HRC Back Story

Last Saturday, May 3, the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts held the 19th annual Bayard Rustin Breakfast at Dorchester's John F. Kennedy Library and Museum to recognize the roles of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from communities of color in the fight against the AIDS epidemic.

Diego Sanchez, a member of the HRC Boston Steering Committee and HRC Business Council, delivered the keynote address at the breakfast. As a leading transgender health activist, Diego (pictured below) paid tribute to civil rights icon Bayard Rustin, a black gay male who worked closely with MLK, and made the connection between Rustin's work on behalf of black civil rights and the ongoing fight for transgender rights and the proper treatment of HIV/AIDS patients (Bay Windows):

Sanchez, an activist and expert on transgender health issues, delivered the keynote address at the 19th annual Bayard Rustin Breakfast, which was created by AIDS Action Committee (AAC) to recognize the role of LGBT communities of color in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Sanchez was the first transgender person in the event’s history to deliver the keynote address.[...]

Touching on the breakfast’s theme, "The Mis-Education of Our World, HIV/AIDS 26 Years Later," Sanchez expressed his belief that in the debate on transgender civil rights "there is ample mis-information and mis-education on both sides of the road, regardless of which road one travels.

"And I think this struggle mirrors some other struggles, including struggles experienced in the time of Bayard Rustin and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. over the same civil rights, except that they were about race, not gender. I also think this struggle echoes struggles we have endured around HIV/AIDS."

Here are some key excerpts from Diego's prepared remarks:

Diego Sanchez
Bayard Rustin Keynote Address
AS DELIVERED - May 3, 2008:

The Rustin Committee informed me that I’d be here … last October, … right after the ENDA heartbreak and sandstorm, when gender identity was stripped from it.  That was BEFORE my DNC appointments, before I joined HRC’s Business Council and before I was named to Hillary Clinton’s National LGBT Advisory Committee.

About ENDA … I have to be honest, … it hurt.  It still hurts.  To make light, and not … It feels more like the NON-EMPLOYMENT Discrimination Act – NEDA, not ENDA. 

Why can’t we ALL remember the Patriot Nathan Hale’s, quote:  ‘We shall all hang TOGETHER or surely hang SEPARATELY.’? 

But take heart.  Just know that we trans people are hitting Capitol Hill to lobby legislators.  Then some can say, “I MET one,” and others can say, “I know many, and I believe trans people are equal humans.”  Doesn’t that sound like a page …. right out of civil rights history? I AM … A MAN!

But alas… we’re in Massachusetts and have HB 1722.  We lobby and support trans-inclusive anti-discrimination law for employment, housing, public accommodations, public education and hate crimes. 

HB1722 was co-sponsored by Reps. Carol Sciortino and Byron Rushing, and has received STRONG endorsement and support from Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, Rep. Liz Malia, Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons, Boston Mayor Tom Menino and others … including Gov. Deval Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Suffolk Co. Sherriff Andrea Cabral, Rep. Peter Koutoujian, Rep. Gloria Fox, former Sen. Jarrett Barrios and SO many others who stand beside us with their voices and votes, as well as with their muscle and hearts.  Even Barney Frank took action, asking me to read his testimony at the State House hearing, which I did proudly.

I believe that on this topic, and on others, there is ample mis-information and mis-education on both sides of the road, regardless of which road one travels. 

And I think that THIS struggle … mirrors some OTHER struggles … including struggles experienced in the time of Bayard Rustin and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., over the SAME civil rights – except that they were about race, not gender.  I also think that THIS struggle … echoes struggles WE have endured … around HIV/AIDS. 

Today, we still have no cure, vaccine or National Strategy for HIV/AIDS.  In Massachusetts, we have seen gains in addressing ethnic health disparities, but HIV prevention funding lags behind the pace of the epidemic.  Barriers remain.

But we are STRONG in our resolve to CALL THEM OUT… and then STOP them altogether.  We can do this … because at the end of the day, we ARE together.   When tough things happen, we unite, and NO ONE can take that from us.[...]

This year’s Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast theme, “The Mis-Education of our World: HIV/AIDS 26 Years later,” invites us to think back, … as we plan for the usual – to move forward.   If we frame history together, then we’ll see that we’re equipped for tomorrow, evidenced by yesterday.

Download the full text of Diego's speech here (.doc).