Not long after, her body was pulled from the Hudson River near the West Village. She had also co-founded one of India’s largest LGBTQ youth initiatives Yaariyan and Umang, a lesbian-bisexual-transgender initiative in Mumbai. Johnson also became an AIDS activist, later revealing in a 1992 interview that she had been HIV-positive for two years. Known for her pioneering work in highlighting Lesbian and Bisexual women’s issues as well as LGBTQ youth work, Sonal Giani is a very vocal LGBTQ activist and an actress. Since the term transgender wasn’t used during her time, she identified as gay, transvestite and as a drag queen, using the pronouns she/her. Though she struggled with mental health issues, Johnson was beloved for her charismatic persona. Johnson became known as much for her activism as for her attention-grabbing wardrobe, often complete with red plastic heels, colorful wigs and flowers and fruit in her hair. By following year, the first gay pride parades took place, and Johnson and Rivera founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) to house, feed and clothe young transgender people.
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Read our Pride month edition of Equality Now Recommends, full of books, movies, TV shows, and podcasts, that act as a megaphone for LGBTQ+ rights.While the genesis of the Stonewall Inn uprising remains shrouded in myth, there’s no doubt Johnson was a key figure leading the events of June 28, 1969 - some even credit her with throwing the “shot glass heard around the world” that started the rebellion. That means low-income LGBT people, transgender people, and our community’s women, whose rights are getting the crap kicked out of them, parts of our community across the board - kids, old gay people…The second thing I would love to see happen is for the LGBT community to use its political power and access to create a more just society for all.” “One is to take care of the parts of our community that are less powerful. Vaid hopes that LGBTQ+ community will accomplish two things: Her book, Irresistible Revolution: Confronting Race, Class and the Assumptions of LGBT Politics, was released in 2012. In their committed fight for justice, they have shown us that we as a society must continue to make progress, even after laws are changed, and that we must make an effort to understand, accept and love.”Īmerican LGBTQ+ rights activist Urvashi Vaid, works for an inclusive LGBTQ+ movement, one that encompasses everyone regardless of race, class, ethnicity, age, or ability. “Arundhati and Menaka have helped take a giant step for LGBTQ rights in the world’s largest democracy.
The couple were honored in Time’s 100 most influential people in 2019, with Priyanka Chopra writing: Lawyers Menaka Guruswamy & Arundhati Katju argued for the decriminalization of homosexuality in India, resulting in the unanimous Supreme Court decision to repeal Section 377 in 2018.
“How many people have died for these two little statues to be put in the park to recognize gay people? How many years does it take for people to see that we’re all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race?.”Ĥ and 5. When, in 1992, George Segal’s Stonewall memorial was moved to Christopher Street from Ohio to recognize the gay liberation movement, Johnson commented, Johnson played an active role in street activism with ACT UP throughout the 1980s. Johnson was an American trans activist, widely credited with starting the Stonewall uprising. And those of us who identify as lesbian, bi, or diverse, can’t say it, because there is greater pressure on women regarding the obligations we have to society.” “Women are taught to be ashamed of our sexuality.
“If the world conference on women is to address the concerns of all women, it must similarly recognize that discrimination based on sexual orientation is a violation of basic human rights.”Ĭhilean lesbian activist Érika Montecinos is the founder of Agrupación LésBIca Rompiendo el Silencio (Breaking the Silence LesBIan Association), which advocates for the rights of cis and trans women who identify as lesbian or bisexual. Not only was she was the first openly lesbian woman to address the UN, but it was also the first time that the United Nations was openly addressed about LGBT issues. South African lesbian activist Beverly Palesa Ditsie, spoke about the importance of LGBT rights in the context of human rights at the 4th UN World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. To celebrate Pride Month, we’re highlighting some incredible activists past and present working for LGBTQ+ rights.
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All people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, should have equal rights and be able to live free from harm, coercion, or discrimination.