Sylvia Rivera: "The Rosa Parks of the Trans* Movement"

Originally posted to Facebook 10/8/21

Photograph by Valerie Shaff, circa 2000

Happy #FeministFriday, and what a fine one it is! This week, we are covering a Trans woman known as “The Rosa Parks of the transgender movement”: Sylvia Rivera! Born in New York City on July 2, 1951, to a Puerto Rican father and Venezuelan mother. Her father left very early in life, and her mother committed suicide when Rivera was only 3, forcing her to live with her maternal grandmother, who was not happy with Rivera’s effeminate ways. When Rivera began wearing makeup in 4th grade, her grandmother kicked her out; Rivera was 10 years old. Very quickly, living on the streets forced Rivera into prostitution until a local group of drag queens took her in. It was that group that gave her the name “Sylvia” (Note: we at CAISA/SACIS do not support deadnaming, and therefore will not be including Rivera’s birth name in this article).

Photo via Netflix

Rivera met Marsha P. Johnson, and the two became fast, close friends, with Johnson acting as a protector to the younger Rivera. While Rivera claimed to be involved in the Stonewall Riots of 1969 (when Rivera was only 17), many witnesses, including Johnson, claim otherwise. However, throughout the years, several witnesses have said they like to include Rivera in discussions of Stonewall, as she is an important representation of Latinx LGBTQIA+ youth, especially those experiencing homelessness. The next year, she joined the Gay Activists Alliance, not only fighting for gay rights but for the inclusion of drag queens in the movement. That same year, she and Johnson started Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, or STAR (Note: Transgender was not the common term at this point in history). Their organization offered advocacy and services for homeless queer youth. Part of their focus was on queer youth of color and transgender folx, as the mainstream movement was hesitant to bring their issues to the forefront in fear of losing mainstream support. At the Christopher Street Liberation Day Rally in 1973, Rivera jumped on the stage and gave her famous “Gay Power” speech, where she was first met with a chorus of “boos”, calling out the mainstream women’s liberation movement and gay rights movement for their ignoring the people of color and Trans members of the community. By the end of her almost 6-minute speech, she had the crowd chanting “gay power” with her.

Shortly after this, Rivera and Johnson had a falling out, leading to the dissolution of STAR and Rivera leaving New York City. She moved to Tarrytown, NY, where she and her partner ran a catering business and hosted drag shows. When Johnson’s body was discovered in the Hudson River in 1992, Rivera moved back to New York City, raising her voice with other friends of Johnson’s in outrage at the police classifying her death as a suicide. Rivera had battled with substance addiction and homelessness most of her life, and in 1995, she attempted to end her life by walking into the Hudson River. She survived but was still angry at mainstream movements for ignoring people of color, Trans people, and those living in poverty. In 2000, she decided to reform STAR, this time changing the T to Transgender. STAR fought for the New York City Transgender Rights Bill and for a trans-inclusive New York State Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, as well as demanding justice for the murder of Trans woman Amanda Milan. At this point, Rivera stated that she was tired of labels, saying “I just want to be who I am. I am Sylvia Rivera.” On February 19, 2002, Rivera died of complications from lung cancer. Her legacy lives on today in various honors, including the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, which is dedicated "to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination or violence".

Sylvia Rivera, for standing up for people of color, those experiencing homelessness, and Trans youth when others were too afraid to, we honor you!

Sources: "A Woman for Her Time", Riki Wilchins: https://www.villagevoice.com/2002/02/26/a-woman-for-her-time/

"A Forgotten Latina Trailblazer: LGBT Activist Sylvia Rivera", Raul A. Reyes: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/forgotten-latina-trailblazer-lgbt-activist-sylvia-rivera-n438586

"Exploding the Myths of Stonewall", David Carter: https://gaycitynews.com/exploding-the-myths-of-stonewall/

"About SRLP", Sylvia Rivera Law Project: https://srlp.org/about/