Women Of The Queer Liberation Movement

I love women so much that I stopped being one to make room for more. On the topic of women, women’s history is upon us, and you know I have to bring up a few of the lovely ladies that helped the queer liberation movement. 

Marsha P Johnson, the shot glass heard around the world, is probably one of the most well-known women in the LGBTQ liberation fight. She was one of the founding members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) as well as a co-founder of the Sweet Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). STAR was founded in 1970 to shelter homeless trans youth, sex workers, and a mix of other marginalized members of the queer community. She spoke publicly about HIV, saying to not be afraid of those who are positive. Despite her mental health issues, she prevailed. Unfortunately, Marsha was found dead on July 6th with a bruise on the back of her head. Despite being ruled a suicide, friends and family denied it. They knew she wouldn’t have done that. Her case was closed as an undetermined cause only to be reopened in 2012 by activist Mariah Lopez. Documentaries and documents keep Marsha alive. Rest well, Marsha. You’re remembered fondly. 

Sylvia Rivera fought right alongside Marsha. She co-founded STAR, the GLF, and later campaigned with the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA). She worked tirelessly for marginalized groups within the community and fought against the exclusion of trans people from the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act. Sylvia was a strong voice for queer people of color and queer people with low incomes. Sylvia continued to fight even after Marsha’s death. She led ACT-UP marches and several rallies. The Gay Rights Bill that was being talked about in the early 70s excluded the trans community. She claimed that activists had met with politicians without her and other trans activists. The only way the bill would be passed was if trans people were left out. In 1973, Sylvia delivered her “Y'all Better Quiet Down” speech at the Christopher Street Liberation Day Rally as she was being booed by the crowd. She stated, “You all tell me, go and hide my tail between my legs. I will no longer put up with this sh*t. I have been beaten. I have had my nose broken. I have been thrown in jail. I have lost my job. I have lost my apartment. For gay liberation, and you all treat me this way? What the f**k’s wrong with you all? Think about that!”. She felt betrayed by the movement she helped start and disappeared from activism until the mid-90s to help rally for gay marriage and queer people in the military. Despite her death in 2002, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project keeps her legacy and ideas alive. Rest up, Sylvia. We haven’t forgotten you. 

Edith Windsor brought on a court case that would bring a win for the queer community. Following her wife’s death, Windsor filed a lawsuit against the federal government stating that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violated the Fifth Amendment of equal protection. She won her case, marking Section 3 of DOMA unconstitutional. This gave married lesbian and gay couples the right to not be discriminated against for the purposes of determining federal benefits and protections.

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon are two women who got legally married in 2008 after 55 years of waiting. Though, this was their second time being wed. In 2004, Martin and Lyon were illegally wed by Gavin Newsom (San Francisco’s mayor at the time) as a means to be a part of a lawsuit to champion marriage equality across the US. In the 1950s, they were editors of The Ladder, a publishing by the first lesbian organization called Daughters of Bilitis (DOB). They were the first lesbian couple to join the National Organization for Women as feminism was a part of their work. Unfortunately, Martin passed away after their two months of legal marriage. Lyon takes some solace in knowing they helped spur the rights of themselves and many others before Martin’s death. Your love will never be forgotten, girls. You’ve done amazing things. Rest well.

Barbara Gittings is often called the mother of the LGBTQ civil rights movement. Gay activism was hardly developed in the 1950s. In 1958, Gittings started the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis. Between 1963 and 1966 she edited The Ladder, the first national lesbian magazine. Alongside Frank Kameny, she enlisted activists from many places for the first public demonstrations for queer equality. The protests (known as the Annual Reminders) held in front of Independence Hall on the 4th of July from 1965-1969 paved the way for the Stonewall riot. A police raid hit the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, NY. After a woman who was being arrested roughly called for action to be taken, people followed. Pennies, stones, and bottles were thrown which then led to an explosive riot. These riots went on for five days until they settled down. On the one year anniversary of this riot, Gittings canceled the Annual Reminders and instead served as marshal support for a march. This proceeding went from Greenwich Village to Central Park. People remember it as the first NYC Pride Parade. Gittings didn’t stop there, she kept fighting. She got homosexuality out of the DSM-5, it was no longer classified as a mental illness. The American Library Association gave her a lifetime membership as she volunteered with their Gay Task Force. She became the group’s coordinator for 16 years and edited the Task Force’s bibliography. She promoted gay literature and called out discrimination in libraries. The Free Library of Philadelphia has the Gittings Collection of gay and lesbian materials in its Independence Branch. She passed in 2007 but her memory lives on. Barbara, thank you for being the mother of this movement. You will be missed. Rest in power.

Mary L. Bonauto has been one of the attorneys at the GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) since 1990. She has faced several state and federal courts in New England on several LGBTQ discrimination issues. Bonauto established parentage protections, strengthened student rights, relationship recognition, and marriage defense. In 2003, Bonauto argued on behalf of GLAD in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health. Winning this case allowed same-sex couples in Massachusetts to legally marry. In 2015 she met with the Supreme Court in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges. She argued successfully and the case established the freedom to marry for same-sex couples across the US. GLAD still has Bonauto as Senior Director of Civil Rights and Legal Strategies. She celebrated 20 years of her win in Massachusetts in November 2023, she’s proud of the community's bravery and the fight she helped us win. Thank you, Mary, for your help. We love you. 

Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer was honorably discharged from the military in 1992 after she disclosed she was a lesbian. This was part of a routine security clearance interview. She promptly filed a lawsuit against the decision in civil court. Her case was brought to court by Judge Thomas Zilly in 1993 where he ruled that Cammermeyer’s discharge and the ban on gays in the military were unconstitutional. She was able to return to the National Guard and continued to serve until 1997. Due to her case, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule was implemented. Her fight for equality continued throughout the years, landing us in 2011 when her efforts finally succeeded and DADT was repealed. Cammermeyer published her book Serving In Silence in 1994. The 1995 made for television movie based on the book was aired, this earned the Peabody award and three Emmys. Following the legalization of same-sex marriage in Washington State (2012), Cammermeyer and her partner Diane Divelbess were the first same-sex couple to get a marriage license in Island County. She still continues her fight for civil rights. Cammermeyer has posted relatively current updates on governmental affairs on her website as well as songs she has written. She and her wife have 11 grandchildren and two adorable rescue dogs. These lovely ladies have worked so hard for their happiness. Thank you for your service, Colonel. 

Virginia Apuzzo was a nun in the Bronx before Stonewall occurred. After the 5 days of riots happened in 1969, she left the sisterhood and came out publicly as a lesbian. This began her work as an activist as well as an educator. She joined the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and served as an executive director. Apuzzo worked to get LGBTQ issues into democratic parts of politics. She was one of the first openly lesbian delegates at the Democratic National Convention as a part of the first queer civil rights plank for the Democratic Party. The Women's Caucus, part of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, welcomed Apuzzo and her partner Betty Powell. Powell was the first black lesbian in the group, this opened the doors for many others. Apuzzo and Powell were loud and proud about lesbian rights after feminists attempted to exclude lesbians in the movement. During her tenure with NYC’s Department of Public Health, she became a vocal AIDS activist. She created one of the first phone hotlines for AIDS education and resources. She lobbied for federal funds and testified at a hearing on AIDs. Apuzzo was named vice chair of the New York State AIDs Advisory Council in 1985. In 2007 she was appointed to the Commission on Public Integrity by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. She’s since retired. Thank you for your hard work, Virginia. Your voice will forever be heard. 

I’d be sitting here for days at a time if I wrote about all of the ladies who helped this movement thrive. Whether past or present, women have been a huge part of this fight. Mothers, daughters, sisters, wives… They’ve all fought hard for where we are now. Even those that were gone too soon, they’re smiling at our progress. Thank you for leading the movement, ladies. You will forever be in my heart. And an extra special thanks to my mom who taught me to live, love, and use my voice. I love you, mom. Happy Women’s History Month. I’ll catch ya later.