CELEBRATING QUEER BLACK HISTORY - Fighters
February is a time to celebrate Black History. Today, we're taking a look at folks who have been fighting for themselves and for others. We have Lucy Hicks Anderson who, long before her time, dared to be herself; two folks who were at the Stonewall Uprising and went onto inspire generations, Marsha P. Johnson and Miss Major Griffin-Macy; Cece McDonald whose harrowing story has inspired her important work; and Angelica Ross whose success has enabled her to work to ensure trans and gender diverse Black folks have the essential training to succeed. Let's get started.
Lucy Hicks Anders
Lucy Hicks Anderson (1886-1954) was a transgender pioneer for marriage equality. Before Christine Jorgensen, often recognized as America’s first prominent trans woman, there was Lucy Hicks Anderson. She preceded Jorgensen’s notoriety when stories of her trans identity made news in the early 20th century.
After marrying a soldier in Oxnard, California, in 1944, local authorities discovered that Anderson was assigned male at birth and the couple was charged with perjury. Taking a stand in court, Anderson reportedly said, “I defy any doctor in the world to prove that I am not a woman. I have lived, dressed, acted just like what I am, a woman.” Instead of prison time, Anderson and her husband were placed on 10 years of probation. Anderson was also ordered to refrain from wearing clothes made for women.
Her resilience and defiance against societal norms and legal persecution make her an enduring symbol of courage and an important figure in the fight for transgender rights and equality. Her legacy as a trailblazer for marriage equality and transgender visibility solidifies her place as an icon of queer Black history.
References:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/02/19/black-lgbtq-pioneers-for-black-history-month/
https://www.pridecentervt.org/2021/02/05/queer-black-history/
https://www.acalltomen.org/bringing-black-trans-and-queer-activism-to-the-forefront/
https://lbgtq.mit.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Black_Trans.pdf
Marsha P. Johnson
No collection of queer Black history-makers is complete without the Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha, an African American transgender activist, is an iconic figure in queer Black history due to her pivotal role in the 2SLGBTQ+ rights movement and her unwavering advocacy for marginalized communities. Johnson's involvement in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a turning point in the fight for 2SLGBTQ+ rights, solidified her legacy as a key figure in the movement.
Alongside her close friend Sylvia Rivera, she co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), a political collective that supported and housed homeless 2SLGBTQ+ youth and sex workers. Johnson's activism extended to advocating for the rights of Black transgender people, and she was a vocal supporter of homeless 2SLGBTQ+ youth and those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Her resilience and leadership in the face of systemic discrimination and violence have made her an enduring symbol of courage and empowerment for queer Black individuals. Johnson's legacy as a trailblazer for transgender rights and 2SLGBTQ+ visibility has cemented her status as an icon of queer Black history, inspiring future generations to continue the fight for equality and justice.
References:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/marsha-p-johnsons-historic-role-in-the-lgbtq-rights-movement
https://wams.nyhistory.org/growth-and-turmoil/growing-tensions/marsha-p-johnson/
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/marsha-p-johnson
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, an American author, activist, and community organizer, is an iconic figure in queer Black history due to her lifelong dedication to advocating for transgender rights and her unwavering support for incarcerated trans individuals, particularly trans women of color. Her involvement in the Stonewall Uprising and her subsequent 50 years of activism have cemented her place as a revered elder in the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Miss Major's contributions to oral history collections and her memoir, "Miss Major Speaks: Conversations with a Black Trans Revolutionary," have provided invaluable insights into her life and the struggles she has faced, including living through the HIV/AIDS crisis, her experiences as a sex worker, and surviving incarceration. As an executive producer of the series "Trans in Trumpland," Miss Major continues to be a powerful voice for trans liberation and an inspiration for other trans women.
Her role as a mother figure within the trans community, providing care and support to those who have been abandoned by their families, further exemplifies her profound impact and enduring legacy as an icon of queer Black history.
References
https://glaad.org/miss-major-griffin-gracy-celebrated-trans-elder-opens-lgbtqa-podcast/
https://time.com/6263354/black-lgbtq-history-representation/
Cece McDonald
CeCe McDonald, an African American trans woman and LGBTQ activist, is an iconic figure in queer Black history due to her resilience, advocacy, and commitment to dismantling the prison industrial complex. In 2011, McDonald gained international recognition after surviving a white supremacist and transphobic attack, for which she was later convicted of second-degree manslaughter and served 19 months in prison.
Her case drew attention to the systemic violence faced by Black and brown trans women and the criminalization of self-defense. Since her release, McDonald has dedicated her life to activism, public education, and organizing, becoming a prominent speaker at colleges and universities and working with various organizations, including the Transgender Youth Support Network and the Gender Justice League. She has been a vocal advocate for transformative justice models, abolitionist analysis, and responses to harm that do not rely on incarceration or the criminal legal system.
McDonald's work has focused on building community support and power for trans women, particularly trans women of color, in cultural, activist, and community projects. Her resilience in the face of violence and her dedication to advocating for marginalized communities have made her an enduring symbol of courage and empowerment in queer Black history.
References:
https://www.kepplerspeakers.com/speakers/cece-mcdonald
https://bcrw.barnard.edu/fellows/cece-mcdonald/
https://www.nsvrc.org/blogs/saam/trans-activists-visibility-violence
Angelica Ross
Angelica Ross is an iconic figure in queer Black history due to her multifaceted contributions as a transgender actress, tech entrepreneur, and human rights advocate. As the founder and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises, she has been a trailblazer in empowering transgender and racial equality by providing technical training and digital work opportunities for marginalized communities, with a focus on Black queer and trans individuals.
Her work has been instrumental in bringing economic empowerment to these communities. Additionally, Ross has made significant strides in the entertainment industry, with her groundbreaking roles in the hit series "Pose" and "American Horror Story," making her a leading figure in the movement for human rights advocacy. She has also been a vocal advocate for transgender rights, urging President Joe Biden to do more to protect transgender youth.
Through her work and advocacy, Angelica Ross has become an enduring symbol of success, strength, and empowerment in the fight for transgender and racial equality, solidifying her status as an icon of queer Black history.
References:
https://weconnect.lgbt/angelica-ross/
https://collectivespeakers.com/speakers/angelica-ross/
https://www.acalltomen.org/bringing-black-trans-and-queer-activism-to-the-forefront/
Thanks for checking us out. Be sure to come back tomorrow for more queer Black history.