Light Brigade Maryland on Howard Street over I-83

More photos of the Light Brigade Maryland effort to make more people aware of Question 6 on this November's Ballot here in Maryland. This photography was made by Kaitlin Newman

More of her work may be found on her Facebook page 

Kaitlin Nëwman (Photographer)

 many thanks for this beautiful work

On the Howard Street Bridge in Baltimore

One of our PFLAG moms, Judy

 

Lucas proudly holding the rainbow flag

Light Brigade Maryland in front of the Brown Center on the MICA Campus

The excitement in this group is usually palpable and playful!

Mobile Steet Art - Mobile Grafitti

 

Civil Marriage is a Civil Right

We Need to Talk About Gun Violence in Our Neighborhood

This essay will set some people off, but I don’t care. My brother died of a hand gun incident in 1987 when he was 17 years old, and my family has not been the same ever since. So, I want to talk about it. This conversation is way over due. I have decided that I will speak out publically every new time an outrage like this happens.


The gun episode on the first day of school (Sept 2012) at Perry Hall High School was a shock to most of us. It was a traumatic event to those witnessing or injured as a result. And it is still reverberating through the community. I learned that there was a meeting at the school a few days later to for parents to ask questions. This is the responsible thing for the school to do. I learned about it after the fact. Now granted, I don’t have children attending this school, but I do live in this neighborhood, and I want to know what’s going on here in Perry hall.


This phase of the healing is about comforting the victims, parents and students close to this tragedy. I respect that and I can wait my turn. But I want to know what’s going on. I don’t want to simply be appeased.


When I went to school in the 1960’s and 1970’s no one brought guns to school. We need to understand what has changed and we need to talk about what we need to change about how we are responding.


It is time to start community conversations about how we as a community can deal with this situation. There will be those who will want to point out why this is proof that we should all carry guns. And there will be those who think we should confiscate all guns because they cause too much injury, death and havoc.


I am not advocating either position at this point. Even though my brother died in an act of violence I realize the need to keep a calm and patient voice. Truthfully I am afraid of people carrying guns on the street and I am equally afraid of a world in which the government has all the guns.


We need to find a better approach to this problem. Who has some new ideas?


We need to talk about solution and not make accusations based on polarized positions.

Havre de Grace - On the Bridge at MD155 over Interstate 95 Light Brigade Maryland (LBM) sent a message last night to all the passing motorists traveling on the northbound side of the highway. Their message read, “Vote For Marriage Equality.” This is an effort to bring awareness to the referendum Question No. 6. When this measure passes it will allow gay and lesbian couples the right to get a state-issued marriage license. This group promotes the idea that a “Vote for Question 6” is a vote for fairness and equality.

Light Brigade Maryland, has occupied three different bridges and Federal Hill overlooking Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. LBM have plans to bring the message to Maryland voters once or twice a week until the November election.

For more pictures or information please look for Light Brigade Maryland on Facebook.

Get Up Stand Up - Light Brigade Maryland

It’s time to reclaim our voice in the American political system. We have lost most of our political power even while we retain (for however long it lasts) our right to vote. I have been stressed about this for a while, but like many others I am busy working, helping Parents of LGBTQ kids cope and trying to find time to sleep. I needed to do something more. There was a new project in the recesses of my mind but I didn’t quite know what it was yet. That was in late May 2012.

The new project for me started as a visually arrested moment while sitting on the sofa watching TV.  (Something I really don’t get much time to do.) I was glued to the tube like a kid looking for Santa Clause in the Christmas Eve sky.

Overpass Light Brigade, from Wisconsin, was on the evening news during the weeks leading up to the Scott Walker recall election. They make these large black panels pierced by white holiday lights. A group of them hold the panels on bridge overpasses as car lights streak through the dark night. The message read “Vote Walker Out.” 

Here in Maryland we (LGBTQ activists and our allies) have worked for more than five years now to get an inclusive “Civil Marriage Protection Act” passed through the Maryland General Assembly. It passed both houses this years and our Governor, Martin O’Malley pledged to sign it. He did and our opponents gathered enough signatures to take it to referendum.

I want this marriage bill to stay law in Maryland. 

So now, most of the proponents have joined forces as the coalition: Marylanders for Marriage Equality, while other local groups continue to work independently. 

Having personally been a part of the effort for many years to gain and then maintain civil rights advancement for my LGBTQ Community I felt the urgency a year ago to do something and to do it now. 

For many months allies were wandering Maryland aimlessly wondering when we were going to get to “Do Something.” PFLAG moms were standing up in public meetings saying we were wasting valuable time while resources sat unused. The coalition took note and engaged these allies. 

I noticed that some do not want to engage in the bureaucratic methods of the larger institutional "Gay Rights" organizations. Then in the fall of 2011 the Occupy movement broke out. Few of us took part in that movement, although some did. I felt a kindred attachment to their voice, but I was too busy with other things that mattered just as much.

That too seemed to be a realization for me. “Their” goal seemed to keep us all too busy with the minutia of life which effectively kept us distracted from purposely participating in our government or it kept us too busy from enjoying our life.  Most people I knew that had walked away from civic participation stated their need to “get their life back.” Civic participation does drain us of our meager resources and our time. And some people do not want to give these things up. “They” depend on that to divide those of us who work from a position of community activist.

Another realization I had that day was that I have been working for the advancement of my civil rights for the past 32 years. And even after participating in some fantastic achievements that have happened this year in our State Capitol and the two different county seats.  I realized that I haven’t taken a real vacation in the last four years. I am working harder now than I ever have and I feel broker than I have since I first left my parent’s home with very few possessions.

I want this marriage bill to stay law in Maryland. 

Bob Marley said it many years ago and Its time to say it again now:  “Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights…” and “don’t give up the fight.” Do you hear the rhythm? I know you do. I know you know this song as well as most.

Light Brigade Maryland is the outcome of that moment of visual arrest. It is the product of 32 years of community activism. It is the result of yearning to have the same rights that my heterosexual sisters, parents, nieces, nephews and cousins were born with.

I will be on bridges in full view of passing motorists from now until November the 6^th stimulating interest in voting FOR question 6. We need to keep this law in place. LGBTQ people need this law and so do heterosexuals whether they know it or not. This law is about inclusion in so many ways.

I will repeat my friend Betty’s quote over and over again, “We have never gone backwards or lost anything by expanding inclusiveness in our society. We have always grown stronger as a community."

Now is the time to stand up to those who wish to take our hard won civil rights. Don’t wait for your neighbor to take care of it for you. They probably don't give a shit.

Get up now. Stand up, Dam it!.  Be the change. 

Join the Light Brigade Maryland on Facebook today and get yourself out on one of those bridges to communicate our message. 

 I want this marriage bill to stay law in Maryland, and so do you.

Light Brigade Maryland Debuts in Towson Maryland

A group of Civil Marriage Act supporters gathered for a "bridge party" Thursday night, August 16, 2012 in Towson, Maryland on Dulaney Valley Road over the Baltimore Beltway. Excitement was palpable among the group and with drivers as they tooted their horns in support.

The Civil Marriage Protection Act will be on the ballot on the November 6th election as a referendum issue.

A vote "for" will keep the law in place.

If you are interested in future bridge parties please visit the Facebook page.