For 23 years, I had the great privilege of serving as special assistant to Coretta Scott King. As we traveled the world, I watched Mrs. King as she made history combating racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, war, AIDS and so many other issues.

As a gay man, I was always proudest when she spoke for the dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as she did many times through the years. For me, though, one of the greatest moments was 10 years ago this weekend, when Mrs. King spoke at the annual Pride Celebration in Atlanta.

Several months prior to the event, we received the invitation for her to speak. I had mixed feelings, because I was on Pride’s board of directors and was past chair of the Pride Committee. Mrs. King was very familiar with my involvement in the organization, and I did not want her to feel the need to participate out of obligation to me.

I had often heard Mrs. King talk about how gay people had joined in the struggle for black civil rights “at a time when they could find few voices for their own,” so I knew she would have no objection to speaking at Pride.

But she had a busy travel schedule in 1996, and I knew that she liked to save Sundays for church and family, so I made the decision that she would decline. While going over the list of declined invitations with Mrs. King, she pulled the Pride invitation out, saying, “I want to do this one. There is something I want to say.”

WHEN THE DAY FINALLY CAME, the weather was hot and the crowd was jubilant and rowdy. Being one of three emcees that day, I was given the responsibility to introduce Mrs. King to the crowd. I was nervous to be introducing my boss, my best friend and one of the most influential women in the world.

As I began, Mrs. King walked on the stage in a blue denim suit and with the June sun shining down, the applause was thunderous. In all my years with Pride, I had never seen anyone so warmly received. As Mrs. King spoke, I realized that the crowd was almost silent as they strained to hear her every word.

The crowd of thousands was moved to hear Mrs. King’s heartfelt words of tolerance and acceptance as she stated: “As my husband, Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘I have fought too long and hard against segregated public accommodations to end up segregating my moral concerns. Justice is indivisible.’

“The civil rights movement that I believe in thrives on unity and inclusion, not division and exclusion. … I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.”

IN THE 10 SHORT YEARS between Mrs. King’s appearance at Atlanta Pride and her passing earlier this year, my pride grew as she continued to show her support for our community and our cause.

Mrs. King spoke out against homophobia, saying that it is “like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood.”

She called gay marriage a civil rights issue, and supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the fight against HIV.

“The gay bashers and homophobic people are the best allies AIDS could have,” she once said. “By preaching hatred and fear of gay people, they are creating a climate that discourages openness and education about AIDS which can help prevent its spread.”

On the day of Mrs. King’s funeral, when our community mourned the loss of one our strongest advocates, I found myself reflecting on the words she wrote for me to read at the Heritage of Pride Rally in New York in June 2003:

“Let us resolve to turn this country around and create a society where all people can live together with respect, tolerance and a new spirit of hope and opportunity. With this commitment, together we shall overcome.”

WHAT WAS UNIQUE about Coretta Scott King’s support of human rights for LGBT people was not only that she was the first African-American leader of global stature to take such a stand, but that her stand was early, strong and unbowed.

She put our freedom movement in a historic framework and saw it as an important part of the worldwide struggle for human dignity and liberation in keeping with the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr.

For her conscience and courageous commitment, I will always be grateful —- truly a great legacy for future generations.