Developing leadership for a more just future
Inspired by Bayard Rustin’s visionary strategy and moral imagination, we nurture dynamic, inter-generational leaders and organizations working to advance justice and human dignity.
programs and partnerships
across the country
the architect of advocacy
Bayard Rustin’s legacy is one of vision, courage, and moral clarity.
A principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington and a trusted advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rustin helped shape the moral and practical foundations of the Civil Rights Movement. His work extended far beyond a single moment—spanning decades of engagement with human rights, democracy, and peace, both in the United States and around the world.
Despite his profound influence, Rustin’s identity as a gay man was often suppressed, and his contributions were too frequently overlooked. Later in life, he spoke openly about LGBTQ+ dignity and became a public voice during the HIV/AIDS crisis, insisting that justice must include those pushed to the margins.
The Rustin Institute honors this full legacy—not only the history we inherit, but the responsibility it carries forward—by cultivating leadership rooted in dignity, care, and collective responsibility.
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Inspired by Bayard Rustin’s legacy of moral courage, coalition-building, and imagination, we connect the civil rights histories of Seneca Falls, Selma, and Stonewall to the work of today. Rooted especially in the U.S. South, we help people and organizations draw wisdom from the past to support leadership, civic life, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equal dignity.
The Rustin Institute—formerly the LGBTQ+ Institute—was born out of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR). Founded in 2015, the Institute began as a home for research and educational programs that bridged academic insight and lived experience. As our mission and programming deepened, the Institute grew into an independent nonprofit, expanding our capacity to serve communities, cultivate leadership, and carry this work forward.
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We carry Rustin’s legacy forward by:
Empowering Youth Voices through YOU(th) Belong, National Youth Advocacy Corps and the Rustin Fellows
Elevating Courageous Leadership at our annual IGNYTE Symposium
Building Communities of Care through our National Bayard Rustin Society Chapters
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Inter-generational mentorship
Rustin believed movements endure when knowledge, strategy, and courage are intentionally passed from one generation of leaders to the next.
Nonviolent, democratic change
Guided by Rustin’s commitment to nonviolence, we prepare leaders to strengthen democracy through disciplined, collective action.
Community care as activism
For Rustin, caring for people was inseparable from political work—sustaining movements required sustaining one another.
Courageous, strategic leadership
Rustin modeled leadership rooted not in visibility, but in moral courage, preparation, and strategic clarity.
Advocacy rooted in justice and dignity
Our work reflects Rustin’s belief that every struggle for rights must center human dignity, equity, and shared humanity.
“Bayard Rustin worked to build a society based on human rights for all, equal opportunity, and social justice achieved through democratic, nonviolent action.”
— Walter Naegle (he/him), Bayard Rustin’s partner and American Artist
We Support Youth leadership: Through the Following:
YOU(th) Belong
Annual cohort of young adults, 13–25, explore LGBTQ+ history, current legislative issues, and methods for building understanding.
National Youth
Advocacy Corps
High school students drive change through collaborative policy research, mentorship, and national collaboration.
Rustin Fellows
Leaders, ages 18-30, learn community advocacy, develop leadership, and create change through creative expression.
“Youth programs have been life-changing, from monthly YOU(th) Belong programs where I perform spoken word to the National Youth Advocacy Corps where I’m co-creating a graphic novel on the experiences of trans and non-binary students in schools.”
— Treasure Von-Holland (she/they)
(You)th Belong Steering Committee Member
2025 GLAAD 20 under 20 Honoree
intergeneratioal community programs
FIRESIDE CHATS
Four times a year, LGBTQ+ advocates come together to address current issues and solutions.
Bayard Rustin Day Celebration
A day of LGBTQ+ history and advocacy held annually on Rustin’s birthday.
Evenings of community celebration and artistic performance.
Front Porch Performance Series
A 4-day event offering cutting-edge workshops, bold conversations, and visionary speakers to drive real impact.
IGNYTE LGBTQ+ Symposium
OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS
Below are just a few of the organizations we’ve been honored to partner with.
Make an Impact Today
Keep Bayard Rustin’s legacy alive and support the next generation of advocates! Your contribution is more than a donation—it’s a commitment to equity, justice, and his vision. Please contact Tim’m directly to learn more about ways to give: 513-226-8720
Together, we can make history.
Our LEADERs & Advisors
Tim’m West
Executive Director of the Rustin Institute
Strategic Advisor of the Rustin Institute