March on Washington coverage

From the New York Times:

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Sunday that Congress will need to muster the resolve to change the ''don't ask, don't tell policy'' -- a change that the military may be ready for.

''I think it has to be done in the right way, which is to get a buy-in from the military, which I think is now possible,'' said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.

Obama's political energies have been focused on two wars, the economic crisis and health care reform, though he pledged ''unwavering'' commitment even as he wrestled with those problems.

March organizer Cleve Jones, creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and a protege of gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk, said he had initially discouraged a rally earlier in the year. But he and others began to worry Obama was backing away from his campaign promises.

''Since we've seen that so many times before, I didn't want it to happen again,'' he said. ''We're not settling. There's no such thing as a fraction of equality.''

Unlike the first march in 1979 and others in 1987, 1993 and 2000 that included celebrity performances and drew as many as 500,000 people, Sunday's event was driven by grassroots efforts and was expected to be more low-key. Washington authorities don't disclose crowd estimates at rallies, though at least several thousand appeared to be in attendance.

And the Los Angeles Times:

The National Equality March snaked past the White House and streamed down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. Demonstrators chanted "Yes we can" in English and Spanish, resurrecting President Obama's campaign slogan, and waved signs and banners.

Organizers said the LGBT community, which encompasses lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgendered people, are not satisfied with a piecemeal approach to gaining civil rights. They are seeking "full federal equality" and singling out issues pertaining to marriage, adoption, military service and the workplace.

Along with video from the AP:

(Video link)