For decades, the mainstream gay community did not acknowledge the key activist work of transgender women of color. Many white gay activists in the 1960s and 1970s hoped to make themselves palatable to the white, heterosexual mainstream. They often ignored the needs efforts of trans activists of color, who fought for the most vulnerable members of the queer community.
Two key figures in LGBTQ+ activism of the 1960s and 1970s were Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Johnson and Rivera met in 1963 as teenagers in New York City. Together, they fought for the rights of transgender and homeless queers of color. They both participated in the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which Pride commemorates. They also co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR,) which housed and provided a community for transgender people. Johnson's and Rivera's lives and work are now widely recognized, but they did not receive the support they deserved during their lifetimes.
This Pride, let's celebrate the trans and queer activists of the past, and the trans and queer activists of the present. Here are some trans and non-binary activists doing impactful work now:
Ianne Fields Stewart is a performer, teaching artist, and cultural competency consultant. Her artistic work focuses on creating spaces for Black queer people. She founded The Okra Project, an organization that brings home-cooked, healthy meals to Black trans people facing food insecurity.
Schuyler Bailar is the first trans athlete to compete on an NCAA D1 men's team. He is an advocate for intersectional LGBTQ+ rights, mental health, and body positivity. Currently, he is supporting the #LETTRANSKIDSPLAY campaign, which protects trans youths' right to play sports in accordance with their gender identity.
Jacob Tobia is a non-binary writer, actor, and producer. Their memoir Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story is a national bestseller. Tobia voices the non-binary character Double Trouble on She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.
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To learn more about Marsha P. Johnson, click here (content warning: sexual violence and references to suicide.)
To learn more about Sylvia Rivera, click here (content warning: references to suicide.)
How are you celebrating Pride Month this year? Let us know in the comments below!
