VIDEO: LGBT Celebration at Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial

Black LGBT activists and leaders from across the country were in Washington DC for an historic reception and dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks said Black LGBTs must press for equality. "We must be proud enough to claim that we are a part of the civil rights movement. And dare anyone to challenge us on that."

"Gay activists who participated on the historic March on Washington were also recognized at the event. The evening concluded with a push to honor Dr. King’s trusted openly gay advisor Bayard Rustin with a postage stamp," notes NoMoreDownLow.

"Everyone remembers Dr. Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech from 1963. So few people know that [openly gay] Bayard Rustin was responsible for organizing the march," adds North Carolina-based activist Mandy Carter.

There has been a renewed focus on MLK's strategist as the nation prepared to dedicate the King Memorial. The Washington Post recently published an excellent profile of Rustin that stressed that most civil rights leaders and historians have ignored Rustin's legacy because of his sexuality.

Watch NoMoreDownLowTV's report AFTER THE JUMP ...