Local activists are organizing a San Diego contingent at the National Equality March (NEM) in Washington, D.C. on October 11.

“We want San Diego to march together to show how much we are contributing in body power,” said Department of Defense Federal Gay Lesbian Bisexual Employees (DOD FED GLOBE) Executive Director Lisa Kove. “So that we can organize our contingent appropriately, we really need to know who in San Diego is going.”

Longtime activist Cleve Jones called for the march last March as a “call to action” to demand full GLBT equality from Congress. March organizers are working with local activists, such as Kove, to bring a delegate from all 435 congressional districts including the five congressional districts in San Diego County.

Kove with the help of Richard Wilhein, who will be organizing the San Diego contingent at the march, and Sally Hall, who sits on the march’s national steering committee, have thus far found 13 to 15 people who plan to attend the march and whom together will represent San Diego’s two democratic congressional districts: 53rd district (Downtown/Point Loma/Balboa Park) represented by Susan Davis and the 51st district (portion of Chula Vista/border area) represented by Bob Filner.

Kove, Wilhein and Hall are, however, having problems finding people who live in and can work as march delegates from San Diego’s three congressional Republican districts: 49th district (North County) represented by Darrell E. Issa, 50th district (Del Mar/Escondido area) represented by Brian Bilbray and the 52nd district (East San Diego) represented by Duncan Hunter.

“We know the Democrats are supportive but unfortunately the Republicans don’t seem to see the significance of equality yet,” Kove said.

During the march, the San Diego contingent will lobby the San Diego County Congressional Representatives Washington, D.C. offices.

“We have to make the point [to Congress members] that LGBT equality is an important issue to San Diego, and it’s done best when it’s done in person. It says a lot. Even if all your talking to is their staffer, because you have gone through all this trouble to come and say, ‘I have marched all the way to Washington and this is important to me.’ Kove said.

Kove, Wilhein and Hall are also trying to find ways to cover their contingent’s expenses.

“We are looking for people to offer their frequent flyer miles and contributions to go towards people’s housing,” Kove said. “Or if they have contacts that can offer free housing for our folks while they’re there, that would be great.”

“Tom [Richard’s partner] and I would not have been able to go were it not for frequent flyer miles that were contributed,” Wilhein said. “Our tickets are already paid for, but we need that help from the rest of the community.”

Wilhein has created a Web site, www.pushthechange.org/nemsd, to promote the San Diego contingent.

“The point will be to provide a page for people to register or if they want to go but need assistance or cannot go but want us to leave a message where we can carry to Washington,” Wilhein said. “People can also go to the website to sponsor a delegate, donate frequent flyer miles and donate cash.”

Hall estimates the cost of the trip per person including meals and lodging to be about $1,000. She has been working with hotels in the D.C. area to give discounts to those attending the march and has been listing them at www.nationalequalitymarch.org under Travel and Accommodations.

“We want people to keep more of their money in their pockets,” Hall said. One hotel, the Days Inn Washington Arlington, is offering a special $69 per night rate to attendees.

For more information on the San Diego contingent, e-mail eyescu_92116@yahoo.com.