Former Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will deliver the Keynote Address at the 35th Annual Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast at Dorchester’s JFK Presidential Library and Museum on Saturday, April 12.
“I’m honored to join Fenway Health in celebrating Bayard Rustin’s legacy and the ongoing fight for equity in health care, civil rights, and LGBTQ+ justice, Said Jean-Pierre. “Bayard Rustin’s life and work remind us that justice requires both courage and community. His unwavering commitment to equality continues to inspire generations of activists and leaders, including myself.”
Jean-Pierre is the first Black person, the first openly queer person, and the longest-serving woman ever to hold the job of White House Press Secretary.
“I’m incredibly excited to welcome Karine to this year’s Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast,” said Fenway Health CEO Jordina Shanks. “Her story is one of persistence, power, and purpose. And I can’t think of anyone better to help us imagine the road ahead.”
During the program, Fenway Health will also present the Belynda A. Dunn Award for Activism posthumously to A. Cornelius Baker and the Bayard Rustin Award for Courage to Dr. Cassandra Pierre, honoring their extraordinary contributions to our community.
Founded by community members in 1990 and proudly established by the AIDS Action Committee (now a division of Fenway Health), the Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast has long served as an annual beacon of HIV/AIDS awareness, advocacy, and support for LGBTQ+ individuals, communities of color, and dedicated allies.
The annual event honors the legacy of Bayard Rustin, whose vital role as the recognized architect of the March on Washington was publicly marginalized amidst leadership that was perceived as more palatable because Bayard was a gay man. His story reminds us that true leadership and visionary contributions often come from those pushed to the periphery of recognition.
The Rustin Breakfast is free, but registration is required. Register at fenwayhealth.org/bayard.
— from a Fenway Health press release
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