The Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) was one of the earliest grassroots organizations dedicated to advocating for transgender, gender-nonconforming, and homeless individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. Co-founded by legendary activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera in 1970, STAR was a groundbreaking initiative that provided housing, support, and a voice to some of the most marginalized members of society.
At a time when mainstream LGBTQ+ rights movements largely overlooked transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color, STAR was a radical and essential force in the fight for equal rights and human dignity. Through their efforts, Johnson and Rivera not only offered a lifeline to countless people struggling with homelessness and poverty but also ignited a fire in the LGBTQ+ rights movement that challenged the community to be more inclusive and intersectional.
This article delves into the formation of STAR, the work of its founders, the challenges the organization faced, and its enduring legacy in the fight for transgender and LGBTQ+ rights.
The Birth of STAR
The birth of STAR came at a critical time in LGBTQ+ history. In the wake of the Stonewall Riots in 1969, which marked a turning point for LGBTQ+ activism in the United States, many LGBTQ+ rights organizations began to emerge. However, these groups often focused primarily on the needs of white, cisgender, gay men, leaving out transgender individuals, people of color, and those experiencing homelessness.
Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two transgender women of color, recognized that their community was being left behind. Both Johnson and Rivera had been present at the Stonewall Riots and were inspired by the growing momentum in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Yet, they knew that more needed to be done to address the specific struggles of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals—many of whom were homeless or engaged in sex work as a means of survival.
In 1970, Johnson and Rivera co-founded STAR as a direct response to the needs of their community. The organization aimed to provide housing and support for transgender individuals, especially those who had been rejected by their families or were unable to find stable employment due to discrimination. STAR also advocated for the broader recognition and inclusion of transgender rights within the larger LGBTQ+ movement.
The establishment of STAR was a revolutionary act in itself. At a time when transgender individuals were often invisible in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, Johnson and Rivera unapologetically claimed space for their community. Their activism centered on the principle that true liberation could only be achieved when the most marginalized members of society were uplifted.
The STAR House: A Shelter for the Marginalized
One of STAR's most significant achievements was the creation of the STAR House. Rivera and Johnson opened the STAR House in 1970 in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It became a home and shelter for homeless transgender youth, sex workers, and other disenfranchised LGBTQ+ individuals. The STAR House was a beacon of hope in an otherwise hostile environment, offering a safe space for those who had nowhere else to turn.
Rivera and Johnson, both of whom had firsthand experience with homelessness and sex work, funded the STAR House through sex work and whatever means they could find. They provided food, shelter, and clothing to their "children," as they referred to the residents of the house. The sense of community and solidarity within STAR House was a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of transgender individuals facing oppression.
For many of the youth who came to STAR House, it was the first time they had experienced safety and acceptance. It became a sanctuary for those who were often victims of police brutality, discrimination, and violence on the streets. STAR House operated on the principles of mutual aid and collective care, with everyone working together to support one another.
The importance of the STAR House cannot be overstated. It was one of the first shelters of its kind to provide direct support to homeless transgender youth, who were often overlooked by mainstream social services. While many LGBTQ+ organizations at the time focused on political advocacy or social gatherings, STAR was deeply rooted in addressing the immediate, material needs of the most vulnerable members of the community.
STAR's Activism and Impact
Beyond providing shelter, STAR was deeply engaged in political activism. Johnson and Rivera were vocal advocates for transgender rights and sought to bring visibility to the struggles of transgender individuals within the LGBTQ+ movement. They often faced resistance, not only from society at large but also from within the LGBTQ+ community itself. Many mainstream gay and lesbian organizations, which were focused on assimilation and respectability politics, were reluctant to include transgender individuals or address the issues of poverty and homelessness.
Rivera, in particular, was known for her fiery speeches and passionate advocacy. She frequently spoke at rallies and protests, calling out the exclusion of transgender people from the gay rights movement. In 1973, Rivera famously took the stage at the Christopher Street Liberation Day rally—a precursor to modern Pride parades—where she was initially booed by the crowd. Undeterred, she delivered a powerful speech in which she condemned the mainstream gay movement for abandoning transgender individuals and ignoring the needs of the most marginalized within the community.
