The National March's Price Tag

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

Read Full Bio

Neal Broverman

August 25 2009 6:30 AM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

Nbroverman

We need your help
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.

The organizers of the National Equality March -- which could bring tens of thousands to Washington, D.C., in the name of gay rights -- just released their budget, and in keeping with the times, it's a relatively frugal endeavor.

The entire event, which includes the October 11 march, related functions, and a wreath-laying at the tomb of the unknown soldier, is budgeted at $199,550. The largest expense is for audio and visual equipment that will populate a main stage near the Capitol -- that equipment and the labor needed to haul it to the National Mall will cost $60,000. Printed materials and portable toilets also eat up a large portion of the event's budget.

The majority of funding for the National Equality March has come from donations -- additional financial gifts can be made through a website set up by march organizers.

Cleve Jones, creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, is the lead organizer of the event. Jones says the event's sole, unified demand is "equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states."