Sylvia Rivera, who I presented on earlier this week is a trans activist/icon and is commonly credited for ensuring the inclusion of the 'T' in LGBTQ+. She served as a voice for those in the LGBTQ+ movement who had the least: homeless youth, Drag Queens, gay inmates, and transgender individuals. She co-founded STAR or Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries with Marsha P. Johnson to help such individuals and even provided them with housing.
Her involvement in Stonewall is often denoted as the catalyst for her activism. However, some historians claim that it was impossible for her to have been at StoneWall. According to one account, she was asked to be included in the StoneWall history "so that young Puerto Rican transgender people on the street would have a role model." You can read more about it on her Wikipedia page. But I want to pose the question: "was whether or not she was actually as StoneWall important? Or is what she represents to the LGBTQ community more important?" I personally lean towards the latter but would love to hear the thoughts of others.
I think it is important whether or not she was at StoneWall because it is a claim she makes herself. If she is lying, what does that say about her as a role model?
ReplyDeleteI believe it also lends to the validity of her as an activist who believed in solidarity across the community, and not just one aspect of it. I agree with Arielle that because it is a statement she claims herself, it does affect her image as an honest role model were it debunked.
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