Marsha P. Johnson was an #lgbtq rights activist at the forefront of the Stonewall Riots. She went on to co-found STAR, an organization benefiting #queer youth experiencing homelessness. Today, we honor her contributions to the queer community as part of #BlackHistoryMonth.
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This week’s #BlackHistoryMonth queer pioneer is Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, trans activist and the original Executive Director for the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project!
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Growing up in Chicago, Griffin-Gracy attended drag balls and relied on the black market for hormones to transition. Having been kicked out of two colleges for her identity, she moved to New York City and grew into her activism as a supporter of trans rights, finding solace at the Stonewall Inn and participating in the uprising.
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Today, Griffin-Gracy focuses her activism on intersectionality and the safety of young trans women: “I’d like for the girls to get a chance to be who they are. For young transgender people to go to school, learn like everyone else does, and then get out there and live their lives, not afraid or thinking that the only solution for them is death.”
“…it’s important to center the legacies of Black LGBTQ+ people. It’s the least we can do to present a full, nuanced idea of America’s Black experience. Black queer futures depend on it.” #BlackHistoryMonth
Throughout February we’ll be highlighting the stories of #Black #LGBTQ+ historical figures. Follow along as we honor these trailblazers! #blackhistorymonth
In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re celebrating queer pioneers! Ernestine Eckstein was one of the first Black women on the forefront of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the 1960’s, putting her knowledge from the Civil Rights movement to good use.
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After college, she moved to New York City where she grew into her identity as a lesbian and decided to join the movement for LGBTQ+ rights. After a friend explained the term “gay” to her, she said, “Then all of a sudden things began to click … the next thing on the agenda was to find a way of being in the homosexual movement.”
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Eckstein often demonstrated for LGBTQ+ rights as the only woman of color among other white protestors, connecting the dots between Black Civil Rights and LGBTQ+ rights. She eventually became a leader in the New York chapter of Daughters of Bilitis, as well as other Black feminist organizations like Black Women Organized for Action (BWOA). She was in favor of doing away with labels, and uniting people together as people alone. “I’d like to find a way of getting all classes of homosexuals involved together in the movement.“ 💪
Meet queer pioneer Stormé Delarverie! As a biracial woman born in New Orleans, Delarvarie made her way to New York City where she performed as a singer, often in drag, and would come to be known as the “Rosa Parks” of NYC’s LGBTQ+ community.
Identifying as a lesbian, Delarverie was on the forefront of “butch” fashion culture in the ‘40s and '50s, blurring the lines between a masculine and feminine appearance, and often performing on stage as a man.
While there are conflicting accounts as to who sparked the Stonewall uprising, some believe DeLarverie’s arrest and a subsequent scuffle with police ignited the action. She referred to the event not as a riot, but as “a rebellion, an uprising, it was a civil rights disobedience.” She would serve as a bouncer at many lesbian bars, and as a member of the Stonewall Veterans’ Association, being known as a rough-and-tumble protector and guardian of the local LGBTQ+ community.
“It’s powerful to me to know that we’ve been here for a long time, and it makes me feel like we have to continue patronizing places that are currently open and stay active and vigilant.” 🌈
“What I’ve learned from these couples is that there is no wrong way to celebrate Pride, and that above all else, it’s love that makes a family.”
Our own Dan Savage – who founded It Gets Better btw – was featured in this list of exemplary Queer Podcasts for his project Savage Lovecast, essentially a podcast version of his weekly sex & relationship advice column.
Also featured in the list are The Read, Homoground (featuring LGBTQ music artists), Pod Save the People, and more.
You can access Savage Lovecast here.
🌈✊ YOUTH ACTIVISM SERIES - THE IT GETS BETTER PROJECT 🌈✊
THE IT GETS BETTER PROJECT IS LOOKING FOR OPENLY LGBTQ+ YOUTH ACTIVISTS TO SHARE YOUR STORY IN A WEB DOCU-SERIES.
Our goal is to give viewers around the world a hopeful, affirming glimpse into the lives of activists who identify as LGBTQ+ around the world (including outside of USA) and a respect for the intersectionality of many forms of activism. We’re looking for young people between the ages of 14-24 who are comfortably “out” as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer and who are involved in intersectional causes that aren’t necessarily directly about LGBTQ+ equality.
Maybe you’re part of a group of young queer activists working to end gun violence or fight for change in immigration policy. Maybe you’re creating a space for other LGBTQ+ youth to join you in advocating for global climate change or local workers rights. Maybe you’re creating art as activism related to racial inequality or reproductive justice. Maybe you are just a young person who is passionate about a particular cause and want to see a change in the world. We’re looking for young people between 14-24 who are changing the world…or even your own community. No cause is too small!
Does being openly LGBTQ+ impact your view of the world? Why are you so passionate about the cause you’re fighting for? The time commitment is limited- filming would take place over 1-2 days in your area based on your availability.
What’s your story? Please email us ASAP and let us know! casting@creatorup.com
PLEASE REFERENCE “ACTIVISM” IN THE EMAIL AND TELL US ABOUT YOU!



Just wanted to say…A Digital Pride Experience is live!
Join us on Youtube for the Pride event you can watch from anywhere, for free: 2 days of interviews, dance parties, make-up tutorials, what Pride means to us, LGBTQ+ activism, and mor with your favorite LGBTQ+ celebs and influencers!
Watch on Youtube: bit.ly/IGBDayOne
And check out the whole schedule here.
Be there or be 🟪.