STAR’s activism was deeply intersectional, addressing issues such as police brutality, poverty, homelessness, and healthcare access. Rivera and Johnson were at the forefront of the fight for transgender visibility and rights, long before these issues were widely recognized or accepted within LGBTQ+ circles. They understood that the struggles of transgender individuals were inextricably linked to broader issues of racial and economic justice.
Through their activism, STAR helped to push the LGBTQ+ movement to become more inclusive. They challenged the movement to broaden its focus beyond just issues of sexuality and to include gender identity, race, and class in its fight for equality.
The Challenges and Struggles of STAR
While STAR was a revolutionary organization, it faced many challenges. Both Rivera and Johnson struggled with poverty themselves, and sustaining the STAR House was an ongoing battle. The financial strain of providing for the residents of STAR House, combined with the dangers of sex work and the constant threat of police harassment, made it difficult to keep the organization afloat.
In addition to financial struggles, STAR also faced resistance from within the LGBTQ+ movement. Mainstream gay and lesbian organizations often prioritized respectability and focused on issues like marriage equality and workplace discrimination, which were seen as more "palatable" to the broader public. Transgender individuals, particularly those who were poor, homeless, or engaged in sex work, were often seen as too controversial or disruptive to the movement’s goals of assimilation.
Despite these challenges, STAR remained a vital force in the fight for transgender rights. Even when the organization was not able to provide formal services, Rivera and Johnson continued their advocacy, never wavering in their commitment to the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Decline and Legacy of STAR
By the mid-1970s, STAR had begun to decline, primarily due to a lack of funding and resources. The STAR House closed, and both Rivera and Johnson faced their own personal struggles, including homelessness, mental health issues, and substance abuse. Yet, even as STAR dissolved, the impact of the organization continued to reverberate throughout the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Johnson remained a central figure in LGBTQ+ activism until her death in 1992, and Rivera continued to fight for transgender rights for the rest of her life. She experienced a resurgence in recognition and respect in the early 2000s, just before her death in 2002. Both women’s legacies are now more celebrated than ever, with Johnson posthumously receiving honors such as a monument in New York City and the founding of the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, which advocates for the rights of Black transgender individuals.
STAR’s legacy lives on in the modern transgender rights movement. The organization’s focus on mutual aid, community care, and intersectionality has inspired countless activists and organizations in the decades since. Today, the fight for transgender rights continues, with many of the issues STAR addressed—such as homelessness, police violence, and healthcare access—remaining critical concerns for transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color.
The Relevance of STAR Today
As we look at the current landscape of LGBTQ+ rights, the lessons of STAR are more relevant than ever. While significant progress has been made in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, transgender individuals, especially transgender women of color, still face disproportionate levels of violence, discrimination, and poverty. The struggles that Rivera and Johnson fought against—police brutality, homelessness, and exclusion from mainstream LGBTQ+ movements—remain pressing issues in today's world.
STAR’s focus on grassroots organizing, mutual aid, and direct action offers a powerful model for contemporary activism. In a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack in many parts of the world, the spirit of STAR reminds us that true liberation requires centering the most marginalized and fighting for justice that is inclusive of all.
Organizations today, such as the Sylvia Rivera Law Project and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, continue the work that STAR began, advocating for the rights of transgender individuals and providing crucial services to those in need. The legacy of STAR is also seen in the growing recognition of the importance of intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ movement. Rivera and Johnson understood that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights could not be separated from the fight against racism, poverty, and police violence, and that understanding has become increasingly central to modern activism.
Conclusion
The Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries was more than just an organization—it was a lifeline for some of the most marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera’s visionary activism laid the groundwork for the modern transgender rights movement, and their legacy continues to inspire generations of activists.
While STAR may have been short-lived, its impact was profound. The organization’s radical commitment to uplifting transgender and homeless individuals challenged the LGBTQ+ rights movement to become more inclusive, and its focus on mutual aid and community care remains a powerful model for activism today.
As we continue to fight for LGBTQ+ equality, we must remember the lessons of STAR: that true liberation requires centering the voices and experiences of the most marginalized, and that the fight for justice is ongoing.