Let’s Not Forget Our Black Queer & Trans Activists When Celebrating Black History Month
Black History Month is a time to celebrate the bravery, resilience, and contributions of Black visionaries throughout history. Although Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcom X were very influential in the fight against racial injustice, there are powerful legacies of Black queer and trans activists who fought and continue to fight on the front lines for justice and liberation. Leaders such as Marsha P. Johnson and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy remind us how the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights are deeply intertwined with racial justice, criminal justice reform, and the battle against systemic oppression.
Marsha “Pay It No Mind” Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson was born in 1945 and was an embodiment of joy and resilience in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement. Marsha played an active role in the Stonewall uprising, courageously resisting police and state brutality alongside many other black and brown queer and trans people. However, Marsha was not content with trans and gender-nonconforming people being an afterthought within the mainstream of the LGBTQIA+ Movement. Through collaboration with her friend Sylvia Rivera, Marsha co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), which was an activist organization whose mission was centered around sheltering and supporting trans and gender nonconforming youth. Marsha was also a vocal advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS, using her own diagnosis to raise awareness and disrupt the stigma associated. Marsh P. Johnson is a black leader that deserves to be remembered and as of 2020, New York State named a waterfront park in Brooklyn after her as a performing attempt to ensure her contributions are never forgotten.
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy: Not New to This, But True to This
Since being born in Chicago in the 1940s, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy has dedicated her life fighting for the rights of transgender and incarcerated people. From an early age, Miss Major always knew she was different and quickly became aware the world around her was not ready to embrace her truth. Experiencing frequent expulsions from multiple colleges for simply wearing a dress, Miss Major eventually relocated to New York City where she found community and adversity as a drag performer and sex worker. Similar to Marsha, Miss Major was also present at the Stonewall Uprising, but she often reminds people that the fight for queer liberation did not begin or end with Stonewall. Black and brown trans women had been challenging police brutality and discrimination long before Stonewall. Miss Major was incarcerated in 1970 where she survived brutal treatment but also utilized that time to achieve a deeper political consciousness. With inspiration from the leaders of the 1971 Attica prison uprising, Miss Major became a devoted advocate against the prison industrial complex. Following her release from prison, she dedicated her focus on efforts such as working in HIV/AIDS prevention, advocating for unhoused trans people, and later becoming an Executive Director for the TGI Justice Project. A project that is dedicated to advocating for the human rights of trans, gender-variant, and intersex people who are or have been incarcerated. To this day, at the age of 84, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy continues to be vocal and active in the fight for human rights and the advancement of trans and gender non-conforming people.
Honoring our Black queer and trans ancestors
Honoring the legacies of Miss Major and Marsha P. Johnson is more than an act of remembrance, it is a call to action. The systems they dedicated their lives to fighting still exist to this day. Black trans women face disproportionately high rates of violence, incarceration, and economic hardship even before the active anti-trans legislation and executive orders that are rolling out left and right currently. Unfortunately, the fight against racial and gender oppression is far from over and regardless of how you identify, you can be active/supportive in the resistance.
Here are some ways to take action:
Advocate for policies that protect transgender individuals from discrimination in housing, healthcare, and employment.
Call your local senator/ Speak out against anti-trans legislation and support elected officials who prioritize LGBTQIA+ rights.
Show up for Black trans people in your community by providing direct support, whether through donations, mutual aid, or simply amplifying their voices.
Sources:
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/marsha-p-johnson
