Pride Friday: Sylvia Rivera
Sylvia Rivera: Transgender and Immigration Civil Rights activist
Sylvia Rivera is one of my heroes. She fought for Transgender and immigrant rights, for poor people and people of color, for all of the groups that were targets of, and integral to, the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, but who were nonetheless marginalized by the modern day Gay Rights movement. For those of you who have been shaken to your core at the prospect of a religious ban, or who are passionate about social justice issues. For those of you who identify as LGBTQ or as allies, Sylvia Rivera’s words resonate now more than ever. We have made progress, thanks to people like her, but the issues she fought for are still issues Trans* people, people of color, poor people, and immigrants continue to fight for. Please click the link below to read an interview she gave in 1998.
http://www.workers.org/ww/1998/sylvia0702.php
If you would like to donate to an organization that is keeping Sylvia Rivera’s legacy alive, please consider donating to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. Read their mission statement below:
“The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) works to guarantee 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. SRLP is a collective organization founded on the understanding that gender self-determination is inextricably intertwined with racial, social and economic justice. Therefore, we seek to increase the political voice and visibility of low-income people and people of color who are transgender, intersex, or gender non-conforming. SRLP works to improve access to respectful and affirming social, health, and legal services for our communities. We believe that in order to create meaningful political participation and leadership, we must have access to basic means of survival and safety from violence.”
