FAITH LEADERS FROM 35 COUNTRIES DEMAND GAY SEX IS MADE LEGAL & BAN ON 'CONVERSION THERAPHY'

Faith leaders including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the UK’s Bishop of Liverpool have demanded governments make gay sex legal and ban ‘conversion therapy’.

The demands from over 400 faith leaders from 35 countries come alongside an admission that religious teachings have failed LGBT+ people.

At the moment at least 69 nations still criminalize homosexuality – some with the death penalty. Meanwhile just five countries have banned ‘conversion therapy’ – the dangerous and futile attempts to ‘cure’ LGBT+ people.

The joint statement, launched today, says: ‘We recognize with sadness that certain religious teachings have often, throughout the ages, caused and continue to cause deep pain and offense to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex.

‘We acknowledge, with profound regret, that some of our teachings have created, and continue to create, oppressive systems that fuel intolerance, perpetuate injustice and result in violence. 

‘This has led, and continues to lead, to the rejection and alienation of many by their families, their religious groups and cultural communities.

‘We ask for forgiveness from those whose live.’

‘The Muslim community is ready for this conversation’

The statement stops short of actually specifically backing full equality on issues such as same-sex marriage – which many religions consider contentious.

However, it does demand ‘justice’ and an end to criminalization:

‘We call on all nations to put an end to criminalisation on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, for violence against LGBT+ people to be condemned and for justice to be done on their behalf.

‘We call for all attempts to change, suppress or erase a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression – commonly known as “conversion therapy” – to end, and for these harmful practices to be banned.’

The joint statement goes on to demand ‘an end to the perpetuation of prejudice and stigma’

Signatories include former Irish president former Irish President Mary McAleese, a prominent Roman Catholic, anti-apartheid hero Archbishop Desmond Tutu from South Africa, Archbishop of Canada Linda Nicholls and the UK’s Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes.

In total, organizers say nine Archbishops, 51 Bishops and 16 Deans from across the Anglican Communion, 65 rabbis and various religious leaders from the Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu religions have signed.

One of them, Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, former senior rabbi to Reform Judaism, admitted to Thomson Reuters Foundation that ‘our religions … still have a lot that we are culpable for’.

Meanwhile Imam Muhsin Hendricks, founder of the Masjidul Ghurbaah Mosque in Cape Town, South Africa, one of the world’s few LGBT-inclusive mosques, said: ‘I think the Muslim community is ready for this conversation.’

The Ozanne Foundation charity organized the initiative to mark the launch of the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives today.

The UK government is sponsoring the virtual conference accompanying the launch, despite the fact the country has still not banned ‘conversion therapy’, having promised to do so for several years.

SOURCE: GAY STAR NEWS

HEADTEACHER KICKED OUT THIS STRAIGHT-A GAY STUDENT BECAUSE 'IT'S WHAT JUST WOULD WANT'

 

The headteacher of a Christian school in October has expelled an ‘exceptional’ straight-A student because he is gay.

Devin Bryant, 17, was just about to begin his senior year at Covenant Christian Academy in Colleyville, Texas. But new headmaster Tony Jeffrey gave his mother Consolata a call saying Devin was no longer welcome.

The teen had come out via an Instagram post on his birthday in October last year. At the time he got a good reaction.

He told LGBT+ title the Dallas Voice:

‘People said they are there for me. They were proud of me for making the decision to come out.’

Indeed, even some of the teachers said they supported him, despite their Christian faith. And there was no official reaction from the school.

‘I think they were ignoring it,’ he said. ‘People in the administration knew.’

But 10 months later, in mid August, that suddenly changed. The new headmaster Tony Jeffrey called Devin’s mom Consolata and said he couldn’t complete his final year at the academy.

She asked him: ‘Are you a Christian? Jesus would not do what you are doing.’

But Jeffrey responded: ‘I’m doing what Jesus would want me to do.’

‘Gay Person Parking Only’

Consolata admits she signed the academy’s student code of conduct, which forbids homosexuality, drugs and ‘fornication’ in its small print.

But the family has had kids in the Covenant Christian Academy for almost two decades. And Devin himself joined pre-kindergarten.

Indeed, the first sign they may have any problems with Devin remaining came just two days earlier.

He had finished the previous semester with straight-A grades. And over the summer he planned and posted the design for his parking spot on the school campus – a tradition for seniors.

