Pride Connection Presents - Lessons in Advocacy Part 3 – Bayard Rustin - How Our Differences Strengthen Unity

Blind Pride in association with Making Gay History present this third in our series of conversations. BPI ally and force to be reckoned with, Debbie Grubb, and Anthony Corona, will present the life and work of Bayard and what we can learn from this incredibly fascinating Advocator, agent of Non-violent protest and the marks on the annals of history that leaves us all.

For 60 years, Rustin fought for peace and equal rights — demonstrating, organizing and protesting in the United States and around the world. 'Strategic Nonviolence' In the summer of 1963, he was the main organizer of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. On Aug. 28, speaker after speaker roused a crowd of 250,000, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., with his seminal "I Have A Dream" speech.

Rustin had less than two months to organize what was the largest demonstration the country had ever seen. "As we follow this form of mass action and strategic nonviolence," he said, "we will not only put pressure on the government, but we will put pressure on other groups which ought by their nature to be allied with us.” From his study of Mahatma Gandhi’s Soul Force to the march to his storied effect on the LGBTQ plus community Bayard has so much to teach us. Join us and share your thoughts on how our differences unite us and how we can take the lessons of Bayard and incorporate them in our advocacy going forward.