Remebering the Selma Marches 45 Years Later

Courtesy of Equality Forum:

To commemorate the 45^th anniversary of the Selma Marches, Equality Forum will unveil Life Magazine photojournalist Dan Budnik’s image of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King in Selma in March 1965.  The reception of African American and GLBT leaders will take place on Monday, March 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Equality Forum office, 1420 Locust Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia.

“Dr. King’s dream inspired all Americans and had a profound impact on the gay civil rights movement,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum. “Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King were outspoken advocates of gay equality.”

“We had marched with Martin Luther King, seven of us from the Mattachine Society of Washington in 1963, and from that time on, we’d always had our own dream about a march of similar proportions,” said Gay Pioneer Jack Nichols.

Openly gay Bayard Rustin was the lead organizer of the March on Washington in August 1963.  In October 1963, openly gay James Baldwin and Dick Gregory with his wife were the first nationally prominent blacks to protest for voters rights in Selma

“The Budnik photograph will remain in the Equality Forum office as a reminder of the debt the GLBT civil rights movement owes to Dr. King,” said Temple Professor Debra Blair, Chair of Equality Forum’s Board of Directors.

Equality Forum is a national and international GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Equality Forum coordinates GLBT History Month, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives and presents the largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights summit.

For more information, please click here to visit the Equality Forum!

For more on the Marches from Selma to Montgomery, click here!

Ancient Lovers

I was looking for some information on past male lovers and I came across some interesting facts . This can be related to not only men of color but to all gay men. Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum are considered the to be the first same-sex couple in recorded history. Considering they were brothers; which was very common in ancient times, they signify the starting history of gay culture.

More at: Living On The Real!

Black History Month – James Baldwin

Baldwin’s early years were deeply troubled. At home, he was terrorized by an abusive stepfather; outside the home, he was taunted by his peers because of his diminutive stature and effeminate mannerisms. As an adolescent, he sought refuge in the church, and after an emotionally charged spiritual conversion, he became at age fourteen a minister who regularly preached at evangelical churches in and near Harlem. As a young adult, he held a variety of odd jobs: He was at times a railroad construction worker, waiter, busboy, and elevator operator. It was during this time that he began to write seriously, beginning with book reviews and essays.

During his young adulthood, he also became fully aware of the implications of being black in America. Everyday exposure to racism left him deeply wounded. His increasing consciousness of his homosexuality added to his pain and confusion. To escape what he felt was impending madness, he left for Paris in 1948 with forty dollars in his pocket and no knowledge of French. In France, where he would spend the better part of his remaining years, he became a professional writer.

A prolific artist, Baldwin published twenty-two books during a career that lasted nearly forty years; he wrote formal essays, fiction, drama, and poetry. In his early collections of elegantly written essays–such as Notes of a Native Son (1955) and Nobody Knows My Name (1961)–he combined autobiography with trenchant cultural analysis to create brilliant critiques of American race relations.

Read more about James Baldwin at: GLBTQ.com!

Never Chasing Rainbows

Can I ask, what’s with gay’s and rainbows these days? Allow me to preface my rant by stating that I know much about gay history–more than the average go-go boy–and I am aware of the history of the rainbow flag to celebrate diversity in the gay community. Flags are symbols, they are a visual representation of an idea, a group, or a nation. They are ideals you can see, morals you can touch. I am aware, and I appreciate the sentiment. That’s doesn’t mean I wholeheartedly embrace the transformation of my life and its circumstances into a multi-colored swath of nylon and polyester. I suppose I’ve become suspicious of flags, as Emily Dickinson was of oaths. You cannot sum even one individual with fabric and stitching, and it’s dangerous to try.

From: 30 Year-Old Freshman!

In The Life Presents: Summer of Stonewall

This summer, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, IN THE LIFE is proud to present Summer of Stonewall – a three-part series commemorating that 1969 seminal event marking the beginning of the modern gay movement. Kicking off with this special hour-long show, “40th Anniversary of Stonewall,” the series features stories and firsthand accounts from the activists who have worked in the movement over the last 40 years, and with the young ones inspired by our current political climate; we’ll explore the pivotal moments shaping the history of LGBT civil rights and the many contributions along the way that the gay people have made to American life.

The State of the Movement — A Look at its Past, Present, Future
How do we measure our progress? IN THE LIFE speaks to activists young and old to explore where we have come from and how far we have left to go.

Youth Now — The Cost of “Coming Out” Young
Not many can say for certain who ignited the spark that led to the Stonewall Riots, but what is certain is that many of the instigators were young, some transgender, and a few homeless: youth, with nothing to lose and everything to fight for. 40 years later, there’s been tremendous growth in the number and diversity of LGBT youth services available in this country. Yet, as providers will tell you — at a time when the average age of “coming out” has dropped from early twenties to early teens — these are the best and the worst of times for our young people.

The Written Word — Queer Communication: From Flyers to HTML
Before the 1950s, men and women who identified themselves as gay or lesbian had little print media of their own. Comparing how we once communicated to how we connect today, it is clear that the Internet has radically altered our ability to reach each other and to publish our testimonies and opinions.

A Conversation With… activist, writer Larry Kramer (co-founder of ACT-UP, GMHC) and performer, DJ, and pop-icon Lady Bunny
These longtime partners-in-activism discuss the advancements and setbacks of the LGBT movement, and share their fears and hopes for the future of LGBT activism. Revealing some little-known details about sexual preferences of past U.S. presidents, they also discuss why gay history needs to be taught in schools.

The Gay Betsy Ross — The Rainbow Flag, Its history, and how it inspired the movement to adopt a new symbol
Gilbert Baker is the man behind the most visible and recognizable symbol of gay pride: the rainbow flag. An unsung hero and historian of the LGBT movement, Baker was asked by Harvey Milk in 1978 to create an emblem for the community. Replacing the pink triangle, the LGBT community adopted the rainbow flag — a symbol of its diversity and unity in the pursuit of equality for all.
“40th Anniversary of Stonewall” begins airing June 1st, and will be available for free video streaming and downloadable podcasts from the IN THE LIFE website starting June 2nd. To find out when it will be airing in your local area, or to stream or download it, go to www.inthelifetv.org.

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