Sylvia Rivera ~ She was more than Stonewall

by Jerimarie Liesegang

http://www.transadvocacy.org/?p=177

When the name Sylvia Rivera is mentioned, without a doubt ones first thought, comment or reflection is that "Sylvia is widely credited with throwing the first shoe (or depending upon the remembrance first or second bottle, Molotov cocktail, Sylvia, Marsha, STAR banner at 1973 PRIDE marchetc) at Stonewall." From that point on, the remembrance and analysis of Sylvia is strongly influenced by this pivotal moment in queer history. Very little of what is remembered, spoken or written about Sylvia deviates much from that of her involvement in Stonewall and the succeeding predominately white, middle class led LGBT movement. And sadly even within the Trans community to which Sylvia dedicated her life to, she is primarily whitewashed along with her radical politics being marginalized or even totally omitted!

However, Sylvia like most great figures in history was a true social justice revolutionary, if not insurrectionist, figure whose life, beliefs, actions and words embraced an intersectional essence. Jessi Gan's 2007 Centro Journal piece titled "Still at the back of the bus": Sylvia Rivera's Struggle is one of the few pieces that critique's the remembrance of Sylvia Rivera by many writers in light of their clear omission of Sylvia's intersectionality. Sylvia remained predominately an unknown figure ~ even though her activism, writings and influence within the New York City "gay and lesbian" movement of the late sixties and early seventies, albeit short lived, was highly influential.

Sadly, there appears to be some claims that this woman wasn't there at all. There also appear to be claims that, while a few transgender people did go to the Stonewall in, these were very few, partly because the bouncers refused them entry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots

Quote from: spacial on November 25, 2010, 11:43:10 AM
Sadly, there appears to be some claims that this woman wasn't there at all. There also appear to be claims that, while a few transgender people did go to the Stonewall in, these were very few, partly because the bouncers refused them entry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots

Don't believe everything you read.  I knew Sylvia at the end of her life, in fact had she recovered from the last round she was planning to move to our house in the Catskills.  She was there, she was instrumental in starting the riot but never personally claimed to be the first one to throw a homemade grenade in the form of a gin bottle with a rag stuffed in it...(not a high heel although that makes a much better story).  The bit about the queens and trans being routinely tossed out of the Stonewall is true, they hung around the outside mostly.  There have been Mattechine  gay men who tried to coop-op Stonewall within a couple of years but they didn't fight, they were the ones calling the cops on the queens and trans.   In answer to the article, I had it straight from Sylvia herself, she identified as a woman, not a gender queer and wanted surgery most of her life.  Her last partner was a postie.

I don't believe the claims at all. As useful as Wikipedia is, we have to remember it is open to continual editing. There are many examples of ridiculous, preposterus and outragious claims being made about many issues.

But they are worth highlighting.

For some, it seems, any non-hetrosexual behaviour is threatening. These appear to be finding a voice in the form of politically motivated groups, claiming to be promoting religion. The gays, seemingly, are worrying and apparently prepared to throw transgender to the wolves.

I was particularly disturbed to read descriptions of some as being drag queens as of these are just ordinary gay people dressing up for a bit of fun.

I was also disturbed to read the dismissal of the trasgender group, and the claims that they were isolated and shunned. On the discussion page, there is an entire section on Sylvia Rivera .

It is becoming increasingly disturbing, the direction the whole issue is going. The gays, apparntly seem to believe they can save their own skins by sacrificing us. I suggest they are in for a rude awakening.

The shame is that most of the history of the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s is so utterly distorted and embellished with hyperbole, exageration and patently obvious lies, that no-one, it seems, is even ready to check for writing on the wall, let alone see it.

By ignoring the lessons of the past, we are destined to repeat it.