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  • Writer's pictureDayan Trejo-Martinez

Points of Pride: Sylvia Rivera

Sylvia Rivera’s Story begins in New York City in 1951. Rivera was initially assigned male at birth and given the name Ray. Her childhood was nowhere near perfect. Her father was absent, and her mother died due to suicide when she was only three years old. Rivera’s grandmother was left to raise and nurture her. Unfortunately, her grandmother’s roof was not able to keep her safe. Rivera was constantly bullied in middle school due to her experimenting with makeup. Rivera could not handle the bullying anymore and was forced to run away from home, and became a victim of sexual exploitation on the notorious 42nd Street.

Rivera’s life was forever changed in 1963 when she met Marsha P. Johnson. Johnson was African American and a self-identified drag queen who was also excluded from the gay rights movement - that didn't embrace her gender identity. Both Johnson and Rivera were key figures in the Stonewall Riots. which started when patrons of the Stonewall Inn bar rebuffed a police raid and set a new tone for the gay rights movement. The 17-year-old Rivera was at the forefront for six consecutive nights, saying, “I’m not missing a minute of this—it's the revolution!”


As a result of the Stonewall Inn uprising, the gay rights movement became much more visible. In 1970, gay pride parades were introduced, but Rivera and other transgender people were discouraged from participating. Despite her extensive work and advocacy, Rivera was not permitted to speak at the 1973 Gay Pride Parade. She snatched the microphone anyway and yelled at the top of her lungs, “If it wasn’t for the drag queen, there would be no gay liberation movement. We’re the front-liners.” She exited the stage over the wave of boos from the crowd.

In 1971, Rivera and Johnson worked together to launch the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). The group served as a space for organizing and discussing issues facing the transgender community in New York City. They also had a building, the STAR House, that provided housing for those who needed it. Rivera said:


“We decided it was time to help each other and help our other kids. We fed people and clothed people. We kept the building going. We went out and hustled the streets. We paid the rent.”


Even though she was only 19 years old, Rivera became a mother to many of the residents at STAR House. Although it was short-lived, STAR House served a very important purpose for those who needed a safe space.

Rivera died in 2002 at the age of 50 from liver cancer. Her legacy lives on through the Sylvia Rivera Law Project*, which thrives on guaranteeing that “all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence.”


*Find out more about the Sylvia Rivera Law Project at https://bit.ly/SRLPR


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