SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The LGBT community’s annual salute to Black History Month will take place on Friday, Feb. 10 with the fourth annual San Diego Bayard Rustin Honors, sponsored by The LGBT Community Center, The Imperial Court de San Diego and the San Diego GLBT Historic Task Force.
Bayard Rustin was a mentor and strategist for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and was a key figure and deputy director of the 1963 March on Washington at which Rev. King delivered his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. Bayard Rustin was openly homosexual in the 1950s and ‘60s when it was completely unheard of, especially as a black civil rights leader. In 2013 Bayard Rustin was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with his partner Walter Naegle accepting it on his behalf. President Obama stated, “For decades this great leader, often at Dr. Martin Luther King’s side, was denied his rightful place in history because he was openly gay.”
The San Diego Bayard Rustin Honors was founded by City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, who is national chair of the campaign to get a U.S. postage stamp issued in honor of Bayard Rustin, and Carolina Ramos of The LGBT Center.
The 2017 recipients of the Bayard Rustin Honors are Dr. Tanis King Starck of San Diego State University and Tom Dickerson, a long-time leader in Leather and Imperial Court activities. Both will be receiving the Life Time Achievement Awards. Also to be honored will be transgender activist Syra Evans, hip-hop artist Miki Vale, Minister in training Venice “Pepper” Price of the Power House Ministry and the late Tonio “Flo Floe” Ray.
The Feb. 10 honors will be held at The LGBT Center, 3909 Centre St, San Diego, California 92103, from 6 to 8 p.m. The evening will include outstanding
entertainment, a soul food buffet and auctions. The $15 donation will benefit the National Bayard Rustin Stamp Campaign, the LGBT Black Coalition and The LGBT Center. Emcee for the event will be Miss Pearl of America’s Got Talent fame.
“The entire community is invited to celebrate Black History Month and honor true San Diego activists,” stated Commissioner Ramirez.
For additional information, please contact City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, 619-241-5672 or Michael Lochner , 619-862-8654.
