Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, and the Fight for Trans Rights

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Historical Context

Gay, lesbian, and trans people (often identified by outdated terms “transsexual” or “transvestite”), engaged in forms of protest and community-building in the first half of the 20th century, but actions were often insular or involved isolated incidents, due to the pressures of anti-gay laws and prevailing social restrictions. During the 1960s and 70s, a time marked by civil rights struggles and growing LGBTQ+ activism, Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson emerged as two of the most courageous and outspoken advocates for transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Both Latine and Black trans women, they played critical roles in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a landmark event in LGBTQ+ history sparked by police violence against queer people at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. In the aftermath, Rivera and Johnson co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) to support homeless trans youth, sex workers, and people rejected by mainstream gay rights organizations. At a time when trans people, especially trans people of color, faced daily violence, criminalization, and social exclusion, their activism challenged not only the legal system but also the narrow boundaries of inclusion within the broader LGBTQ+ movement. Some newly formed gay rights groups excluded trans people, and progress related to anti-discrimination laws, visibility, and acceptance did not always extend to the transgender community. At the 1973 Pride Parade in New York, organizers tried to prevent Rivera from speaking; she spoke anyway and was booed by the audience. Johnson and Rivera’s legacy is a reminder that the fight for justice must center the most marginalized, and that trans liberation has always been intertwined with racial, economic, and gender justice.

Connection to History’s Habits of Mind

The activism of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson reminds us that history is shaped by people navigating uncertain and often hostile environments. In the 1960s and 70s, they could not predict how their resistance would shape future movements, but they acted with courage in a world that offered them few protections. Using the Complex World habit of mind helps students recognize that Rivera and Johnson made bold decisions in a time when their identities were criminalized, even by other activists. Their fight for trans rights was not straightforward, it required challenging systems of power within and beyond the LGBTQ+ movement. By examining their story through multiple perspectives, we see the layered complexities of identity, resistance, and belonging, and are reminded that history is never simple or singular.

Discussion Question

  • What risks did Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson face by publicly standing up for trans rights in the 1960s and 70s?
  • How would their fight for trans rights have been seen by law enforcement, the government, or the media in that era?
  • How might Rivera and Johnson’s experiences as trans women of color have shaped their view of justice differently than white gay activists or politicians of the time?
  • Why do you think mainstream LGBTQ+ organizations often excluded them? What does this tell us about divisions within social movements?
  • What does their story teach us about the challenges of working for justice in a world that doesn’t always recognize your humanity?
  • In what ways are the uncertainties they faced still relevant to activists today?
  • How can the Complex World habit of mind help us better understand the decisions Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson made?
  • What does their legacy reveal about how social change often comes from the most marginalized voices?

Suggested Activity

Materials Needed:

Teacher Note: Sylvia Rivera’s 1973 speech includes explicit language. Consider previewing the video and preparing students for mature language that reflects the raw emotion and frustration of marginalized activists. Encourage respectful discussion focused on historical context and the power of voice.

Step 1: Introduction [3 mins]

Introduce Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, co-founders of STAR and key figures in the early fight for trans rights. Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson were pioneering trans activists in the 1960s and 70s. They were instrumental in the Stonewall Uprising. They advocated for those most marginalized, trans people of color, sex workers, and unhoused LGBTQ+ youth, often being excluded by mainstream LGBTQ+ organizations. Explain that students will analyze primary sources from both activists and engage in interactive activities to explore their contributions and the complexities they faced.

Step 2: Primary Source Analysis [15-20 mins]

Have students answer the following questions after watching or reading the excerpt from Sylvia Rivera’s 1973 Pride speech and the quotes from Marsha P. Johnson.

  • What similarities do you see in Rivera and Johnson’s messages?
  • What contradictions are they calling out within the LGBTQ+ community?
  • How do their words challenge us to understand history through multiple perspectives?
  • What can we learn about the complexity of human experiences within community groups?

Step 3: Think-Pair-Share [10 mins]

In pairs, students discuss their responses and prepare to share insights from their analysis. Encourage students to cite phrases and reflect on emotion, resistance, and marginalization.

Step 4: Whole-Class Carousel [10–15 mins]

Post three prompts on large paper around the room and have students contribute to one and add symbols/emojis or comments agreeing or disagreeing with another peers statement:

  • What do Marsha P. Johnson’s quotes suggest about the importance of solidarity in the LGBTQ+ community?
  • What does Sylvia Rivera’s speech suggest about the importance of solidarity in the LGBTQ+ community? How might people at the time have misunderstood or rejected her message?
  • What connections can you draw to modern-day trans rights struggles?
  • Exit Ticket Prompt: Choose either Sylvia Rivera or Marsha P. Johnson. What difficult choice did they make in a complex world, and how did it shape the fight for trans rights?