Dear Friend,
Today marks the first day of Black History Month -- an opportunity for us to celebrate the historic contributions and achievements of the Black community.
Follow us on social media, where each week this month we will highlight an influential Black and LGBTQ icon who has fought against that community’s collective struggles. Amplifying the work of Black and queer people throughout history helps us to recognize and celebrate intersectional perspectives that are too often overlooked.
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Our first icon is Marsha P. Johnson, who was a prominent Black transgender activist who was instrumental in the fight for Gay Rights in New York City in the 1960s and 70s. She was a fierce advocate for trans people of color who were disregarded by the larger movement for gay rights.
In 1971, alongside Sylvia Rivera, Johnson opened the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), which would serve as a space for trans people to discuss and organize around issues facing their community. The STAR house was also used to provide lodging to those who needed it. Johnson was a dedicated advocate for the most vulnerable people up until her death in 1992.
In 2019, New York City announced that Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera would be the subject of a monument commissioned by the Public Arts Campaign called, “She Built NYC”.
Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see who we highlight next for Black History Month!
Thank you,
Immigration Equality |
