The campaigner and activist will be remembered for her tireless commitment to a better future
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY QUINN DOMBROWSKI, CC BY-SA 2.0 (FLICKR)
Trailblazing activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy has passed away aged 78, according to the House of GG Facebook account.
The author, activist and community organiser was a pioneer for trans rights throughout her life, notably setting up the The Griffin-Gracy Educational and Historical Center (also known as the House of GG) to empower trans leaders. She was a Stonewall veteran, a campaigner for trans rights, a voice for those with HIV and AIDS in the 1980s, and a champion of the abolitionist movement. Taking on the role of executive director of the Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project in 2005, she was a voice for the many who had been historically silenced.
In House of GG’s post announcing her death, her legacy was emphasised. They wrote: “Her enduring legacy is a testament to her resilience, activism, and dedication to creating safe spaces for Black trans communities and all trans people – we are eternally grateful for Miss Major’s life, her contributions and how deeply she poured into those she loved.”
The legacy of a figure like Miss Major is as sprawling and powerful as the work she undertook during her life. Documentaries like Major! and Personal Things highlight her prominence in LGBTQIA+ activism throughout history. In 2023, the book Miss Major Speaks: Conversations With A Black Trans Revolutionary was published, a memoir in which Miss Major recounted the many extraordinary moments of her life.
As a Black trans elder, Miss Major worked to create a better future for the trans generations beneath her. House of GG wrote: “Miss Major fought tirelessly for her people, her love as vast and enduring as the universe she knew herself to be a part of. She was a world builder, a visionary, and unwavering in her devotion to making freedom possible for Black, trans, formerly and currently incarcerated people as well as the larger trans and LGB community.”
The activist has been remembered for her unwavering commitment to fighting for change. The Human Rights Campaign left a touching statement, remembering the power of her work. “A pillar in our community, Miss Major’s lifetime of challenging work fundamentally changed and improved the lives of so many, especially Black transgender women. From Stonewall to her HIV activism to her support of so many transgender and gender nonconforming folks in the South, her legacy is powerful and lasting. We owe her a debt that can never be repaid.”
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