Princeton’s Bayard Rustin Center Chief Honored By Equality Forum

PRINCETON, NJ - Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber, Chief Activist at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, was named LGBTQIA+ History Month Icon by the Equality Forum.

Each year, the international LGBTQIA+ civil rights organization names a new Queer icon for each day of the month of October which is recognized as LGBT History Month.

Seda-Schreiber is among this year’s recipients of the honor and will be celebrated on Oct. 22nd on Equality Forum’s website.

As chief of BRCSJ, Seda-Schreiber has created innovative all-inclusive support initiatives and hosts programs and events for local residents.

“I am extraordinarily honored and absolutely thrilled to receive this awesome accolade from such an august organization, especially in the company of other such courageous cats,” Seda-Schreiber said.

“I think 54 might be a tad young to be named an “Icon” but this designation will now inspire me to be that much more dedicated to the intersectional Beloved Community I am humbled to serve. Personally, as someone who proudly embraced my bisexuality later in life, I hope very much this also serves as a beacon for other fab folx who are on their own journeys of self-discovery as well. Further, to be crystal, this work is never done in a vacuum so what excites me most about this kudos is the opportunity to reflect this spotlight even more brightly upon our terrific team here at Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice HQ.”

Seda-Schreiber has been at the forefront of intersectional social justice and advocacy for decades.

Before founding the BRCSJ, he formed the Creatures of Awareness Theatre Co. raising significant funding for AIDS support and HIV testing during the height of the crisis.

He then worked as a schoolteacher for over 25 years during which he forged the first Gay Straight Alliance in an NJ middle school.

He currently serves nationally on Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman’s LGBTQ Advisory Board as well as locally on NJ Governor Phil Murphy’s Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity & Inclusion in Schools.

Other recipients of this year’s Icon Award include pop star George Michael, political trailblazers Senator Laphonza Butler and Rep. Mark Pocan and Robert Garcia, WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi, legendary photographer Herb Ritts, NPR’s Ari Shapiro, and singers Sam Smith and Luther Vandross, among others.

The Equality Forum is an international LGBTQIA civil rights organization whose mission is to advance the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other sexual and gender minorities through an educational lens. Equality Forum coordinates LGBT History Month, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives, & oversees the application for & installation of government-approved LGBT historic markers.

BRCSJ is a dedicated pivotal safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth, intersectional families, and all marginalized community members.

The Center is open every day with dedicated staff and trained volunteers to welcome all with care and respect.

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