veterans with cheers of "Thank you! Thank you." "We have shown the world the important role that drag queens and kings played in our history and continue to play in our day to day experiences," hailed Nicole Ramirez-Murray, National Co-Chair. Feature performances included Liza Minnelli and Jimmy Somerville with appearances by Judith Light, Carol Channing, Gregory Hines and Kathy Najimy. "The euphoria and awe continued to build over the day as we surprised ourselves over and over with just how many closet doors had been opened around the world in the past 25 years, from Croatia to Cyprus," boasted Fry. At three o'clock the entire Rally and March came to a halt as all assembled stopped, stood and remembered in silence those who have been lost to AIDS and violence. This was followed by a moment of rage as the crowd screamed in anger and defiance. Stonewall 25 events also included the direct action "Out Around the World." On Monday June 27 over 200 activists focussed on the Human Rights conditions at the UN Missions of South Africa, Japan, England, Brazil, Russia and the United States. At the US mission emphasis was put on the ban on travel by those with HIV. Additional lobbying occurred as individuals from over 40 countries met their United Nations representatives. After the meetings, briefings were held to ascertain what promises and discussion took place. Follow-ups will take place with the Global AIDS Action Network, the International Lesbian and Gay Association, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. All together, there were over 30 national and international conferences that took place in the New York Area over the last two weeks. "Stonewall 25 brought more of our grass-roots organizers from around the globe to one city at one time with the purpose of planning our future than ever before. We gathered to fight the right, to fight for AIDS services, to fight for a cure and to fight for our freedom of expression," declared Co-Chair, Pat Norman. Stonewall 25 received the first of its financial reports today. Preliminary findings show that organizers are in need of over $300,000 to pay off the bills from the historic event. "While the March on the United Nations and Rally in Central Park were successful in drawing individuals and organizations from seventy-two nations and all fifty states, the reality is money. We are a grass-roots organization and still need the community's support," stated National Co-Chair, Franklin Fry. Total expenses for the organization came in at 1.2 million dollars, which includes expenses for the march, the rally, international and United States outreach, lobbying and actions, hospitality and scholarships, rent and phone. By comparison the 1993 March on Washington cost 1.8 million dollars. There are a few factors in the projected deficit. "After the week of Gay Games and numerous other events which did not financially benefit Stonewall 25, we found that many were tapped out by the time they got to Sunday June 26. We clearly were asking for people to give when they had already spent much of their money on event tickets, t-shirts, and dances," pointed out Co-Chair Nicole Ramirez Murray. The shortage was not only financial. "Stonewall 25 had been working with a staff of only a dozen and was up against the organization and volunteers of the Gay Games. This severely hindered the staffing of all aspects of Stonewall 25, especially the money collection." As most pride events and the other Marches on Washington can attest, the majority of income for these kind of events comes in at the event itself, through merchandising and money collection. Another factor was that even when the volunteers and announcements were in place for a money sweep at the Rally, the Parks Department intervened and prohibited the collection from happening, severing a projected source of income. Many of the Executive Committee, which consists entirely of volunteers who have been working on Stonewall 25 for over a year, are themselves in debt with loans they have made or expenses they have incurred. "I myself am owed upwards of $10,000 by the organization," added Co-Chair Fry. Release of Official Video Tape, "The Future is Ours!" A major step to fundraise is the production of the official video tape, The Future is Ours! The tape will feature highlights from the march and the rally, including performances and speeches from around the world. Stonewall 25 encourages all who purchase videos to be wise and buy the official tape, not knock-offs, as this will be the main source of income in the next number of months. Additional funds will be gathered from events that occurred during the weekend. A few of the parties and concerts have agreements to donate proceeds to Stonewall 25. Various members of the Executive Committee are also working other areas of fundraising, from direct mail to events. Stonewall 25 merchandise is still available through 212-626-6925. "To gather the number of people who were there was not an overnight production. Nine years of planning went into the international aspects of this event," declared Co-Chair Pat Norman. "We need those who felt moved by the events to make a contribution." Over the past twelve months most of the funds have come from grass-root activists with additional support coming from corporations and businesses, many of which are gay- and lesbian-owned and idenitfied. Donations of in-kind services and cash came from the sponsorships of the Pointone Card, Gay Entertainment Television, the Pride Network, 2 Gay Fon, Genre, Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride, Gay Activist Alliance of Morris County, Alternative Television, the Gay and Lesbian Visitors Center of New York, Ten Percent Magazine, Out Magazine, Tracks D.C., DIFFA, New York Newsday, Rolling Rock Beer, Homo Xtra, SKYY Vodka, Jim Hormel, the Imperial Courts of North America and the Private Label Water Company. Additional financial reports are being completed and will be released. Contributions may be mailed to Stonewall 25, P.O. Box 2038, New York, New York, 10113 or by calling 212-626-6925.