Gayety

Tag: Marsha P. Johnson

  • Seven Trans Icons Join Stonewall’s LGBTQ Wall of Honor in Powerful Pride Tribute

    Seven Trans Icons Join Stonewall’s LGBTQ Wall of Honor in Powerful Pride Tribute

    The National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at the historic Stonewall Inn will add seven new names to its ranks on June 26, and for the first time, all honorees are trailblazing transgender advocates. The annual ceremony, co-hosted by the International Imperial Court Council and the National LGBTQ Task Force, is free and open to the public, though RSVPs are required due to limited space.

    The induction comes at a time of heightened attacks on the transgender community, with discriminatory legislation and violence on the rise across the United States. Organizers say this year’s focus on trans honorees is both a tribute to resilience and a call to action.

    Honoring a Legacy of Resistance

    The National LGBTQ Wall of Honor, nestled inside the legendary Stonewall Inn, epicenter of the 1969 uprising that ignited the modern LGBTQ rights movement, is part of the Stonewall National Monument. Since its unveiling in 2019, the Wall has served as a posthumous tribute to queer pioneers such as Marsha P. Johnson, Audre Lorde, and Harvey Milk.

    “This year’s focus on transgender trailblazers and changemakers underscores the importance of recognizing our history and the current climate for our trans siblings,” said Cathy Renna, Communications Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force. “Their courage inspires our ongoing fight for liberation.”

    Nicole Murray Ramirez, founder of the Wall and Queen Mother of the Americas, added, “A movement that does not know where it came from, or whose shoulders it stands on, does not know where it’s going. This is a reminder that trans people have always been at the forefront of our community.”

    The National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at Stonewall will induct seven trans advocates this Pride Month. Here's why it matters more than ever.
    Photo: The Stonewall In

    Meet the 2025 Inductees

    Ruddy Martinez
    Known as “Mami Ruddys,” Martinez was a beloved trans drag performer and activist in Puerto Rico. Since the 1980s, she turned her home into a sanctuary for queer youth rejected by their families.

    Chili Pepper
    A frequent guest on 1980s talk shows like Oprah and Phil Donahue, Chili Pepper used her platform to challenge stereotypes and raise AIDS awareness.

    Lynn Conway
    A computer science pioneer, Conway revolutionized microchip design while fighting gender discrimination in STEM. She helped pave the way for future generations of trans scientists.

    Alan L. Hart
    One of the first people to undergo gender-affirming surgery, Hart was a physician and novelist who made groundbreaking contributions to tuberculosis research in the early 20th century.

    Jiggly Caliente
    The beloved RuPaul’s Drag Race alum and Pose star, Jiggly (Bianca Castro-Arabejo), was a powerful force for representation until her death in April 2025 at age 44.

    The Lady Chablis
    A charismatic entertainer and actress, Chablis broke barriers with her performance in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, becoming one of the first Black trans women to gain widespread media visibility.

    Sam Nordquist
    A Black trans man whose brutal murder in 2025 ignited national outrage. His death exposed the ongoing crisis of violence against transgender people, especially Black trans men and women.

    A Moment of Reflection and Action

    This year’s induction is more than symbolic, it’s a statement against erasure. As anti-trans legislation threatens access to healthcare, safety, and freedom, remembering trans leaders past and present becomes a radical act of visibility.

    The Wall of Honor, which began with 50 names on the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, continues to grow each year. With the addition of these seven names, the Wall becomes an even more inclusive testament to the diverse identities that have shaped the LGBTQ movement.

    And in the words of Ramirez: “Trans people have not only always been here, they’ve led the charge.”

  • Petition Urges Reversal of Removal of Transgender History from Stonewall Uprising Website

    Petition Urges Reversal of Removal of Transgender History from Stonewall Uprising Website

    A petition demanding that the Trump administration reverse the removal of mentions of transgender people from the Stonewall Uprising page on the National Park Service (NPS) website has garnered more than 25,000 signatures.

    The controversy erupted after the NPS updated its description of the Stonewall National Monument, omitting references to transgender and non-binary individuals who played crucial roles in the 1969 riots. In its place, the monument’s description now references only lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, removing the inclusive LGBTQ+ acronym.

    The change has sparked widespread backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates, historians, and activists, who argue that it disregards the essential contributions of transgender women, particularly trans women of color, in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

    Among the most prominent figures erased from the updated history is Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman who was pivotal in the Stonewall uprising. Johnson, along with Sylvia Rivera, co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization dedicated to supporting homeless transgender youth in New York City. Johnson’s legacy has been instrumental in shaping both the Stonewall riots and the broader LGBTQ+ rights movement.

    Tanya Asapansa-Johnson Walker, a prominent trans activist, led protests outside the Stonewall Inn on February 16, where hundreds of people gathered to demand the restoration of transgender visibility in the monument’s historical account. During the protest, Asapansa-Johnson Walker expressed her outrage, emphasizing the ongoing importance of transgender people in society.

    “Trans people have been here since the beginning of time,” she said. “We fought in all the wars. We’re creators, we have families and children. We’re just as much a part of this world as anyone else. We’re here to stay and we will not be erased by a Christo-fascist, neo-Nazi administration.”

    The petition, launched by the activism platform Care2, calls for the immediate reinstatement of transgender history on the Stonewall Uprising page. In an official statement, Care2 condemned the removal, accusing the Trump administration of “deliberate harm” by erasing the contributions of trans people like Johnson and Rivera.

    The petition’s spokesperson further criticized the National Park Service for erasing the contributions of transgender individuals, calling the move “shocking and unjust.” They argued that by omitting the significant role played by transgender people in the Stonewall riots, the NPS is not only erasing the history of trans individuals but also undermining their foundational role in the broader LGBTQ+ movement.

    “At the heart of this erasure lies the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two transgender women of color whose bravery and activism helped launch a movement that continues to this day,” the spokesperson said. “These courageous individuals not only contributed to the uprising but also founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, which offered crucial support to homeless trans youth in New York City. The erasure of their contributions from this pivotal moment in history is an affront to the entire transgender community.”

    The petition has continued to gain traction, quickly approaching its goal of 30,000 signatures. Care2’s open letter demands that the government restore mentions of transgender people and their role in the Stonewall uprising to the monument’s historical description.

    In addition to demanding historical accuracy, the letter emphasizes the importance of preserving this part of LGBTQ+ history for future generations. “Transgender people have always been a central part of the LGBTQ+ movement, and we cannot allow them to be written out of history,” the letter concludes.

    The removal of transgender history from the Stonewall Uprising page comes at a time of heightened attention to LGBTQ+ rights under the Trump administration. Critics argue that this is part of a broader effort to marginalize the transgender community and erase their visibility from American history. The incident has also reignited concerns about the erasure of marginalized groups from mainstream narratives, particularly the historical contributions of people of color in the fight for civil rights.

    For now, the petition and public outcry continue, as LGBTQ+ advocates demand that the history of the Stonewall Uprising be accurately and inclusively represented, ensuring that transgender individuals are given their rightful place in the story of the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality.