Bayard Rustin, one of the organizers of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 March on Washington, was less often a public figure due to being openly gay at a time before the queer civil rights movement had the momentum it built in the 1970s. But his Quaker beliefs were part of King’s philosophy of justice and non-violence, and now it’s time for his place in history to get its spotlight with a biopic. We couldn’t ask for a better actor to take on this role than Colman Domingo. Tony-nominated for “The Scottsboro Boys,” the openly gay actor has also been working for a long time now in film and TV – “Zola,” “Euphoria,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and anytime he shows up its a welcome addition to the project. “Rustin,” the first produced by the Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, for Netflix, will be written by Dustin Lance Black, directed by George C. Wolfe, and will focus on Rustin’s personal journey and his public work with King. Chris Rock co-stars, and, because we’re all queer here, there’s an added bonus with the casting of Broadway star Audra McDonald in a supporting role. Look for “Rustin” on Netflix sometime in 2022.
