Trans* Talk: Pride and History

What do we mean when we say that that “the Gay Rights Movement began with a riot,” or that “the first Pride Parade was a riot,” and how does that change how we show up to advocate for our rights now? What can we learn from the people who started it all, and how do we continue to stand on the shoulders of those giants? What comes next?

On June 29, Seattle gathered for its annual Pride Parade. Downtown, hundreds of thousands of people gathered to support this year’s Pride theme: “Louder.” At the tail end of the event, as I made my way home from my partner’s apartment, I sat in the Light Rail with hundreds of rainbow-clad attendees. I had never felt safer taking the Light Rail than at that moment, surrounded by community. Though I didn’t know their names, we thrummed with connection, just by being visible to one another on a day so important to our history.

On my way to the station, several people complimented my shirt or my hair, others smiled as I walked past, and even more strutted by in intricate outfits, displaying various Pride flags in all manners of ways. In a sea of rainbows and smiles, I made my way home, thinking about those who had come before me, the Queer and Trans* elders I would never get to meet. What would they think of the current state of the movement? Would they think we were “loud” enough?

The Evergreen Echo

The last Sunday of Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Riots, which began June 29, 1969, and lasted until July 3, 1969. While the Stonewall Riots (often just referred to as Stonewall) was not the first riot related to the LGBT movement [previous riots included the Cooper Do-nuts Riot and Compton’s Cafeteria Riot], it is the most publicized. Stonewall started in response to a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan. During the raid, trans and cis women were made to go into the bathroom so the police could “check” that their genitals matched the sex they appeared as. When the patrons rose up against the NYC police, it kicked off the start of the altercations. In the riots, Stonewall Inn was lit on fire, objects were thrown at the police, physical violence broke out between protestors and officers, and there were several detentions and arrests made.

Anecdotally, people like to say that Marsha P. Johnson, a Black Transwoman and self-reported Drag Queen, threw the first brick at Stonewall; however, that has never been confirmed, and Johnson’s own report is that she arrived later in the morning on the first night of rioting. Still her involvement in the protests is well-documented and important. Johnson was joined by several other Transfeminine People of Color in the riots at Stonewall, including Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major Griffen-Gracy, and Zazu Nova. It’s important to note that Stonewall was led by the most underprivileged group of the LGBTQ+ community.

It’s important to acknowledge the leaders of Stonewall because of who has mostly benefited from the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement and what began at that pivotal moment. Transfeminine People of Color continue to be the most underprivileged part of the Queer community. They face a disproportionate amount of violence and discrimination. For more specific statistics, I recommend reading “I Just Try to Make It Home Safe” which compiles data about anti-Transgender violence as well as providing action items that could limit or stop anti-Trans violence. Though “I Just Try to Make It Home Safe” came out in 2021, it remains an important documentation of the discrimination faced by Trans individuals. With the rise of anti-Trans legislation and propaganda, I would imagine the statistics to be even more damning for the Trans community.

I believe that most of the Queer Community would say that now, more than ever, is the time we should stand for our rights, especially as we continuously come under attack by the Trump administration, but how we stand up and show up is difficult to figure out. While we show up to Pride parades and protests, as we get “Louder” and use our voices, we must acknowledge our roots. The first Pride and the kickstart to the movement did start with a riot. It began with violence, it began with uproar, it began with anger at mistreatment. While some argue for peaceful protest, and others try to incite a more violent revolution, the best place to stand remains hard to parse out. But to say that our rights have been built only by peaceful protests is simply false. While no one can tell you how to fight for your rights, it’s important to know the history of what you are fighting for.

The Evergreen Echo

The more that I consider my own role and what I am able to provide, the more that I find myself considering a quote from Coretta Scott King, an American Civil Rights activist, leader, and author, and wife to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members, especially towards its most vulnerable and marginalized.” I believe strongly that how we show up for those of us who face the most discrimination does define our greatness. I want to fight for those who can’t and use my privilege for those who don’t have that privilege to use.

How you show up (and to be clear, showing up does not necessarily mean in-person), is entirely up to you, but I will always advocate for showing up at all. Post that blog, make that flyer, bring water to the protest, carry the signs. Whatever you are able and willing to do for the movement is enough. Remember where we came from, where the movement started, and who we are fighting for (because it is more than just ourselves.)