US Postal Service Called to Honor Bayard Rustin with Stamp on Harvey Milk Day

WASHINGTON, DC, May 22, 2015—Today, the National LGBTQ Task Force is joining LGBTQ activists and allies across the country in celebrating Harvey Milk Day. In 2009, California established the birthday of Milk—the nation’s first openly gay elected official—as a day of special significance.

“Today we join millions of LGBTQ advocates and allies in celebrating the life and legacy of Harvey Milk. If Harvey Milk were alive today, he would be standing alongside us in pushing for full freedom, justice and equality. He would also join us in pushing for the celebration of LGBTQ history and courageous LGBTQ figures including Bayard Rustin, an openly gay black leader of the Civil Rights Movement. It is in the spirit of Harvey Milk that we call on everyone to join the Bayard Rustin commemorative postage stamp campaign,” said Russell Roybal, National LGBTQ Task Force Deputy Executive Director.

Bayard Rustin was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. In 2013, President Obama awarded him posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2014, the National LGBTQ Task Force and the International Court System launched a campaign calling on the U.S. Postal Service to recognize Rustin’s contributions to freedom, justice, and equality with a commemorative postage stamp. To learn more about the campaign, please visit the organization’s website.

CONTACT:
Jorge Amaro
Media and Public Relations Director
213-842-7564
jamaro@thetaskforce.org