His design read: ‘Super Hot, Fun, Attractive, Fast-driving, Insane, Very Smart, Outgoing, Party Freak, Young, Gay (as in happy don’t worry lol), Pretty, Reckless, Humble, Pyromaniac, Fun, Gay (as in homosexual this time, sorry) Person Parking Only.’

And he was proud of the funny ‘brash’ design. But when Consolata went to pay for his parking spot, school administrators told her Devin’s design was unacceptable. And they added they didn’t want to hear the word ‘gay’ again.

Two days later, the family got the call.

The academy has declined to comment on the case.

However, on Monday (31 August), Jeffrey sent a letter to current parents, alumni and school faculty praising the teen.

In it he said Devin was ‘a popular, well-behaved student, talented artist and gifted athlete who has made significant contributions to our program during his tenure here’. He even added he was an ‘exceptional student’.

But Jeffrey insisted the academy’s ‘deeply held religious beliefs’ said sex could only be between a married man and woman.

‘I don’t have any hate or hold a grudge’

Fortunately for Devin, his family are comfortable with his sexuality. And he has proved his teachers – who described him as ‘such a nice guy’ – right in the way he’s responded.

He has started his senior year at a public high school. And he hopes to get high scores on his AP exams before applying to Rutgers or UCLA next year.

Meanwhile his first thought is for other LGBT+ students at his former alma mater. He hopes what happened to him will get the academy to address LGBT+ students more positively:

‘They don’t talk about it in a way that gives LGBTQ kids any hope in their relationship with Christ. I want to call people to a higher standard than I’ve seen.’

And he added: ‘If another queer kid comes out [at the academy], I’m scared for them.’

But he added: ‘I have relationships with teachers [there that] I’ll always cherish. They’re genuinely good people who love and accept me. I don’t have any hate or hold a grudge. I know I’ll end up fine.’

SOURCE: GAY STAR NEWS

RICKY MARTIN CRIED AS HE CAME OUT AS GAY BUT IT MADE HIM ‘SUPER HAPPY’

Gay singer Ricky Martin has opened up about the torment he went through about coming out as gay – and how it’s made him happy.

The ‘King of Latin Pop’ said Elton John inspired him. However, like many LGBT+ people coming out, he struggled to understand his own sexuality.

Things came to a head while Martin was on tour in 1999 for his world-famous Livin’ La Vida Loca hit. Indeed, he told Proud Radio on Apple Music, that he had to take some time off:

‘My music was being heard all over the world, regardless of the language. I could high five God, but I wasn’t living to the fullest. I was sad, I was depressed.’

He added: ‘I would walk on stage to perform because that was the only way I could balance my emotion is to snap out of this heavy sadness that I was moving in.

‘And then actually there came a moment that I said, “We need to stop. We need to stop the tour.”

‘I remember I was in Australia and from Australia, we were going to go to South America. And I said, “I can’t, I can’t do this, I need to go home, I need silence, I need to cry, I need to be angry. I need to forgive myself for allowing myself to reach this level, to get to where I’m at.”

‘And I took some time and I took a sabbatical.’

‘I cried like crazy and have been super happy ever since’

At the time, everyone in his life knew about his sexuality.

However, the 48-year-old singer says he struggled to figure it out for himself from a young age. I particular, he shared how Elton John inspired him:

‘I just remember growing up and looking at Elton and saying like, “I love his music, I like his colors, I love his wigs, I love it. Do I want to be him or do I like him? I’m so confused.”

‘At the end of the day, I remember just warm, loving, comforting… just emotions every time I saw him. Let’s give him a lot of credit for that.’

Despite this influence, Martin has previously said he feared for his career if he came out.

In the end, Martin didn’t publicly reveal he is gay until his 2010 autobiography – Me: Ricky Martin.

He said: ‘I got to the place I was fighting as I was writing my book between saying, “Am I gay? Am I bisexual?”

‘And either is okay, just go within and do not lie to yourself. Then I said, “Rick, you are a very fortunate homosexual man. You are gay.” And I wrote it and I pressed send, and then I cried like crazy. And I’ve been super happy ever since.’

The Grammy-award winner married artist Jwan Yosef in 2017 and now has four children.

‘Joining forces’ with Black Lives Matter

Since coming out, Martin has advocated for same-sex marriage and delivered a speech at a United Nations conference about homophobia.

However, he has been particularly active in supporting LGBT+ rights in his native Puerto Rico.

