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Five years in the making and the winner of more than 25 awards and honors in the U.S. and abroad, BROTHER OUTSIDER illuminates the public and private lives of Bayard Rustin, a visionary activist and strategist who has been called “the unknown hero” of the civil rights movement. A tireless crusader for social and economic justice, a disciple of Gandhi, a mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., and the principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, Rustin dared to live as an openly gay man during the fiercely homophobic 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. BROTHER OUTSIDER reveals the price that Rustin paid for this openness, chronicling both the triumphs and setbacks of his remarkable 60-year career. The film has been described as “a potent and persuasive piece of historical rediscovery” (Los Angeles Times), “powerful and startling” (The Advocate), “poignant” (TIME), “terrific” (The New Yorker), “beautifully crafted” (Boston Globe), “complex and nuanced” (Chicago Reader), and “rich in humanity and alive with ideas” (africana.com).

Since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and its national primetime broadcast on PBS’ prestigious P.O.V. series, BROTHER OUTSIDER has garnered numerous accolades, including eight “Best Documentary” awards and seven “Audience Favorite” awards at film festivals around the world. The film has been shown at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, at the United Nations, and for members of Congress. It has also been screened widely in high schools, colleges, religious institutions, labor gatherings, peace groups, museums, and community forums in partnership with an array of non-profit organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, The National Black Justice Coalition, The War Resisters League, and GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network). BROTHER OUTSIDER is currently airing on LOGO/MTV. For more information or to purchase a DVD, visit www.rustin.org.