The HRC To Name & Honor LGBTQ Black People & Allies For Black History Month

Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin speaking to school students before a demonstration in 1964. / Image via Wikimedia Commons

The HRC are honoring Black History Month by honoring not only the straight Black icons and legends but also the LGBTQ ones as well.

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The HRC is spotlighting Black people’s contributions to the LGBTQ Rights movement and visibility in the past and in the present. 

As the HRC said in an official statement:

“As we mark Black History Month and celebrate the barriers that have been broken by Black LGBTQ trailblazers in the struggle for equality, we must also confront the barriers that remain, and work to lift up the voices of Black and LGBTQ advocates challenging systems of power and oppression every day,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Throughout this month, we must not only celebrate our heroes but reflect on how we can bring long-marginalized voices within our movement to the forefront and accelerate the pace of progress toward an America where everyone within the LGBTQ community is equal.”

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Marsha P. Johnson is noted as a leader of the Stonewall club revolt that started the LGBT Rights movement.

Following this initial announcement, the HRC released a blog post where it named severalBlack figures in entertainment like Jussie Smollett, Janelle Monae, and the cast of Pose, politicians like Kamala Harris and Lauren Underwood, and historical figures like Marsha P. Johnson and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy.

To read more about the names honored by the HRC, you can read that blog post or head over to their social media pages.

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