He campaigned to oust Puerto Rico’s governor. And he helped block a ‘religious freedom’ bill which would undermine LGBT+ rights. Moreover, he’s also supported improvements in trans rights on the US island.

Now he says the LGBT+ community and Black Lives Matter should ‘join forces’ given their intersectionality.

This summer has already seen LGBT+ Pride events reimagined as grass-roots Black Lives Matter protests.

Martin said: “At this point it’s all about listening, it’s about learning, it’s about being respectful and it’s about understanding that at this point it’s not about us.

‘At this point it’s about giving the platform to those incredible voices that have helped us and have taught us about the injustices that, in this case, the LGBTQ+ community goes through.’

SOURCE: GAY STAR NEWS

US SUPREME COURT RULES YOU CAN'T FIRE A WORKER BECAUSE THEY ARE LGBT+

BREAKING: The US Supreme Court has ruled LGBT+ workers have protection under federal law.

The justices decisions came in three cases and will impact millions of LGBT+ workers.

Two of the cases related to whether employers can discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. The third case was about whether bosses can discriminate against a worker because of their gender identity.

But the court said the language of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex discrimination, also applies to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The justices voted six to three in favor of LGBT+ workers. Justice M Gorush wrote the majority opinion. And Chief Justice John G Roberts Jr as well as Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan agreed with him.

Victory in all three cases marks a watershed moment for LGBT+ workers rights in the US.

The three historic cases

The decision relates to three cases the US Supreme Court heard in October last year.

All three were about Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The justices had to decide whether it prevented discrimination on the basis of sexuality or gender identity in the workplace.

Bostock v Clayton County was about Gerald Bostock, a welfare services coordinator for Clayton County, Georgia. He suddenly lost his job after decades of experience and numerous accolades.

The problem? Bostock joined an extra-curricular gay softball league.

 Bostock’s work colleagues made disparaging remarks about his sexual orientation in front of his supervisor, which led to an internal audit of his work and ultimate termination.

Meanwhile Altitude Express v Zarda was about Don Zarda. He worked for a skydiving business on Long Island, New York.

But bosses fired Zarda immediately after he revealed he was LGBTQ.

Zarda sued the business because of clear anti-LGBTQ discrimination. Zarda has passed away, but the case his sister, Melissa Zarda, and former partner, Bill Moore fought on.

While both of those are about sexual orientation discrimination, the final case was RG & GR Harris Funeral Homes v EEOC relates to gender identity.

Aimee Stephens worked at a funeral home in Detroit, Michigan. Her bosses terminated her after she came out as transgender to her supervisor. Aimee took her case to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) where the agency sued the company on behalf of her.

The arguments

Lawyers for the employers and for Donald Trump’s administration argued that sex discrimination only applied to men and women. They said that was the meaning of the term in 1964, when the law came into force.

Therefore, it did not cover LGBT+ people, they said. Moreover, if Congress wanted to protect LGBT+ workers, it should pass a new law, they argued.

However the lawyers for the workers said that it was only logical that people were biased against LGBT+ people in part because of their gender.

The verdict

Writing for the majority, Justice Gorsuch argued that discrimination on the basis of being LGBT+ is fundamentally no different from other sex discrimination.

Indeed, he said: ‘An individual’s homosexuality or transgender status is not relevant to employment decisions.

‘That’s because it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex.

‘We agree that homosexuality and transgender status are distinct concepts from sex. But as we’ve seen, discrimination based on homosexuality or transgender status necessarily entails discrimination based on sex; the first cannot happen without the second.’

The significance

This will give LGBT+ workers discrimination protection from the employees in all US states. But it is particularly important in the 26 states that don’t already have their own non-discrimination protections.

Moreover, the ruling is vitally important because discrimination against LGBT+ employees is so widespread.

The Williams Institute found 60% of LGB people say an employer fired them or denied them a job. That compares to 40% of heterosexuals.

Meanwhile, 48% of gay, lesbian and bi workers have had a negative evaluation or not secured a promotion they expected. But just 32% of heterosexuals have had a similar experience.

And the new federal protections may be widely used.

One study found that people have filed 9,127 charges with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination between 2012 and 2016.

Moreover, states which don’t have anti-discrimination laws saw more serious cases of LGBT+ discrimination.

However the rulings don’t give all the protections that the stalled Equality Act would offer.

