1973: Silvia Rivera Gives a Speech at Christopher St March

1973. Silvia Rivera forced her way on to the stage when organizers told her she would have to wait for a much later slot. (context: in 1970, she was not permitted to give a speech at the march at all) Here is the speech.



I've been trying to get up here all day, for your gay brothers and your gay sisters in jail. They write me every mother-fucking week, and ask for your help, and you all don't do a god-damned thing for them.
Have you ever been beaten up, and raped, and jailed? [By this point, the crowd began to quiet down and respond.]
Now think about it. They've been beaten up and raped. And they have had to spend much of their money in jail to get their self home and to try to get their sex change. The women have tried to fight for their sex changes or to become women of the Women's Liberation and they write S.T.A.R., not the women's group. They do not write women. They do not write men. They write S.T.A.R. because we're trying to do something for them.
I have been to jail. I have been raped many times by men, heterosexual men that do not belong in the homosexual shelter.
But do you do anything for them? No! You all tell me go and hide myself between my legs.
I will no longer put up with this shit.
I have been beaten.
I have had my nose broken.
I have been thrown in jail.
I have lost my job.
I have lost my apartment.
For gay liberation.
And you all treat me this way? What's wrong with you all?
Think about that! [applause]
I do not believe in a revolution.
But you all do.
I believe in the Gay Power.
I believe in us getting our rights, or else I would not be out there fighting for our rights.
That's all I wanted to say to you people.
If you all want to know about the people who are in jail-and do not forget Bambi l'Amour, Andorra Marks, Kenny Messner and other gay people who are in jail-come and see the people at S.T.A.R. House on 12th street, on 640 East 12th Street between B and C, apartment 14.
The people that are trying to do something for all of us and not men and women that belong to a white middle class white club. And that’s what you all belong to.