Sylvia Rivera
July 2, 1951 – September 19, 2002
Born in NYC to Puerto Rican and Venezuelan parents, Sylvia is best known for her participation in the Stonewall Riots, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
Sylvia was a transgender woman who played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. She co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization that provided support and services to homeless queer and transgender youth. In addition to being one of the first trans youth shelters STAR was also one of the first political organizations for transgender rights in the world.
Throughout her life, Sylvia worked tirelessly to give a voice to those often marginalized within the larger queer community. She was a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, fighting for queer and transgender people of color who faced intersecting oppressions.
In 2002 the Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) was founded and named in her honor. SRLP is a non-profit organization that engages in policy work and provides trainings and free legal services for transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming low-income people of color.
Sylvia Rivera’s legacy continues to inspire activists and individuals fighting for equality and justice for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.