NBJC Honors Late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Reps. Jamal Bowman and Cori Bush, and Others with Rustin-Murray Advocate for Justice Awards
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
Ceremony to Celebrate Leaders Working to Challenge Stereotypes and Change How the World Thinks About and Invests In the Black LGBTQ+/Same-Gender Loving Community
WASHINGTON – Today, the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC) will host its Bayard Rustin-Pauli Murray Advocate for Justice Awards, celebrating the invaluable contributions of Black leaders working to challenge stereotypes and change the way the world thinks about the Black LGBTQ+/same-gender loving (SGL) movement and community. The event is powered by Amazon, Sephora, Vascano Tequila, and Wells Fargo Bank.
The Rustin-Murray Awards are a part of NBJC’s OUT on the Hill annual week of action, bringing together advocates, thought leaders, community members, allies, and partner organizations to advance an equity-focused policy and advocacy agenda that is unapologetically focused on the intersectional needs of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same-gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people.
This year’s honorees include:
- Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was the first to speak out and demand the U.S. government do everything in its power to bring U.S. Olympian and WNBA star Brittney Griner home from Russia after being wrongfully detained. She introduced legislation to stop the epidemic of violence facing Black transgender women in the U.S. while continuing the decades-long fight to pass HR40, legislation that would create a Commission to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans. (Her award will be accepted posthumously by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee)
- Congressman Jamaal Bowman has consistently defended the inclusion of LGBTQ+ history in schools and fought for transgender kids’ participation on sports teams according to their gender identity.
- Congresswoman Cori Bush has regularly amplified the connections between white supremacy and attacks on Black and LGBTQ+ people. She is also a staunch advocate for gender-affirming care for the transgender community.
- Candi Castleberry, Vice President of Inclusive Experiences and Technology at Amazon, is the creator of The Bolt-On to Built-In Model™, which helps organizations create environments of dignity and respect by shifting the responsibility for achieving an inclusive culture to every employee.
- Earl D. Fowlkes Jr. is the Founder and President/CEO Emeritus of the Center for Black Equity, an international Black LGBTQ+/SGL advocacy organization comprised of Black Pride affiliate organizations. He is also the first Black person to be elected chair of the Democratic National Committee’s LGBTQ+ Caucus.
- Jay Jones was elected as the first openly transgender person to serve as the Executive President of the Howard University Student Association.
“We are honored to celebrate and platform such esteemed members of our community, who have committed their life’s work to defending democracy, pursuing equity for transgender, queer, and gender-expansive people, and working to ensure all Black people get closer to freedom. These leaders are a shining light on what’s possible when we dismantle barriers erected to preserve privilege and white supremacy,” said Dr. David J. Johns, CEO & Executive Director of the National Black Justice Collective. “The Rustin-Murray Advocates for Justice Awards are a celebration of the Black leaders steadfastly championing the queer, trans, and gender expansive community, and an opportunity to preserve their legacies and accomplishments in our community’s history, while facilitating intergenerational connections that enable Black people to get closer to freedom, collectively.”