Bayard Rustin at the Intersection of the Black Church, the LGBTQIA+ Community, and Public Policy

Introduction: The Black Church is an integral part of the Black community, providing spiritual guidance, social support, and political engagement. However, friction surfaces when navigating the intersection of religious beliefs, public policies, and LGBTQIA+ rights. This paper will interrogate and address these challenges and explore opportunities for transformative advocacy.

Literature Review: We will conduct an extensive literature review that will focus on the following key areas:

Black Church Advocacy: Examining Black Churches' involvement in historical and modern efforts to engage in public policy advocacy.

LGBTQIA+ Rights: Analyzing how discriminatory policies impact the Black LGBTQIA+ community.

Bayard Rustin’s Legacy: Highlighting Rustin’s contributions to civil rights, his policy advocacy strategies, and the influence of his Quaker faith.

Bayard Rustin: A Quaker Perspective: Bayard Rustin, a tireless openly gay civil rights activist, whose grandmother and Quaker upbringing fueled his commitment to justice. His commitment to nonviolent direct action was connected to his Quaker values, which prized equality, justice, and pacifism. (https://quaker.org/bayard-rustin/) We will analyze how Rustin’s faith shaped his approach to advocacy and how it intersected with his identity as a Black cisgender gay man.

Evaluating Policy Advocacy Strategies: Drawing from Rustin’s work, we will gauge the effectiveness of the Black Church’s various advocacy strategies:

Non-Violent Resistance: Rustin’s commitment to non-violence influenced Martin Luther King Jr. and shaped the civil rights movement.

Coalition Building: Rustin’s knack for bridging diverse groups & building coalitions made the 1963 March on Washington successful.

Intersectionality: We will interrogate how Rustin navigated the intersections of race, sexuality, and faith.

Imagining Rustin’s Contemporary Approach: Considering the changing landscape of LGBTQIA+ rights and community organizing, we will speculate on how Rustin’s approach might have evolved:

Late 20th Century: Examining Rustin’s advocacy for LGBTQIA+ rights from 1982 until he died in 1987 and how his insights and approach to community organizing and policy advocacy may (or may not) have adapted to the times.

21st Century: Imagining Rustin’s response to evolving policies, transgender rights, and global LGBTQIA+ movements.

Recommendations and Reflections: Based on our analysis, we will propose actionable steps for the Black Church, theologians, and policymakers:

Inclusive Theology: Encouraging theological reflection that embraces LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Policy Reform: Advocating for just policies that protect the rights of everyone.

Legacy Continuation: Inspiring future generations to follow Rustin’s example of activism and become angelic troublemakers.

Conclusion: By confronting challenges, intersections, and Rustin’s legacy, this paper aims to contribute to a more compassionate and just society through intersectional reflection. This paper will provide insights for theologians, activists, and policymakers committed to fostering understanding, acceptance, and equality.