01/19/2026
Today I’m thinking about Dr. King not just as a symbol, but as a listener.
Early in the movement, MLK was advised by Bayard Rustin a brilliant strategist, a committed pacifist, and a q***r man who was often pushed into the shadows because of who he was. Rustin argued that nonviolence couldn’t just be a message, it had to be a lived practice. That meant refusing armed protection and choosing moral clarity over fear.
Dr. King listened.
He made choices that left him more vulnerable, not less, because he believed the integrity of the movement mattered more than personal safety. He believed in doing what was right, not simply what he thought best. That kind of leadership takes humility, especially at a time when Rustin’s q***rness was used to discredit him and silence his influence.
The Black and q***r communities have always been intertwined in this work. That solidarity isn’t new. Dr. King valued q***r voices in his community at a time when many didn’t, and the movement was stronger because of it.
Today feels like a good day to honor that legacy in real ways, by showing up locally, supporting Black owned businesses, and choosing to be part of the community rather than just posting about it. Not just today, but every day.
That feels like the kind of remembrance Dr. King actually stood for.