I see why they call him the "great Cleve Jones"

Here's a speech by gay rights activist Cleve Jones at the Eve of Justice candlelight march and rally in San Francisco on March 4, 2009, the evening before the court case to invalidate Proposition 8 began at the California Supreme Court. Thanks to Scott Dagostino for posting this speech on his Xtra.ca blog today. I thought it ought to be posted here as well.

Cleve Jones is the long-time activist and friend of Harvey Milk who has been an instrumental force in the fight for queer rights since the 1970s. He initiated the famous AIDS quilt. He greatly assisted Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black in lining up interviews with the various people who knew Harvey Milk well so he could write that great gay political rights movie.

Jones' words are inspiring and need to be heard. He's right: no oppressed group has ever achieved their rights without a great struggle and the fight for equality rights continues in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Plus, as Jones says, remember to boycott the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego, whose owner Doug Manchester spent $125,000 to put Proposition 8 on the California ballot in the first place.