Born: 1951 (New York City)
Died: 2002
Biography:
Sylvia Rivera (July 2, 1951 February 19, 2002) was an American gay liberation and transgender rights activist who made significant contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. Born and raised in New York City, she dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of marginalized individuals, particularly homeless queer youth and transgender women of color.
Rivera’s childhood was marked by adversity. She was born to a Puerto Rican father and a Venezuelan mother, but her father abandoned her early in life. Tragically, her mother died by suicide when Rivera was just three years old, leaving her orphaned. Rivera was then raised by her Venezuelan grandmother, who disapproved of her effeminate behavior, especially when she began wearing makeup in fourth grade. This led Rivera to leave home at the young age of ten and find herself living on the streets of New York.
Like many other homeless youth in the LGBTQ+ community, Rivera resorted to survival sex as a child prostitute. It was during this time that she found support and belonging among the local drag queens, including her best friend and protector, Marsha P. Johnson. In this tight-knit community of drag queens and street hustlers, Rivera was given her new name by an old butch dyke and an old queen who served as her godfather and godmother.
Rivera’s activism started in 1970 when she joined the Gay Activists Alliance and became involved with the Gay Liberation Front’s Drag Queen Caucus. At the age of 18, she began fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, advocating for the inclusion of drag queens like herself in the movement. While Rivera sometimes exaggerated her involvement in various social justice movements, her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community was unwavering.
Together with Marsha P. Johnson, Rivera co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) in 1970. STAR aimed to provide support, services, and advocacy for homeless queer youth. They fought for the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) in New York, which sought to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Rivera’s work with STAR was revolutionary, as she focused on addressing the specific needs and struggles faced by transgender women and queer youth, who often found themselves marginalized even within the broader LGBTQ+ movement.
Throughout her life, Rivera faced numerous challenges and setbacks. Despite these obstacles, she remained a powerful advocate and fearless leader within the LGBTQ+ community. Rivera’s activism helped pave the way for advancements in LGBTQ+ rights, and her resilience and determination continue to inspire activists today.