Roshelle "Darlene" Hudson

Greetings and welcome. 

I am so grateful to be here, and that all of you are here, to help us mark 25 years of dedicated community building and leadership development led by Black LGBTQ+ individuals for our Queer interracial, interdenominational, and intergenerational community in Atlanta and beyond. We are also grateful for the support of our straight allies. To God be the Glory for the things she/he has done!

The Rustin/Lorde Breakfast has served as a valuable platform for activists and other concerned individuals, to fellowship together, be inspired, and foster change. Over the past 25 years, this community has shown consistent care and support for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS and other health challenges, including mental health. We have advocated against institutional racism and hatred, supported victims of violence, formed coalitions, promoted voter registration, and marched in the ML King Day March. We have also been inclusive of the faith community, the arts and culture, which view as important to our community’s well-being.

Although the Rustin/Lorde Breakfast started with only a dozen or so committed individuals in the basement of the old United Methodist building, it’s grown to close to 400 participants annually. Along the way, we have seen many of our youth, some who accompanied their parents to the Breakfast as children, become scholars, politicians, teachers, writers, and more—each contributing to our collective progress. We even receive acknowledgement of our community work through letters of support from elected officials. 

However, all that we have achieved is under threat by racists and homophobic individuals, especially those in government and other institutions and businesses. They want to turn the clock back. Acts of intimidation, outright racism, violence against trans and LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, women and girls, and voter suppression are being promoted and tolerated by them. The list is too long and ugly about all of the ways our freedoms are being trampled. 

 acknowledging our community workThe 2026 theme for the Rustin/Lorde Breakfast encapsulates our core values and acts as a guide to fight back: Caring, Community, Courage, Change, and Commitment. I hope you will leave here today inspired to courageously stand against injustice, to care for ou as children, become scholars, politicians, teachers, writers, and more—each contributing to our collective progress. We even receive letters of support from elected officials.