Gay Today | Gay News, current events, entertainment, stories and features

Robin Tyler Resigns from March on Washington, D.C.

She Cites Some "Conceptional and Creative Differences"

March on D.C. Still Moving Forward, Say its Organizers

Compiled By GayToday

Washington, DC -- Robin Tyler, the veteran lesbian activist who called for the gay and lesbian March on Washington in 1978 and who served as a producer of each subsequent March, has resigned as Executive Producer of the Millennium March on Washington for Equality effective immediately.

Tyler cited "conceptional and creative differences" in announcing her resignation. The resignation was jointly announced by Tyler and the March's Board of Directors. Both Tyler and MMOW Board members indicated the departure was amicable and mutual.

"All worthwhile achievements begin with a dream," said Ann DeGroot, Co-Chair of the March. "Robin Tyler took the dream of another national civil rights march for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons and helped to make it a reality."

"Extraordinary things took place during Robin's tenure as Executive Producer," said Donna Red Wing, another of the March's four Co-Chairs. "Robin negotiated the largest sponsorship deal in GLBT history on behalf of the March, a $1 million sponsorship of cash and in-kind services by PlanetOut."

"I wish only good things for the Millennium March," said Tyler. "I was the first to call for this March because I believe a new generation needs to experience the empowerment that comes from our national marches. And the reality is our community still does not have one of the basic civil rights we demanded in our first March on Washington in 1979. That's why this March is so important for our civil rights."

Robin Tyler

"I still believe passionately in this March's ability to move our national agenda forward and to empower our community, said Tyler. "With all of the momentum that has been generated by the MMOW staff, the Leadership Council, and thousands of volunteers and local activists, the Millennium March will be enormously effective.

"The March is occurring at the right time and at the right window of opportunity. Now, because of the national excitement and momentum, this March is not dependent upon one person or one group of people. To me, this is the greatest legacy."

"Tyler established a number of firsts, to the good of our community," said Nicole Murray-Ramirez. "She and her staff are primarily responsible for opening the Platform balloting process to make it truly democratic for the first time ever. In fact, she designed a balloting system that literally gives every member of our GLBT community the opportunity to have a voice in the March's Platform," he added.

More than 30,000 persons have already cast ballots for the MMOW Platform. Balloting will continue through November 30.

"And for the first time in any GLBT civil rights demonstration, Robin had the foresight to reserve thousands of hotel rooms at guaranteed rates as a fundraiser for the March. The hotel rooms alone will generate more than a third of a million dollars for the nonprofit March," added Murray-Ramirez.

Duane Cramer, an MMOW Co-Chair, noted, "Robin Tyler is one of the sheroes of our community. She called for the very first national GLBT March in Minneapolis in 1978, and her passionate commitment to justice and equality has helped each subsequent March growth in strength and attendance."

The MMOW Board of Directors made a number of organizational changes during its recent board meetings in New Orleans, including creation of an Executive Director's position.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
The Millennium March on Washington: Taking the High Road?

"Why I'm Marching" �A Southerner's View

Millennium March on Washington Under Fire

Related Sites:
The Millennium March on Washington

GayToday does not endorse related sites.

"The Executive Director will serve as the March's Chief Operating Officer. The Board appointed Malcolm Lazin, a Philadelphia attorney and Executive Director of PrideFest America, as Interim Executive Director.

"I plan no further comment on my transition from the March staff," said Tyler. "The most important thing is to focus on the event itself and the impact it will have on hundreds of thousands of lives."

The Millennium March on Washington will take place in Washington, D.C. on April 30, 2000. Organizers say they expect more than 1 million gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered persons, along with friends, families and allies, to participate in the first human rights March of the new Millennium.