For example, federal law still allows stores and restaurants to discriminate against LGBT+ people. However, state laws may ban such discrimination in some states.

It is still legal to harass transgender people in restrooms and gyms. Moreover, it is still legal for federally funded programs to discriminate against LGBT+ people. These include programs funding hospitals, colleges and adoption agencies.

America actually supports protections

Meanwhile the American public overwhelmingly supports LGBT+ employment protections.

Indeed, in May 2019, a Quinnipiac University Poll found that 92% of American voters believe employers should not fire someone for being LGBTQ.

Interestingly, Americans also believe that LGBT+ people have more protection than they did – until today.

In June 2019, Reuters/Ipsos carried out a poll about this. The researchers found that less than a quarter of Americans realize there are not federal employment protections for LGBT+ people already.

Moreover, businesses also want these protections to exist.

Over 200 major businesses, including American Airlines, Bank of America and Marriot filed an amicus brief to the court. It supported protecting LGBTQ Americans from discrimination at the workplace.

SOURCE: GAY STAR NEWS

LA PRIDE WILL HAPPEN IN 2020 - AS A BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST

Los Angeles Pride will happen in 2020 after all – but as a Black Lives Matter solidarity march.

LA Pride bosses cancelled this year’s event from 12 to 14 June, when the coronavirus pandemic struck in March. It was due to be a historic celebration – marking 50 years of Pride in the city.

But now Christopher Street West, the organization that produces LA Pride, announced it will hold a peaceful protest march against racial injustice on Sunday 14 June.

Estevan Montemayor, the organization’s president, said:

‘In 1970, we gathered on Hollywood Boulevard to protest police brutality and oppression to our community.

‘We will do that again this year where it began, in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.’

The march will start at 10am on 14 June at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland boulevards.

Protestors will then process to West Hollywood, where the parade normally takes place, ending at Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards.

Honoring the legacy of Stonewall

The US has already seen nine days of protest following the death of George Floyd in police custody.

But for the Christopher Street West Board what is happening is a reminder of their own history.

The first LA Pride was a protest against police violence and oppression.

Moreover, it marked a year since the Stonewall riots. At the time black members of the LGBT+ community were on the front line, most famously including Marsha P Johnson.

The board unanimously decided they needed to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests across the US.

Montemayor added: ‘It is our moral imperative to honor the legacy of Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who bravely led the Stonewall uprising, by standing in solidarity with the black community against systemic racism and joining the fight for meaningful and long-lasting reform.’

Organizers are urging those who attend the protest to wear face masks and to bring hand sanitizer or wear gloves to help protect them from COVID-19.

Indeed, they accept it would be safer not to hold the protest. However, Montemayor said it was ‘absolutely necessary’ to ‘leave our homes and speak loudly and clearly’ about the injustices people of color face.

So far, at least 450 Prides around the world have cancelled or postponed their 2020 events due to coronavirus.

SOURCE: GAYSTAR NEWS

          

SURVEY REVEALS HOW MANY LGBT+ PEOPLE WILL STILL DATE & HOOK-UP DURING CORONA-VIRUS

Most LGBT+ people are taking coronavirus very seriously but some are still insisting they will go for dates and hook-ups during the pandemic.

That’s according to a new survey which took a snapshot of LGBT+ people in the UK about COVID-19.

It shows 57% of LGBT+ people feel their lives will be worse off in six months time as a result of the pandemic.

Moreover, most are very concerned about it.

Around nine in 10 of those surveyed believe coronavirus is a threat to their health. That figure is lowest in under 18-year-olds, but even among them, 88% agree it’s a threat. It’s highest in those aged 65 or over – 95% say it’s a threat.

Meanwhile, 32% of people, almost a third, are worried because they are officially vulnerable or have a pre-existing medical condition. And another 18% say their biggest worry is that their partner, family member or friend is vulnerable. 3% are scared they may die.

Dating, hook-ups, the gym and Pride

Events in the UK have overtaken part of the survey. It asked how people may change their lives to protect themselves and others.

However, researchers from Queer Voices Heard ran the survey from 13 to 20 March. Since then, the government has effectively shut down the UK, closing gyms, bars, clubs, non-essential shops and more.

But even before that happened, 68% said they would stop going to LGBT+ venues during the pandemic. Meanwhile almost two thirds said they would stop using the gym.

Despite this high level or responsibility, a few do not agree.

