Activism Without Creative Queers? You Got The Wrong B****!

ac·tiv·ism/ˈaktəˌvizəm/ noun: The policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change When I was younger, I remember listening to my great grandmother talk about housing local Black Panther members and my great aunt giving recollections of marching alongside Dr. King. I also remember my mother’s dear friend visiting and bringing us plates when times were hard, cackling on the sitting room sofa and letting her know that he would “lay hands” on any man that attempted to lay a hand on her. What those memories have in common are the stories of activism and personal sacrifice for the civil liberties (including escaping domestic abuse) of all. Those memories also, however, do not give name to the queer activists and friends who rallied and fought, quite literally at times, for the rights of their fellow brothers and sisters. “Tonight we stand together as one They have tried to kill our pride And now they have killed my family I’ve seen a lot of things But I’ve never seen a house fall from the sky, have you? So we will fight for justice, we will fight for equality And if the wizard wants to stop me He’s gonna have to take me down” -Todrick Hall We’re coming toward the end of Women’s History Month and I can’t think of a better time to highlight the contributions of some of our most marginalized sisters. Transwomen and drag queens have been at the forefront of civil rights and civil liberties activism for decades. Yet and still, they are never trul…