The first political rally for the gay community was the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on October 14, 1979. Over 100,000 people, gay, straight, bi and transgendered came together to urge the passage of protective civil rights:
Five demands were presented:
1. The passage of a comprehensive gay/lesbian rights bill in Congress;
2. Issue a presidential executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the federal government, military and federally contracted private employment
3. The repeal of all anti-lesbian/gay laws;
4. End discrimination in custody cases with gay or lesbian parents; and
5. The protection of gay and lesbian youth from any laws which are used to discriminate, oppress and/or harass them in their homes, schools, jobs and social environments.
The march came at a time after Harvey Milk had been assassinated and Anita Bryant was on her crusade against gays. According to the Tuscon LGBTQ Museum's website, participants met successfully with 50 senators and 150 house representatives.
Marches followed in 1987 and 1993 but the first one nationalized the gay rights movement from fragmented efforts focused on problems in individual communities.
http://www.infotrue.com/wash.html
http://tucsongaymuseum.org/marchonwashington.htm
http://mallhistory.org/items/show/286
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