Happy Pride Month, Rainier Beach!

Pride Month is a time to celebrate all that makes us special and honor those who fought to ensure our rights. At Rainier Beach Action Coalition, we are constantly alongside our neighbors to make Rainier Beach more equitable and accessible for everyone. 

To do that work, we want to celebrate queer and trans community leaders from the past who continue to inspire our work for the future. 

Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera

Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (S.T.A.R). In 1972, they opened the STAR House, a shelter for gay and trans street youth. They funded this initiative by using money they made as sex workers. The STAR House provided food, clothing, emotional support, and a sense of community to those staying there or living in the area. 

Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde was an American writer, feminist, and civil rights activist. She was dedicated to confronting racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. Lorde is best known for her poetry, which skillfully expressed her emotions and addressed the injustices she witnessed throughout her life. 

Phyll Opoku – Gyimah (Lady Phyll)

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, also known as Lady Phyll, is a co-founder, trustee, and executive director of UK Black Pride. She serves on the Trades Union Congress race relations committee and is a trustee of Stonewall. 

More information about these queer icons can be found here: https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/lbgtq-activists-you-should-know.

We are incredibly lucky to come from a history of queer and trans activists that inspire our work to make Rainier Beach a better place for everyone!

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