Kaitlyn Duling - Sylvia Rivera: Leaders Like Us

2022, English, Kaitlyn Duling, Sylvia Rivera,

Full title: "Sylvia Rivera: Leaders Like Us" by Kaitlyn Duling.

"Introduce your child to one of the most influential LGBTQ activists and advocates in history with the children’s book Sylvia Rivera, part of the Leaders Like Us series. Who was Sylvia Rivera? Children will love learning about one of the most influential leaders and advocates for LGBTQ rights in this engaging biography.

Fun Storybook Features: This children’s book features a timeline, post-reading questions, and an interactive activity to develop reading comprehension skills. 24 pages of vibrant illustrations. About Rourke Educational Media: We proudly publish respectful and relevant nonfiction and fiction titles that represent our diverse readers, and are designed to support reading on a level that has no limits!" 

Sylvia Rivera was a transgender activist and a pivotal figure in the early LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States. She was born on July 2, 1951, and passed away on February 19, 2002. Rivera was of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan descent. She is best known for her involvement in the Stonewall riots of 1969, which is considered a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York City.

Rivera, along with her friend Marsha P. Johnson, was reportedly one of the individuals who actively participated in the resistance against the police during the riots. Sylvia Rivera co-founded the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) and later the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA), organizations that advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and social justice. She was a tireless advocate for marginalized communities within the LGBTQ+ movement, including transgender and homeless individuals. Rivera fought for transgender rights and inclusion within the broader struggle for equality, often highlighting the intersectional challenges faced by transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

Her activism extended beyond LGBTQ+ rights to encompass issues such as poverty, homelessness, and civil rights. Despite facing personal struggles and challenges, Sylvia Rivera remained committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals until her passing. Sylvia Rivera's contributions to the LGBTQ+ movement have left a lasting legacy, and she is remembered as a fearless and pioneering advocate for transgender rights and social justice. Her work continues to inspire activists and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights worldwide.

Available via Amazon

Photo via allgaylong.com