The survey reveals that 28% would still go on dates during the pandemic and 24% would attend LGBT+ events. Moreover, 16% would have sex or hook-ups.

However, there is good news for Pride organizers who have cancelled events during the pandemic.

The results show that 75% of people support the decision to cancel or postpone Prides. And only 7% oppose it.

Already around 60 Pride events across the UK have cancelled or postponed. The Prides in Birmingham and London are among the high-profile postponements so far. 

Who should advice come from?

Sadly, the survey shows LGBT+ public confidence is not good for 2020.

A massive 57% of those in the survey said they expected their lives to be worse in six months time. Only 17% expected them to be better. 

Meanwhile, people are looking to LGBT+ organizations to give them advice and support during the pandemic.

88% of people said the UK government is very or partially responsible for their health advice. However, over three quarters are expecting that advice from sexual health clinics, healthcare charities and LGBT+ media.

GSN takes this responsibility seriously. We have already published articles with advice, including these:

For all LGBT+ people including vulnerable people with cancer.

For gay and bi men about sex.

And for HIV positive people.

‘Vital we listen to our community’

Max Willson lead researcher on this study, says: 

‘There is a genuine fear within the LGBTQ+ community, which is shared more widely in society, that COVID-19 poses a real threat to our physical health, mental health, the relationships that we have with others, and our way of life.

‘The way we live our lives will undoubtedly change because of COVID-19. And the way in which our community, and society more generally, adapts to these changes will be key over the next six months.’

Meanwhile, Stu Hosker, co-founder of Queer Voices Heard, which ran the survey, adds:

‘When mental health and social isolation already disproportionately affects our community than the general population, it’s vital that we listen to the voices in our community who are most vulnerable – physically, mentally, and socially – and address how we keep their best interests in mind during this unprecedented health emergency.’

SOURCE: GAY STAR NEWS

TWO HOMOPHOBES TRAP & BRUTALLY BEAT A GAY MAN TO DEATH IN NIGERIA

Two homophobic vigilantes have trapped and brutally beaten a gay man to death in Nigeria.

It is an incident like so many others that have happened in the west African country – often attracting no publicity.

But this time there are some important differences. The victim found a way to fight back and protect his friends. The murderers have been filmed, handcuffed, confessing to the attack. And LGBT+ Nigerians have responded with fury – demanding change.

Victim agreed to meet stranger on Facebook and pay for sex

The event happened on 7 March at Nanka, Anambra state, south eastern Nigeria. The victim was also from the same region.

We know many of the details due to a video confession from the alleged murderers, which went viral online.

In it, they say the victim contacted one of the murderers on Facebook and sent him a message. We do not know the names of either the victim or the man who would later kill him.

The victim told him he was gay and asked if he wanted to hook up. The murderer apparently laughed at him but then agreed.

The victim asked him to come to see him in the town of Owerri. But the murderer refused and asked the victim to come to him around Nanka, about 70kms away. The victim agreed to pay 20,000 Nigerian Naira (about $54) for sex.

What the victim didn’t know is that his hook-up had contacted a friend, called Chidi Omeh. Together he and Omeh planned to rob the victim and beat him up.

The victim crushed his sim card in his mouth to protect others

When the victim arrived the first murderer asked for the money. The victim said he’ll get the money after sex. So Omeh and his friend started beating him.

But the brave victim fought back. Often blackmailers use gay people’s phones to identify further victims or to humiliate them in front of their parents.

However the victim managed to take out his sim card and put it in his mouth and crushed it to bits to destroy his contacts. He also smashed up his phone.

The two murderers then overpowered him, took him to a secluded spot and killed him. People later found his body decomposing.

The men later confessed in a video shot on a mobile phone.

This photo labels one of the men as a ‘kito’ – a Nigerian word for people who set up, beat, extort and kill gay people in Nigeria. The alleged weapon looks like a sword but is apparently a club.

‘Sick, bitter and frustrated’

In response, LGBT+ Nigerians have demanded change. They started the hashtag #EndHomophobiaInNigeria which has been trending as number two on Twitter for the last two days in Nigeria.

Young Nigerian LGBT+ activist Matthew Blaise, 20, came up with the hashtag with his friends Ani Kayode and Victor Eze.

He told GSN: ‘The murder made me so sick, bitter and frustrated. Coupled with the numerous inhumane treatments of gay people in Nigeria – extortion, illegal parading, harassment, assaults, conversion therapy, killings and the damn Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act which is the enabler of them all.’

