Do you know who organized
the famous 1968 civil rights “March on Washington?” No, it wasn’t the Rev.
Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a man few people recall, a man named Bayard
Rustin. Rustin was a civil rights leader, but he was not permitted to speak at
the march he organized… because he was gay.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford’s LGBT film series concludes with a showing on May 23 of
“Brother Outsider” (2003) Bennett Singer’s award-winning documentary about the
life of Bayard Rustin. Since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and its
national broadcasts on PBS’ P.O.V. and America ReFramed series, this film
has introduced millions of viewers around the world to the life and work of
Bayard Rustin — a visionary strategist and activist who has been called “the
unknown hero” of the civil rights movement. A disciple of Gandhi, a mentor to
Martin Luther King Jr., and the architect of the 1963 March on Washington,
Rustin dared to live as an openly gay man during the fiercely homophobic 1940s,
1950s and 1960s.
The film will be shown at
7:30 pm on Friday, May 23 in the church Sanctuary, 147 High Street, Medford. It
will be free and open to the public, although donations will be accepted. As
always, popcorn and refreshments will be available.
