Prior to today’s fight for marriage equality and the right to adopt, LGBTQIA individuals struggled for basic rights. The 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village are heralded as the flashpoint that began their fight for equality in the United States. Historians have chronicled these events in writing, as well as depicted on film and television. Nevertheless, focus on Stonewall rarely includes the two transgender women of color who contributed significantly to its events: Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.

Why Is the Stonewall Rebellion Important? 

Some historical background should help those not familiar with the Stonewall Rebellion understand why it is so significant to the modern movement for LGBTQIA civil rights. During “vice” raids on gay bars across America in the 1960s, police frequently harassed patrons and arrested them for “morality” crimes. Law enforcement often targeted gay men, men who dressed as women, and transgender women. Authorities universally criminalized sexual activity between people of the same gender as well.

In 1969, the Stonewall was the only bar for gay men in New York City where dancing was permitted. In his 1993 book “Stonewall,” historian Martin Duberman stated that the bar did not have a liquor license. However, many people have speculated that Mafia ties with police kept the raids at bay or resulted in only minor appearances by the cops. In the early morning of June 28, 1969, the NYPD attempted a massive raid of the Stonewall. It’s likely their intent was to close the establishment down for good. The surprised and infuriated patrons refused to comply. Angered by police treatment, the crowd rioted in response for two nights.

Who Are Marsha and Sylvia?

In a June 2015 piece on Mic.com, writer Jamilah King described the important roles played in the Stonewall Uprising by two transgender women of color, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Johnson was a black transgender woman who had gone to the Stonewall to celebrate her 25^th birthday. She was one of the primary individuals who began resisting police at the riots. In his 2004 book “Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution,” David Carter included testimony by several patrons. One testimony described Marsha as being “in the middle of the whole thing, screaming and yelling and throwing rocks and almost like Molly Pitcher in the Revolution or something.”

Marsha’s friend Sylvia Rivera, a Hispanic trans woman, was also present at the riots. After Stonewall, Johnson and Rivera formed the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). This group helped homeless drag queens and transgender women of color in New York City through street activism. STAR’s activities included securing shelter and food for people in need. Johnson’s later advocacy included her work with ACT UP. This group dedicates their time to bringing about legislation, research and treatment for individuals impacted by AIDS.

Their Visibility in LGBTQ History 

Both women have since passed away: Johnson in 1992, and Rivera in 2002. While it’s clear that they played key roles in early LGBTQIA activism, their stories are not usually told in mainstream accounts of Stonewall, or even in some art, films and histories crafted by queer individuals. Works such as the 2015 film “Stonewall” and the new ABC miniseries “When We Rise” either fail to mention or trivialize Johnson’s and Rivera’s involvement. Many LGBTQIA individuals of color have observed that representations of Stonewall are overly centered on a white, gay cisgender male narrative. However, some people are working to change that. One such effort is the “Happy Birthday, Marsha!” film project, started by filmmakers Reina Gossett and Sasha Wortzel to focus on and document Johnson and Rivera’s stories. Thankfully, writers and historians also continue to ensure that their stories remain a critical part of that history.