A Part of History, With More to Make

I am currently on my way to D.C. for tomorrow's Let Freedom Ring Commemoration and Call to Action Ceremony. In less than 24 hours - sometime between 12:15 and 12:30 ET - I will stand on the very stage that A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr. spoke from on that amazing day 50 years ago. I won't really believe it until I'm standing there.

Today, many have heard of Bayard Rustin, one of the March's primary organizers, and President Obama has awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. But if you look at the original program of speakers for the March, you won't find his name listed. As a Socialist and an openly gay man, Rustin was not given an opportunity to speak for himself in 1963.

A. Philip Randolph, Rustin's mentor and friend, made sure that Rustin had a moment on stage in the end - but his role was carefully circumscribed: He would read out the demands of the March in a symbolic call-and-response with the crowd.

In assembling their program, The King Center wanted to be sure to include LGBT voices. While GLSEN will be the only LGBT organization represented on the stage, all of the speakers will bring their whole selves to this event, no matter who they are.

I am honored to participate in tomorrow's commemoration, and come to this call to action to pledge GLSEN's full commitment to the fight that must continue. We are in a fight to hold hard-won ground, while still fighting for real equity and equality of opportunity for so many. We need all hands on deck, together, and all voices in the fight to reach a point where freedom truly rings equally for all.

We have such work to do to make sure that the doors of opportunity are open wide for every single child in this country. The barriers to progress are many and varied, and our work will not be done until they all are swept away. Thank you for being part of the fight and for making our work possible.