On February 19^th, 2002, Sylvia Rivera died at the age of 50 from complications of liver cancer. She never stopped fighting. She never stopped fighting.

She was a revolutionary and a visionary. She never stopped fighting. She never stopped fighting.

She stood up to the police and wasn't afraid to be arrested for what she believed in, even with all the risks and mistreatments being arrested carries for gender variant people, especially in the 60's and 70's. She never stopped fighting. She never stopped fighting.

She fought in the Stonewall Uprising. And, she never stopped fighting. She never stopped fighting.

She helped found the modern queer rights movement, only to be betrayed by it. But, she never stopped fighting. She never stopped fighting.

She was forced to live on the streets. But, she never stopped fighting. She never stopped fighting.

She saw her friend Marsha P. Johnson's murder go uninvestigated by the police. But, she never stopped fighting. She never stopped fighting.

She was able to be a force for change. Because, she never stopped fighting. She never stopped fighting.

She was able to help the homeless and oppressed. Because, she never stopped fighting. She never stopped fighting.

She was able to make the establishment hear her. Because, she never stopped fighting. She never stopped fighting.

Her work is not done. Never stop fighting. Never stop fighting.



Obituary for Sylvia Lee Rivera

thechuck_2112 apologized here for his personal attack on my gender status. While he reiterates his belief in chromosomal determinism, he does, however, admit that attacking someone's pesonal gender identity is wrong.

It's a start. Somewhere that it is possible to work from. If he regards me as a human with feelings, maybe he can try to put himself in my shoes, imagine what he'd feel like if he was born with a female body and was just as male idintified as he is now.

My first impulse whenever I am attacked on LiveJournal for being transgender is to crawl into the closet. It would be easy, because if I didn't mention that I was a transsexual, no one LiveJournal would know. Maybe I could switch to a new journal. Maybe I could just stop making waves on LiveJournal by posting my political views in various communities (which is how I got his attention).

But I will not crawl into the closet. I am proud of who and what I am. I will not go away. I will not hide. I will not be quiet.

I will stand up for who I am. I will continue to express my political views. I will continue to oppose chauvinistos.

If I had simply went away, into the closet, he would not have realized that his personal attack on my gender identity was not appropriate. And having made this realization hopefully he'll treat the next gender varient person he runs into online or IRL with more respect.

I thank my friends for coming to my defence, once again. You are all wonderful and helpful. I love you all. If it wasn't for the many who supported me, I don't think he would have realized the unacceptable nature of his attack. I think the reaction of so many made it clear.

From the Westboro Baptist Church: WBC to picket New York firefighter on his Topeka trip, Mar. 1-3, in religious warning/protest to fag New York and fag America: 'God is not mocked!' God Hates Fags! It was God's wrath that smote you for your fag sins 9/11!... see full text

Fred Phelps is now going after New York City firefighters, claiming God justly killed the firefighters on 9/11 because of their accepting of sin amongst them. The firefighter he's protesting isn't even queer! I think Phelps should get lots of prominent air time to spout his views. I want to see him on CNN. I want to see him in prime time. I think his mouth could be the most effective tool for the queer rights movement.