WALK WITHOUT FEAR Rally at DuPont Circle, NW, Washington DC on Sunday night, 9 November 1997 by Elvert Barnes Photography

1997 Walk Without Fear / Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA)

The 1997 Walk Without Fear was held on Sunday, November 9, 1997 at 5:00 p.m. in Dupont Circle. The rally in the Circle was followed by a march and candlelight vigil ending at 17th and P Streets NW. Guest speakers at the rally included acting U.S. Attorney Mary Lou Leary; Metropolitan Community Church founder Rev. Troy Perry; Darryl Cooper and Sharen Johnson of Gay Men and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV); GLAA President Rick Rosendall; Darren Buckner of the DC Coalition of Black Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals; transgender activist Jessica Xavier of It's Time, Maryland; Mindy Daniels of the National Lesbian Political Action Committee (and a co-founder of Walk Without Fear); and representatives from Parents FLAG, the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League, and Lesbian Avengers.]

Along with GLOV and others, GLAA helped found the Walk Without Fear in 1991 to galvanize our community in keeping our neighborhood streets safe. This annual event draws hundreds of people who are concerned about crimes against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered persons, as well as those who are perceived to be gay. It is an annual reminder that we need to remain ever vigilant, take responsibility for our streets and neighborhoods, and work with the Metropolitan Police Department to counter the threat and ensure thorough and timely investigations of hate crimes.