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He was Bayard Rustin, a man whose life was shaped by the very prejudices the movement fought against, not only because of his race, but also because he was gay. For many, queer Black folk in particular, his stance on LGBTQ+ rights is a topic of much conversation. During his lifetime, Martin Luther King Jr was not a vocal advocate for gay rights (he was assassinated a year before Stonewall, in ), nor did he speak out against them.

This essay by Bayard Rustin reveals a personal account of MLK's feelings toward gay people. Bayard Rustin was an adviser to Martin Luther King Jr. and the organizer behind the March on Washington. And though he was gay, his legacy remains little known among many in the LGBTQ. Below, we examine five ways the legacy of Martin Luther King as it applies to the LGBT community. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom espoused the idea that all Americans were equal, and were to be judged on their actions, not on immutable factors like race.

In , Martin Luther King, Jr. Question: My problem is different from the ones most people have. I am a boy, but I feel about boys the way I ought to feel about girls. I don't want my parents to know about me. What can I do? Is there any place where I can go for help? MLK Answer: Your problem is not at all an uncommon one. However, it does require careful attention.

The type of feeling that you have toward boys is probably not an innate tendency, but something that has been culturally acquired. Your reasons for adopting this habit have now been consciously suppressed or unconsciously repressed. Therefore, it is necessary to deal with this problem by getting back to some of the experiences and circumstances that lead to the habit.

In order to do this I would suggest that you see a good psychiatrist who can assist you in bringing to the forefront of conscience all of those experiences and circumstances that lead to the habit.

You are already on the right road toward a solution, since you honestly recognize the problem and have a desire to solve it. MLK, Jr. Could imagine anyone saying those things today and not being attacked? Isn't it ironic that the only American with a personalized national holiday was a homophobe?

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Did you know his real name wasn't even Martin Luther King, Jr.? It's Mike King. His dad just started calling him Martin. He never had his name legally changed. Home Letters Editorials. MLK agreed with Catholics on homosexuality. Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to help improve our site!