Sylvia Riveira

I'm sure that most of us know Caitlyn Jenner and Harvey Milk. Yet, most people don't know Sylvia

Rivera. Before Caitlyn Jenner and Harvey Milk, Sylvia Rivera was an important figure in the LGBT

rights movement, and fought for the rights of transgender and homosexuals individuals.Along with

Martha P.Johnson, she was willing to go difficult lengths to defend transgenders, people of color and

homosexuals. Rivera had a difficult life, at ten years old she was left on her own in Times Square and

worked as a sex worker. However, she did not let the obstacles stop her from fighting for her rights.

She founded STAR (street tranvestite action revolutionaries),opened a shelter for transgender youth,and

was member of early of groups like the Gay Activist Alliance and the Gay Liberation Front. After

reading the articles about her, Rivera fascinated me because most men and women in that time chose to

"hid in the closet" but she was not among them, she would rather be discriminated, loose friends and

family than to fit the conventional norms.In addition,I realized that although she has done a lot to the

transgender community, the  younger LGBT community is largely unaware of Rivera's contribution

because there is very few opportunities to learn about it.It was interesting to read about her, I never

heard of her before.In order to better understand ourselves, we must first understand our roots. There

are many young, hispanic and transgender men and women, being pushed out of their family and

rejected and yet they are not able to see an important figure they can relate to in school. If transgender

students  are not able to learn about important figures in the transgender community, how can they feel

represented in history? Minority groups such as people of color,women learn about important figures

such as: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King in school, however I don't recall learning about important

transgender figures in school.Learning about important transgender figures would empower

transgender students and there would be less resistance to accept transgender students in schools.

Below, its a video that will give you guys some information about Sylvia Rivera and her contribution

to the LGBT community.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fepys_I7sQo


Comments

  1. Victoria RestlerFebruary 19, 2018 at 7:36 PM

    Thanks for this post Marcia and for sharing the video on Sylvia's Rivera. She is a powerful figure and I agree that not only trans students, but all students should have the opportunity to learn about her. What resonates with you about her life and work? How would you educate the young people at your internship site about Sylvia Rivera?

    Best
    Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  2. ChristinaFebruary 20, 2018 at 7:52 AM

    Hi Marcia, I enjoyed reading your post. Thank you for introducing me to Sylvia Rivera. Oddly enough, in my research I did not come across Sylvia really, but a lot about Marsha P. Johnson and the movement. Just like you, I think it is important for everyone to learn about gay activists and the significance of their contribution. I agree with you that we should be learning about all of these figures in education, in addition to MLK, and Rosa Parks. Lets empower all rights movements.

    ReplyDelete

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