African American and GLBT Leaders Commemorate 45th Anniversary of Selma Marches

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.