That act came into force in 2014, when former President Goodluck Jonathan signed it.

It not only bans same-sex marriage but also gives 10-year prison terms on ‘any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or directly or indirectly makes a public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria’.

Moreover Nigeria punishes homosexuality with 14 years in prison in most of the country and the death penalty in northern, Sharia law states.

‘I almost got killed or viciously assaulted just last week’

The hashtag has also allowed other LGBT+ Nigerians to share their stories and anger.

Talking about the video confession, ‘Kay’ said:

‘I cried listening to this because of the times I was attacked and I really thought I was going to die. I don’t understand why we have to live like this, always a [phone] interaction away from walking straight into our deaths.’

And Ethan Regal commented: ‘When I moved back to Nigeria, the very first gay friend I made was murdered in a hotel by a man who lured him there for sex.

‘Another friend visited someone and was held there for weeks and beaten by a gang. This crap has gone on for years and needs to stop.’

Meanwhile ‘Wild One’ said: ‘I was raped and robbed because I am gay. I couldn’t report or get any form of justice because reporting would most likely endanger my life more.’

And ‘Goofy’ shared his story: ‘I almost got killed or viciously assaulted just last week. And this is just a tip of what queer people face in Nigeria everyday.’

‘Selfish, homophobic and misogynistic men as our leaders’

The hashtag has been another vital moment for LGBT+ Nigerians in raising the profile of the hate and injustice they face.

But despite its success, Blaise doesn’t believe change will come quickly.

Indeed, he and his fellow activists are nervous that these killers may not face a fair trial and punishment. Often, police release people who attack LGBT+ victims. Moreover, police are often guilty of extortion and beatings themselves.

Talking about the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, Blaise told GSN:

‘I don’t think the bill will be repealed soon. Because we have selfish, homophobic and misogynistic men as our leaders in Nigeria.

‘But it is important for awareness to be raised about it. It is important for people to know how homophobia is harming gay people everyday. And it is also important to let them know how the SSMPA enables that.’

SOURCE: GAY STAR NEWS

MARTIN LUTHER KING'S FRIEND BAYARD RUSTIN WILL BE PARDONED FOR GAY SEX

California is to posthumously pardon LGBT+ and civil rights hero Bayard Rustin for his 1953 ‘vagrancy’ arrest, which was for consensual gay sex.

Rustin, a close confidante of Martin Luther King Jr, was one of the key organizers of the historic 1963 March on Washington – a highpoint of the civil rights movement.

He also played a vital role in non-violent protests and boycotts to end racial discrimination in the United States.

While Rustin kept in the background at the time, President Barack Obama gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.

Bayard Rustin’s ‘vagrancy’ arrest

But in 1953, police arrested Rustin in Pasadena, California. They discovered him having sex with two men in a parked car. The arrest came just hours after he gave a speech about anti-colonial struggles in West Africa.

They charged him with vagrancy – a common charge for consensual gay sex. And he spent 50 days in an LA jail. 

The conviction haunted him until his death in 1987.

However, despite that, Rustin didn’t hide his sexuality.

Davis Platt, Rustin’s partner from the 1940s, said: ‘I never had any sense at all that Bayard felt any shame or guilt about his homosexuality. That was rare in those days. Rare.’

And while he didn’t campaign on LGBT+ rights for many years, he did join the fight towards the end of his life.

In 1986 he gave a speech supporting New York State’s Gay Rights Bill, titled ‘The New N*****s are Gays’.

He said: ‘Today, blacks are no longer the litmus paper or the barometer of social change. Blacks are in every segment of society and there are laws that help to protect them from racial discrimination.

‘The question of social change should be framed with the most vulnerable group in mind: gay people.’

Posthumous pardon for Rustin

California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was not just pardoning Rustin. He also wants to clear the record of others who had consensual gay sex.

Newsome said: ‘In California and across the country, many laws have been used as legal tools of oppression, and to stigmatize and punish LGBTQ poeple and communities and warn others what harm could await them for living authentically.

‘I thank those who advocated for Bayard Rustin’s pardon, and I want to encourage others in similar situations to seek a pardon to right this egregious wrong.’

In 2017, Rustin’s partner for the last 10 years of his life, Walter Naegle, wrote a personal account of his achievements for GSN.

SOURCE: GAY STAR NEWS