The Congressional Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor.
Today the White House announced that it was awarding the Medal to two openly LGBT heroes of mine,
Bayard Rustin and
Sally Ride.
Sally Ride
(posthumous)Sally
Ride was the first American female astronaut to travel to space. As a
role model to generations of young women, she advocated passionately for
science education, stood
up for racial and gender equality in the classroom, and taught students
from every background that there are no limits to what they can
accomplish. Dr. Ride also served in several administrations as an
advisor on space exploration. Bayard Rustin
(posthumous)Bayard
Rustin was an unyielding activist for civil rights, dignity, and
equality for all. An advisor to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., he promoted nonviolent
resistance, participated in one of the first Freedom Rides, organized
the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and fought tirelessly
for marginalized communities at home and abroad. As an openly gay
African American, Mr. Rustin stood at the intersection
of several of the fights for equal rights.
This is the 50th anniversary of the Executive Order signed by President John F.Kennedy establishing the award. There are other luminaries on the list that you may recognize (like
Oprah Winfrey).
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