#GAGOnIt: New Group “Gays Against Guns” (GAG) Will March In NYC’s Pride Parade

Formed in the wake of the June 12 Orlando massacre by my friend Kevin Herzog & Brian Worth, Gays Against Guns, will march in tomorrow’s Pride Parade, Sunday, June 26, at noon starting at 35th street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Last Friday, around 150 people showed up for GAG’s first meeting at the LGBT Community Center to organize the the March. In attendance was openly gay City Councilmember Corey Johnson, who invited GAG to join his March contingent. Said Johnson,

“Gays Against Guns is taking this fight to the NRA’s front door. Our community has been fighting for gun control as part of other organizations for many years, now we’re starting our own. The LGBT community has vanquished bigger enemies than the NRA.”

Kevin Hertzog said,

“We know that several groups have been fighting gun violence in the U.S. for decades now. We’ll be meeting after Pride to hash out positions and a strategy approaching the November 2 elections. But for now, we want to present as large a crowd as possible on Sunday, to show New York and the U.S. that LGBTQ people are outraged. The current situation with guns in America makes us gag in disgust!”

Brian Worth added,

“An FBI analysis just showed that LGBT people are the likeliest target for hate crimes. Homophobia plus civilian access to assault weapons like the one used in Orlando equal a deadly combination for queer people. We’ll determine the most strategic role our community can play in this fight.“

Catherine Marino-Thomas, from Marriage Equality USA,

“I spent years fighting for marriage equality to protect my family. I’ll be marching Sunday once again to protect my family. This time, it’s hit us too close to home.”

GAG is planning visuals for its Sunday March that mourn those lost in Orlando and the group’s determination to bring the LGBTQ community’s street activism in line for tougher gun laws.

Today the group is having T-Shirt Party!:

Gays Against Guns Gets Lucky!
Spray Away the NRA!
Saturday, June 25 at 12-8 PM
Lucky, 168 Avenue B, New York
“Join Gays Against Guns for an afternoon of altering your t-shirts, tank tops or booty shorts. Armed with multiple stencils and cans of spray paint, you can wear the cause on your chest — or ass — just in time for Pride.

We will be focusing on white signs and apparel to be worn in the GAG contingency of the Pride March on Sunday, but given the time and supplies we will glady GAG up your wedding gown, lamp shade or shower curtain.“

You can follow them on Facebook at Gays Against Guns NY or @GAGnoguns on Twitter.

The staging area for Sundays’s march is 35th street between Fifth and Madison, Section 0, Group 33, from about 11AM.