This is the reason why I love doing this type of research. I get to learn so much more about our past ("our" meaning "U.S.A." of course) and the colorful history that has gone into creating it. Not all of it is beautiful and it seems that more times than not it is the hardship of stark reality.
Sylvia Rivera's story takes from both aspects. She was born Ray Rivera in New York City of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan descent. Both parents died while she was very young and grew up with a grandmother in New York City.
Because she was gay and transgendered, had lived on the streets, battled addiction and often went hungry, Sylvia made these issues her personal crusades. She and her good friend Marsha P. Johnson founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries which advocated for homeless drag queens and runaways.
I can't list all of her accomplishments and chronicle her activism in a short blog so please read her incredible story here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Rivera
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