An openly gay African American, Bayard Rustin played a pivotal role in the fight for racial equality, human rights, and worldwide democracy in the 1960s.
In celebration of National Coming Out Day, Netflix has released an exclusive clip for their upcoming biographical drama film, Rustin. Starring Emmy-winning gay actor Colman Domingo, the film follows Bayard Rustin, “one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten.”
Directed by five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe, Rustin shines a long overdue spotlight on the extraordinary man who, alongside giants like the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Ella Baker, dared to imagine a different world, and inspired a movement in a march toward freedom.
Get a Sneak Peek at Rustin Here
In the clip, we see Rustin offering some advice to Elias Taylor. “How can you preach salvation and not want to save yourself? How can you speak of love when your heart is disconnected from your flesh?”
Later when the two leave the bar, Taylor asks Rustin to “teach him how not to be afraid,” and they share a brief kiss.
The clip unveils the intricacies of Rustin, a man who tirelessly engaged in activism and political navigation. It offers a glimpse into his vulnerability and the intimacy that lies at the core of the film.
Crafted under the guidance of Academy Award-winning producers Bruce Cohen, Tonia Davis, and George C. Wolfe, the film boasts an ensemble of celebrated talents. Among the noteworthy cast members are Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, CCH Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, and the esteemed Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald.
Rustin premieres in select theaters on November 3. It will be available to stream on Netflix on November 17.
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