Sylvia Rivera — The OG Transgender Latina Activist

We've talked a lot about Marsha P. Johnson but today we're finally circling around to her other half - her best friend and co-founder of STAR House - Sylvia Rivera!

Orphaned at a young age and suffering much abuse at the hands of her caretakers, Sylvia left home at eleven years old and never looked back. She found a new home with the drag queens of 42nd Street who took her in, dubbed her Sylvia, and taught her how to survive the streets.

Her activist heart was in action long before the Stonewall Riots, and she was supposedly there that night with Marsha, and said threw the second molotov cocktail that kicked off the riots!

Much of her story mimics Marsha's - being rejected by the greater Gay Liberation movement and shuffled to the sidelines - even denied the right to march in the first pride parade (thought her and Marsha did anyway!), but Sylvia remained a fighter for most of her life and left behind some epic stories in her wake. Listen now to hear her full story! 

—

A Broad is a woman who lives by her own rules. Broads You Should Know is the podcast about the Broads who helped shape our world!

3 Ways you can help support the podcast:

1. Write a review on Apple Podcasts
2. Share your favorite episode on social media / tell a friend about the show!
3. Send us an email with a broad suggestion, question, or comment at BroadsYouShouldKnow@gmail.com

—

Broads You Should Know is hosted by Sara Gorsky.

IG: @SaraGorsky

Web master / site design: www.BroadsYouShouldKnow.com

—

Broads You Should Know is produced by Sara Gorsky & edited by Chloe Skye