Sylvia Rivera Biography

Sylvia Rivera was a transgender rights activist and a pivotal figure in the early days of the modern LGBTQ+ movement. Born on July 2, 1951, Rivera was a trailblazer for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, particularly in New York City. She co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) in 1970, one of the first organizations to advocate for transgender rights. Rivera's advocacy work extended to issues of poverty, drug addiction, and HIV/AIDS. She passed away on February 19, 2002.