SECTION FOUR
Know Your History!
As you start, or continue, your journey, it is important to surround yourself with stories of joy, of LGBTQIA2S+ history, of civil rights milestones, of positive coming out stories, and examples of out and proud queer folks. As you read about queer and trans joy, remember to make sure to celebrate who you are. This might be hard if things aren’t going well, but it’s important that you find ways to celebrate that you are being yourself. There is nothing wrong with that
Why History Matters
Learning about LGBTQIA2S+ trailblazers helps you understand that you're part of a rich legacy of courage, creativity, and resilience. You stand on the shoulders of giants!
Lily and Lana Wachowski
If you’re a fan of The Matrix films, you owe them to these incredible trans women filmmakers. Beyond their iconic work in that franchise, they’ve created numerous influential pieces that incorporate themes related to their personal identities and experiences.
Bayard Rustin
A gifted organizer, strategist, and leader who often worked behind the scenes, Rustin was instrumental in guiding Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in embracing nonviolence as a core principle and he played a key role in organizing the historic1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
James Baldwin
Baldwin was a renowned writer who resisted being confined by labels and the identity categories that others imposed on him. If you’re looking to explore the complexities of the human experience—how our differences shape us and where our struggles intersect—his works offer profound insight.
Barbara Gittings
“In the early 1970s, shortly after the Stonewall riots, Gittings
played a pivotal role in petitioning the American Psychiatric
Association to change its stance on homosexuality. In 1973, the
APA officially removed its classification of homosexuality as a
mental disorder...”
-The Legacy of Pride: Barbara Gittings
Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson was a pioneering Black trans activist and drag queen who played a key role in the early LGBTQIA2S+ rights movement. Co-founder of STAR with Sylvia Rivera, she advocated for trans and homeless queer communities and is remembered for her role in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising.
Sylvia Rivera
Rivera was a courageous and groundbreaking queer Latina drag queen and a tireless advocate for LGBTQIA2S+ rights, particularly for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals. As one of the co-founders of the Gay Liberation Front and the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), Rivera fought for the rights of the most marginalized in the queer community, challenging both mainstream LGBTQIA2S+ activism and societal norms. Her legacy as a fierce, unapologetic activist continues to inspire generations in the struggle for equality and justice.
Audre Lorde
A brilliant Black lesbian poet, essayist, and activist, Lorde’s work
fiercely addressed the intersections of race, gender, sexuality,
and class. Known as the “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,”
she used her writing as a tool for social change, advocating for
the rights of marginalized communities. Her poetry and prose
challenged the status quo, highlighting the importance embracing
difference and the power of self-expression. Lorde’s legacy as a radical
thinker and unapologetic voice for justice continues to resonate today, inspiring
movements for liberation and equality across generations.
Check out Audre Lorde | The
Poetry Foundation to read more!
Did You Know?
Before colonization, many Native American and Indigenous cultures across North America recognized a broad spectrum of gender identities beyond the male-female binary. Two-Spirit individuals—those embodying both masculine and feminine traits—often held important cultural, social, or spiritual roles. Colonization and European gender norms disrupted these traditions, marginalizing Two-Spirit people. Today, there's a growing movement to reclaim and honor these identities, with many Indigenous people embracing the term Two-Spirit and reaffirming their gender-diverse traditions.
You Are Part of This Legacy
These trailblazers paved the way for the freedoms and rights we have today. Your story continues this powerful tradition of courage, authenticity, and resilience.
