These influential LGBTQ+ activists have shaped the fight for rights and visibility within the community. Their legacies highlight the importance of representation, intersectionality, and advocacy, making them essential figures in understanding LGBTQ+ history and ongoing struggles for equality.
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Harvey Milk
- First openly gay elected official in California, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
- Advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, including anti-discrimination laws and the right to serve in the military.
- Assassinated in 1978, his legacy continues to inspire LGBTQ+ activism and representation in politics.
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Marsha P. Johnson
- Key figure in the Stonewall uprising of 1969, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility.
- Co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) to support homeless transgender and LGBTQ+ youth.
- Worked tirelessly for AIDS activism and was a prominent figure in the fight against discrimination.
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Sylvia Rivera
- Co-founder of STAR alongside Marsha P. Johnson, focusing on the needs of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.
- Advocated for the inclusion of transgender people in the broader LGBTQ+ rights movement.
- Fought against the marginalization of LGBTQ+ people of color and worked to address issues of poverty and homelessness.
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Audre Lorde
- Renowned poet, essayist, and activist who addressed issues of race, gender, and sexuality.
- Advocated for intersectionality, emphasizing the importance of recognizing overlapping identities in the fight for social justice.
- Her work continues to influence feminist and LGBTQ+ movements, particularly in discussions of identity and empowerment.
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Larry Kramer
- Co-founder of the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) and the activist group ACT UP, focusing on AIDS awareness and treatment.
- Known for his outspoken criticism of government inaction during the AIDS crisis and for advocating for LGBTQ+ health rights.
- His play "The Normal Heart" brought attention to the AIDS epidemic and the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
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Bayard Rustin
- Key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, advocating for civil rights and social justice.
- Openly gay, Rustin faced discrimination within the civil rights movement but remained a vital strategist and advisor.
- His work emphasized the intersection of race, class, and sexuality in the fight for equality.
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Barbara Gittings
- Early LGBTQ+ activist who fought for the inclusion of LGBTQ+ issues in the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual.
- Organized the first LGBTQ+ pride events in the U.S. and was a key figure in the fight for marriage equality.
- Advocated for LGBTQ+ visibility and representation in literature and media.
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Stormé DeLarverie
- Often referred to as the "Rosa Parks of the LGBTQ+ movement," she played a significant role in the Stonewall uprising.
- A butch lesbian and drag king, she advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility throughout her life.
- Worked to support LGBTQ+ youth and was a prominent figure in the fight against discrimination.
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Laverne Cox
- First openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for acting.
- Advocates for transgender rights and visibility in media, using her platform to address issues of discrimination and violence against transgender individuals.
- Her work has helped to raise awareness and foster discussions about gender identity and representation.
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Edith Windsor
- Key figure in the fight for marriage equality, her case (United States v. Windsor) led to the Supreme Court striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 2013.
- Advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and the recognition of same-sex marriage, significantly impacting legal rights for same-sex couples.
- Her legacy continues to influence ongoing discussions about marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S.