2 Transgender Activists are finally being honored. Just in time for Pride Month.

via usatoday

On Thursday it was announced that New York will build monuments commemorating two key figures of the LGBTQ movement, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Johnson and Rivera were transgender activists who were prominent leaders of gay liberation in the ‘60s. Drag performers who began their friendship on the streets of New York— they relentlessly fought for transgender visibility and equality. They brought awareness to HIV and AIDS in their community as well as co-founded “Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR)” to protect the homeless LGBTQ youth. (It is important to note that the word Transgender was not commonly used during this time).

This news comes just in time for Pride month beginning on Saturday. Johnson and Rivera were also participants in the Stonewall Uprising, which led to the first gay march in the country. In June 1969 New York police raided a popular gay bar on Christopher street, which became a marker of LGBTQ defiance against as they rioted against the police. This event and the march following, led to the June officially being declared Pride month in the United States.

via time

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, so it is more than fitting these monuments will be created. While the riots happened half a century ago, we cannot forget that the LGBTQ community is still being denied their basic rights. After all, same-sex marriage only became legal in 2015 and we are still dealing with Trump’s transgender ban. Fifty years may sound like a long time, but that’s younger than the age of our parents— representing just one generation ago. Hatred for a community does not immediately ‘go away’ with one person. In fact, it is a self-sabotaging burdeon that is usually carried on from one generation to the next, filling minds with its ignorance while remaining emotionally stagnant.

via Penn State

While the yet to be commissioned monuments will not be completed until 2021, New York notes that Johnson and Rivera’s public recognition is long overdue. Chirlane  McCray stated: “The L.G.B.T.Q. movement was portrayed very much as a white, gay male movement”... “This monument counters that trend of whitewashing the history.”

The erasure of transgender people, especially those of color is nothing new. This is evident in politics, the news, entertainment, sports, clothing and beyond. However with public monuments such as these, TV shows such as Pose and transgender politicians like Danica Roem and more entering the political spotlight the transgender community is finally getting the recognition and representation they deserve.With Pride month around the corner, as allies we need to learn to listen, support and ACT more than just 30 days a year.