Jesse Jackson was a defender of LGBTQ+ rights - LGBTQ Nation

"Civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson died on February 17, 2026. A protégé of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson was among the last remaining icons of the modern Civil Rights Movement. Known for his fiery oratory, he was often called "the Country Preacher," a moniker that reflected both his humble roots and his lifelong commitment to advocating for the disenfranchised."

"His famous speech, "I Am Somebody,"-also the title of his 1971 spoken-word album-resonated deeply with me at the time, as an orphan and ward of New York City. In 1984 and again in 1988, I voted for Jackson because he was the only presidential candidate whose campaign openly welcomed people like me: an African American lesbian. In 2018, I met Jesse Jackson at the Chautauqua Institution, where I was the guest preacher for the week. I thanked him for his decades of public service."

Rev. Jesse Jackson died on February 17, 2026, leaving a legacy as a prominent civil-rights leader and fiery orator often called "the Country Preacher." He served as a protégé of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and remained one of the last icons of the modern Civil Rights Movement. His signature speech "I Am Somebody" and his 1971 spoken-word album resonated across communities. Jackson ran presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 and drew support from diverse constituencies. He embraced coalition politics and adapted Mel King’s Rainbow Coalition concept to a national scale, reinforcing deep ties to Boston politics.

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