March on Washington DC - 20 years ago this weekend

Twenty years ago, on April 25, 1993, tens of thousands of LGBT rights advocates flooded the National Mall in Washington, D.C., calling for government action on issues ranging from open military service to the repeal of sodomy laws, LGBT employment protections to increased funding for HIV/AIDS research and treatment.

I was living in NYC at the time, and in one of my rare spontaneous actions at that time of my life, I packed a bag and headed down to DC by myself. I had recently left the national tour of A CHORUS LINE, and the company was playing there at the National Theater. So I made plans to bunk with a buddy, and off I went.

The day of the march, I stepped out in the street and just started walking with thousands and thousands of people in support of LGBT rights. I stopped by the AIDS Quilt which was on display. I listened to speeches at the National Mall. I met people. I was complimented on my biceps - which to this day I never forgot :)

I remember thinking this would be "history" and I wanted to be there.

So I was.

The fight for equality continues in full force today, but 20 years later, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come. Check out a news clip from the 1993 march above.