Cleve Jones will be in Pittsburgh PA for the Delta Foundation’s Advocacy Rally. The event is a 1st for Delta, and a timely addition to the regular Pride Week schedule. Well before there was any organized movement surrounding “Take Back Pride,” Delta was making changes to the way Pittsburgh Pride functions, and while many other Prides are just getting on the bandwagon to get their parade to be more of a march, we are still leading the pack, by adding a hard hitting rally as a way to kick things off.

Pittsburgh Pride’s theme this year is “You Belong,” and from my vantage point, one of the places you (the generic you pointing at every gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or supportive ally in Pittsburgh) belong, is within the community of people advocating for change by being engaged in the legislative process and speaking out for equality.

I’ve never met Jones before, butI have heard him speak, and Pittsburgh is really in for a treat! He is fantastic. So, I thought I’d start to organize my questions for him, in case I have a chance to talk directly to him. Here are 6 questions to get started:

1. What was it like to know Harvey Milk? Maybe that’s a dumb question, but I want to know, for real!
2. What do you think would have happened to you if you had never met Harvey? No crystal ball required. Maybe I have expectations of what his answer will be.
3. Why is there no push to keep the AIDS Quilt in the center of everyone’s attention since many are still dying from HIV/AIDS? I realize the Quilt itself is too big to be displayed in its entirety, but I don’t even hear about people making panels any more. Why is that?
4. What was your greatest accomplishment so far in your life? Was it being a part of the beginning of the Quilt?
5. What is the single most important thing that, if it happened, it would change the entire LGBT rights movement for the better? How do you think we can make that happen?
6. Was the last March on Washington worth it? Did it accomplish enough?

Those are my questions, do you have any to ask? What are they? Why not leave a comment here on the blog with your questions for Cleve Jones. and, if you can make it to Pittsburgh on Friday, say hello to me at the rally!

Pittsburgh Pride Advocacy Rally

6PM on the steps of the City-County Building

Grant Street, Pittsburgh PA

Friday June 4, 2010

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