18 years ago: the march on Washington.

A raging rebellion called Stonewall sounded the first cries of gay liberation in the land, but it would take another decade for the gay and lesbian cause to fully come of age. On October 14, 1979, more than 100,000 activists from every state in the union and ten foreign countries joined forces for the first march on Washington. "It symbolizes the birth of a national gay movement," said National Gay Task Force codirector Lucia Valeska, one of the leaders of the day.

The march began near the U.S. Capitol, passed the White House, and ended at the Washington Monument, where more than 30 speakers and entertainers appeared before the throng. The lively procession was headed by lesbians, many of them singing "When the Dykes Come Marching In." The kaleidoscope of gay organizations taking part included religious and political groups of every stripe, parents of gays, and contingents of students. The mass swarmed down Pennsylvania Avenue and onto the vast grassy Mall, where participants were roused to cheers by comic Robin Tyler, who shouted, "If freedom shall ring in the country, it must ring for all Americans, or in time it will not ring at all for anyone."

Hours later singer Holly Near led the crowd in a stirring chant of "We are a gentle, angry people." The Advocates New York editor, James Saslow, reflected on the celebratory mood of the day by noting that "this time we're all marching not merely against something but for something.... I have a sense of family here--the assured relaxation of being with people with whom I have shared and grown and put in a lot Of emotional, philosophical work. We have already heard today's gospel and absorbed its healing message as part of our individual and collective identities. Yes, we are a gentle, angry people. And after today--thanks to today--a bit less angry and a bit more gentle."