Sylvia Rivera was a pioneering Latina transgender activist and a champion for transgender rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and the rights of marginalized, low-income queer youth and people of color. She fought against the exclusion of transgender people from the mainstream gay rights movement and co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) to provide housing and aid to homeless youth.
Key areas of her activism included:
- LGBTQ+ and Transgender Liberation: A Stonewall Inn uprising participant, Rivera was a vocal advocate for transgender visibility and inclusion, often arguing against the exclusion of trans people from gay rights political agendas.
- STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries): Alongside Marsha P. Johnson, she founded STAR in 1970 to provide food, clothing, and shelter for homeless queer youth and transgender individuals.
- Intersectionality and Advocacy: She emphasized intersectional activism, advocating for the rights of gender non-conforming people, people of color, and those facing systemic poverty.
- Legal Protections: She fought for the passage of the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) in New York, which protects against discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations.
- Social Justice: Her activism extended to the Black Liberation movement and the anti-war movement.
Her legacy continues through organizations like the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, which provides legal services to ensure people can self-determine their gender identity.