Two Daytona residents who went to the National Equality March on Washington in October brought home with them the spirit and inspiration to unite their hometown LGBT activist groups.
Andrew Striker and David Cox created 1 Voice 4 Change, which had its first meeting Nov. 8. They decided to become a part of Stand Up Florida, an existing LGBT equality activist organization.
“The idea originated because of March on Washington, because part of it was everyone coming together and forming contacts and bonds so we can go back to our areas mobilized and ready to start our grassroots movements,” said Striker.
“We have about seven big name groups in this area with lots of members but they don’t communicate well with each other.”
Striker said the goal is to have the groups meet via conference call either monthly or quarterly, then parlay information gained from those meetings into a single weekly email about what the organizations are doing.
Other upcoming activities include picketing a National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality protest and working on repealing some existing anti-gay ordinances in Volusia County.
“We’ll choose an issue,” said Striker. “If we get one petition with several thousand signatures it will have a little more sway than just one organization having a hundred members sign a petition.”
