Today Marks 50th Anniversary Of Nation's First Public Demonstration For LGBT Rights That Took Place In Philadelphia
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Today marks the 50th anniversary of the nation's first public demonstration for LGBT rights.
It took place right outside of Independence Hall.
"It was a quiet, dignified procession of people."
Marge McCann was 25-years-old on July 4, 1965 when 40 gay and lesbians activists from Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia marched in front of Independence Hall -- at the time, it was dangerous.
"Being visible about any of these issues carried with it the very clear possibility of losing jobs, losing families, losing homes," said McCann.
McCann, who's from Philadelphia, says she didn't march that day and didn't come out for years. Fast forward, she and her partner have been together for 25 years, they married in Massachusetts in 2013, and now all gay couples can marry.
(Reporter:) "Did you have any idea that we would be here 50 years later?"
"Heaven's no, the change over the past 50 years and particularly the last 10 have been extraordinary," said McCann.
McCann will attend the LGBT 50th anniversary celebration.
