It was on the 24th of August 1987 that Bayard Rustin passed away and even though society tried to make us forget, he is still remembered. His life and work continues to inspire LGBT activists not just in the United States but across the world.
On November 20, 2013, Rustin’s partner Walter Naegle accepted the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in honor of his work of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
In President Obama’s words, “…for decades, this great leader, often at Dr. King’s side, was denied his rightful place in history because he was openly gay. No medal can change that, but today, we honor Bayard Rustin’s memory by taking our place in his march towards true equality, no matter who we are or who we love.”
Watch a short documentary on the civil rights icon below
