In her father’s honor, one of MLK’s daughters yesterday made a speech that pleasantly surprised audiences for its LGBT inclusivity. 

Bernice King, the second daughter and youngest child of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., has a history of making anti-gay comments and a generally homophobic track record. But during a speech in Atlanta on the day honoring her father, she mentioned the LGBT community in discussing the need for people to come together. 

In a passionate, sermon-like speech about building unity, King said she didn’t care if people were Hindu, Buddhist, Islamist, were from the North side or the South side, were black or white, were “heterosexual or homosexual, or gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender” — that all people were needed to create unity.

LGBT people who attended the rally said they were shocked that King – who has a long anti-gay past — actually acknowledged the community in a public speech, but said they were also glad because it shows people can evolve. 

Of course, questions abound from skeptics about whether she was completely genuine or not, but who cares? This is proof that people can change, even if it’s in small increments. What a day. 

Always relevant. 

No, today is not about gay rights. Today is about human rights.

Dr. King fought for equality when the concept was still unheard of, quite literally putting his life on the line for his beliefs. As a civil rights pioneer, he broke ground for the people he represented and set a precedent for how we fight for rights today. His words still ring true as we discuss the importance of setting aside our differences and working together for the common good of humanity. 

As a community still fighting for equality in a number of ways, it’s so important for us to take some time to reflect on this day, on how far we’ve come, and on where we’re going.

What will you do today to honor MLK?

Absolutely brilliant. (Taken by Rebecca Evans)

Powerful words. 

“As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating “For Whites Only”. We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.”

Read the full text of Martin Luther King’s famous I Have a Dream speech here. 

Today is a day for reflection and gratitude. Today is a day for thinking of those less fortunate. Today is a day for thinking about the men and women who got us where we are today - one in particular. 

Today means a lot for LGBT people, who are still oppressed in a lot of ways. We can learn a lot from Dr. King, his speech and his passion. I highly encourage you to read the whole speech, if you haven’t.

What does today mean to you?

It seems Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece, Alveda King, is against marriage equality. 

The woman whose uncle is the very face of unconditional equality likened gay marriage to genocide at a National Organization for Marriage rally in Atlanta, where “attendees were outnumbered by counter-protesters” (click the link above). 

King claimed her family supported her feelings, citing her uncle and his “lovely wife” as backers of strong traditional marriages, but she failed to mention that Coretta Scott King, MLK’s wife, was actually a strong advocate of gay marriages and was a speaker at a gay pride event in Atlanta in 1996.

When asked about Coretta’s opinions, Alveda had nothing but snide comments to respond with. 

This bums me out on so many levels. Remembering Coretta Scott’s strong support is slightly uplifting, but nonetheless, this proves we have a long way to go.