Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries
Encyclopedia
Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) was a transgender
activist
organization founded in 1970 by Marsha P. Johnson
and Sylvia Rivera
. Marsha and Sylvia used to hustle the streets in order to keep their children from having to do the same to feed and shelter themselves. STAR was briefly renewed in the early 2000s initiating street demonstrations and other political activity before Sylvia's death in order to advance the fight for the transgender civil rights bill in New York City and New York State and to fight for self-determination for all gender non-conformists.
Both founders became activists during the 1969 Stonewall riots
, but their work within the key gay rights groups ended when trans issues were deleted from proposed legislation in 1972.
STAR was created to advocate on behalf of homeless drag queen
s and runaways. They also created STAR House, a shelter for this population and pressed for trans inclusion in mainstream gay activist groups.
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
organization founded in 1970 by Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson born in Elizabeth, New Jersey as Malcolm Michaels, Jr. was an African American transgender activist and a popular figure in New York City's gay and art scene from the 1960s to the 1990s....
and Sylvia Rivera
Sylvia Rivera
Sylvia Rae Rivera was an American transgender activist. Rivera was a founding member of both the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance and helped found STAR , a group dedicated to helping homeless young street trans women, with her friend Marsha P...
. Marsha and Sylvia used to hustle the streets in order to keep their children from having to do the same to feed and shelter themselves. STAR was briefly renewed in the early 2000s initiating street demonstrations and other political activity before Sylvia's death in order to advance the fight for the transgender civil rights bill in New York City and New York State and to fight for self-determination for all gender non-conformists.
Both founders became activists during the 1969 Stonewall riots
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City...
, but their work within the key gay rights groups ended when trans issues were deleted from proposed legislation in 1972.
STAR was created to advocate on behalf of homeless drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
s and runaways. They also created STAR House, a shelter for this population and pressed for trans inclusion in mainstream gay activist groups.
See also
- LGBT historyLGBT historyLGBT history refers to the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender peoples and cultures around the world, dating back to the first recorded instances of same-sex love and sexuality of ancient civilizations. What survives of many centuries' persecution– resulting in shame, suppression,...
- LGBT rights in the United States
- List of LGBT rights organizations