We/Us Project

Our 4th trailblazer of the week is the often overshadowed Sylvia Rivera. What little recognition drag queens get for their part in the gay rights movement often went to Marsha P Johnson - who, of course, was an incredible pioneer and a huge reason for the rights we enjoy today. However Sylvia Rivera played a massive role in the struggle for our rights as well. At the mere age of 17, she joined in - and led - the Stonewall Inn riots, and became an outspoken activist for LGBTQ+ rights but especially for the transgender community and drag queens. She started the STAR organization with Marsha P Johnson and her legacy is today continued by the Sylvia Rivera Law Project.

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We/Us’s first trailblazer is Marsha P Johnson! Marsha was a self-identified drag queen and dedicated LGBTQ+ activist in a time where the community was the subject of a lot of apprehension. From being a prominent leader in the Stonewall Inn Riots to founding an organization that provided safety to LGBTQ+ youth, Marsha P Johnson was at the center of the fight for equal rights.

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