Happy Birthday Bayard Rustin

The man who organized the great March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Dr. King gave his momentous speech, was gay.  Bayard Rustin was a pioneer for civil rights and an openly gay man at a time when being gay was anathema.

Today marks his 100th birthday, (Rustin died in 1987)and I believe it is a day both African Americans and LGBT Americans should celebrate.  The city of New Orleans has already done just that by declaring today LGBT Civil Rights Equality Awareness Day,

So, if you don't know much about Rustin, take some time to do a little reading and learn more about the man behind the scenes of one of the great social justice movements in American history.