Nguyễn Thủy Tiên
Born in 1951, New York City, Slyvia Rivera, Puerto Rican and Velezuan, was a veteran of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. She worked closely with gay liberation and self-identified drag queen Marsha P. Johnson, who she saw as a mother figure. Rivera -- remembered for her work as a gay libteration, transgender rights acttivist, and advocacy for the homeless -- was a tireless activist for those who lived in the period where non-white transgender and queer voices were ignored. Among her work was the advocacy against the exclusion of transgender people at the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act in New York. Her work was focused on systemic poverty and racism that non-white queer and transgender people faced.
Rivera had revolution in her veins and never shied away from using her voice, even when those around her tried to silence her. In the 1973 Gay Pride Parade, she was told to stay quiet, however she took the microphone and said, “If it wasn’t for the drag queen, there would be no gay libertarian movement. We’re the front liners,” as there was many non-white drag queens (Rivera included) who worked long and hard for their own inclusion to the gay libertarian movement.
One of her most notable appearances was at the Stonewall uprising. She was only seventeen when she took part in the event. Rivera was noted to have said, “I’m not missing a second of this -- it’s the revolution!” and refused to go home or to sleep during the six nights that the uprising took place.
However, Rivera fought a difficult childhood. Her father was absent from her life and her mother passed away by the time Rivera was 3. Though assigned male at birth, Rivera would experiment with female clothing and her grandmother’s makeup. In doing so, she was beaten and experienced bullying at school. When she was 11, Rivera ran from home and fell victim to sexual exploitation on the streets of the city. Even in adulthood, Rivera struggled. She experienced homelessness from time to time and struggled with depression and substance abuse.
Although her life was difficult, Rivera proved to have a successful career. So much of her life cannot be discussed or given the attention it deserves in the little space that is this column. I highly encourage that by the end of this article, you do further research on Sylvia Rivera -- not only because it is Women’s History Month, but because she deserves to be recognized for her the person she was.
Justin Sucliffe, AP Photo
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