Volunteer attorney-members of the Philadelphia Bar Association will monitor the National Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the GLBT Civil Rights Movement at Independence Hall on Sunday, May 1.

“The Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Movement has a 40-year history of peaceful assembly,” said Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. “We are grateful that the Philadelphia Bar Association’s attorneys will help provide for a historic and festive National Celebration.”

The Philadelphia Bar Association attorneys will monitor the National Celebration site and notify the Philadelphia Police and National Park Service officers if demonstrators or others violate the law or try to incite a disturbance.

“Philadelphians are proud that the first organized and annual gay and lesbian civil rights demonstration occurred at Independence Hall on July 4, 1965. Philadelphia lawyers have volunteered to act as monitors to help protect everyone’s rights during the historic 40th Anniversary Celebration of the GLBT Civil Rights Movement,” said Andrew A. Chirls, Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

“We are recruiting attorneys to monitor Independence Mall, where many of the events will be held,” said Kevin Ray, attorney and Equality Forum Treasurer. “These volunteers will serve as observers to help protect the First Amendment rights of all who attend.”

The first organized and annual demonstration for gay and lesbian civil rights was held in front of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell on July 4, 1965. These “Annual Reminders” were held in Philadelphia, D.C. and New York from 1965 to 1969 and led to Stonewall in 1969. Following Equality Forum’s application, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission recently announced that it will unveil a Historical Marker at the National Celebration designating the area around Independence Hall as the site of the demonstration that launched the GLBT Civil Rights Movement.

Equality Forum 2005 & National Celebration (April 25 to May 1) features over 100 programs, including 14 parties and 40 special events. More than 105 state, regional, national and international non-profit organizations and 30 national and international GLBT Executive Directors will be participating. Thirty (30) states, D.C. and Puerto Rico will hold State Receptions on Saturday, April 30.

The 16-hour National Celebration on Independence Mall includes the Gay Pioneers & 40 Heroes Tribute, the SundayOUT street festival, screenings of the documentary Gay Pioneers, an Interfaith Service with Bishop Gene Robinson at historic Christ Church, a Gay Icons Pavilion at the Independence Visitors Center, Conversations with Gay Leaders at the National Constitution Center, a National Celebration Concert with Cyndi Lauper, celebrities, and parties.

There is no registration fee for Equality Forum 2005 and all substantive events including the National Celebration are free. Twenty (20) Center City hotels are offering lowest rate.

For more information, visit the Press Room at www.equalityforum.com or contact Dan Wagner, Communications Associate at dan@equalityforum.com or (215) 732-3378 x10.

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