I got a call on my way into work this morning from a producer at CNN who was reviewing my iReports that I submitted last night. We had a conversation about the amount of time I spent at the National Equality March and the range of people I interviewed – and then that was that. At about 3:00PM another producer then reached out to me and asked me if I was up for a live interview with CNN Reporter, Nicole Lapin. Can you guess what my answer was?

Here is a link to the official CNN video. The embed is below.

I just got back from the National Equality March that is taking place right now in Washington. Thousands of GLBT equality advocates have descended on Northwest D.C. and are in full force as they march from McPherson Square to the steps of the Capitol.

The march has been met with some skepticism, especially by openly gay Member of Congress, Barney Frank (D-MA), who told Associated Press: “The only thing they’re going to be putting pressure on is the grass.” He went on to allude to more effective ways the GLBT community could push their equality agenda – constituent lobby days and grassroots efforts in the states, such as Maine, where gay marriage will soon be voted on. But even with that valid point, the thousands of marchers in Washington had ample reason to be here.

Over the last two decades, our government has actually established legislation that prohibits equality. First there is Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT), a ban of openly gay people in the military, which reduces military effectiveness. Then there is the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which conflicts the Constitution by connecting church and state with a legal definition of marriage: between a man and a women.

On the other hand, you have the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (EDNA), a piece of legislation that protects people from wrongful termination – except GLBT people. In fact, in 29 states, employers can fire or not hire someone based on their sexuality. And the list of policies that dictate civil rights for a minority group in America goes on.

In sum, our government is actively producing policy that makes some U.S. citizens less than equals. We all know that no matter what, it is not right. But somehow that message has not reached all of America. Here are some people who want to change that.

Earlier today, California’s Supreme Court ruled to uphold Proposition 8. Known as “Prop 8″ for short, this initiative eliminates the right of same sex couples to marry.

I got word of a protest happening just a few blocks from my place after work – so I went home, recharged, grabbed the gear and ran over to check it out. I uploaded photos and live-blogged via my Twitter feed – and finally, took some of the best clips for this video below. Be kind, this is a rough cut – but I wanted to get it up anyhow. Check it out.

Earlier that day just a few blocks down – at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House had this to say about California’s decision. Don’t blink or you’ll be sure to miss it.

Finally, don’t miss what celebrities had to say on Twitter – thanks to E!’s new celeb twitter feed.

Last Friday my iPhone made the usual buzz from the back of my desk. I had a hunch it was a New York Times Mobile Alert because those are the only text I get during the day. I know, such a tool.

In any case, the Mobile Alert was a sore subject. I joked the day before that the Times was beginning to abuse their text privileges. It seemed every afternoon I got another “breaking news,” alert. Or should I say, a 200 character doomsday report.

But this day was different and my fingers found a different notice of news. Iowa had struck down an amendment to ban gay marriage. It was huge.

According to a spokesperson for Lambda Legal, a national gay rights activist group, Iowa was the perfect first move in a strategic game to start winning states over – one by one.

“There is a tradition of independence and willingness to stand up on issues of fairness [in Iowa],” Jennifer C. Pizer, marriage project director for Lambda Legal told the New York Times.

Another advocacy group that no doubt took this ruling as a stripe in the win column is Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD).

If you remember, (which I didn’t but Google is great), Massachusetts voted to allow same-sex marriage in 2004. After that 26 states turned the other way and approved Constitutional bans on the same thing. With the passage of Prop 8 that banned gay marriage in California last November, it seemed the voters were sending a message. Not Yet.

But with the win of Iowa and a strategy to win six more states by 2012, it just might be the decade of the underdog.

If you don’t know who Harvey Milk is yet, here’s your chance. Give this video a second. It gave me the chills.

And for a review of the documentary, check out Andrew Sullivan’s blog on Daily Dish.

Wow, Kim. Though we’ve never met, I have to tell you. Speaking at the rally took balls.

Today, as any day, we need to be indifferent to the uninformed judgement that being gay might bring – and encouraged by the fact that our nation, gay and straight, are organizing against the passage of Prop 8. This is the kind of conversation we need to keep on having, until all of our rights, from Medicare to Marriage to the Military, are equal.

My name is Erica Anderson, and I’m gay and I want the rights, the same 1,069 federal marriage rights and the same equality for those who defend our nation, that others have. It is really as simple as that.

You can check out Kim’s blog here.

Today the Wall Street Journal’s William McGurn wrote an Opinion piece called “Why Harvard Harasses the Military.”

I read it, but I admit I was turned off.

I paused and absorbed. Then my fingers started. I hate when it happens, but it’s not like I can help it. I wrote a reponse. Direct. Clean. And short. I decided last minute, instead of addressing it to the friend who forwarded it, I would send it directly to the Wall Street Journal.

After I hit send, it took ten minutes for the writer to respond. Here is the transaction.

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WHY HARVARD HARASSES THE MILITARY 
William McGurn, Wall Street Journal, May 20, 2008

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MY RESPONSE
I don’t know the back story to Harvard and ROTC other than what this piece offered. But, coming from my perspective, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a highly discriminatory policy. The problem is, some of my peers do not understand why.
 
Here is why what Harvard did matters. “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” is the tip of the ice berg. If our world class military can discriminate, how can our legislators grant gay people equal rights and protection from discrimination and hate crimes? Take these for example.
 
>10,000. Estimated number of gays and lesbians expelled from the military since under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy

> 30. The number of states it is legal to fire an employee based on sexual orientation

> Gays and lesbians are not protected under the federal non-discrimination laws (Employment Non Discrimination Act)

> Gays and lesbians are not covered under federal hate crime laws, even though FBI statistics show gays are disproportionately targets of attacks

To my interpretation, Harvard’s actions have nothing to do with dishonoring the service of our military. Quite the contrary, they seem to make the point that one of the greatest institutions in our country – our military – should be subject to look past sexual orientation to achieve the goals in the best interest of the entire nation — the goal of protecting our physical freedoms and our civil liberties. We should hold the highest standard in all that we do.
 
With Respect to All Views,
Erica Anderson

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MCGURN’S RESPONSE:
It’s a fair argument.  And Harvard is a good place to debate it.  I just think there are plenty of other fora, other than the day these officers get their bars.
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IN CONCLUSION
Folks, this is just the tip of the ice berg. I always ask myself, Why Should I Care? Why Should You Care? Because in 30 states, four branches of the military and millions of offices, we are unknowingly enabled to discriminate against a minority. That’s why.