Trans Wall of Fame

Countless trans people have broken national - and in some cases international - consciousness to fight for trans rights and raise awareness of the issues and injustices facing the community. In this article, we’re honouring just some of the names that make up the Trans Wall of Fame, of the brave and pioneering trans activists who have worked - and in some cases given their lives - to improve the chances for their communities.

Sylvia Rivera

Working with Parsha P Johnson to co-found Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), Sylvia Rivera worked tirelessly through her entire life for LGBT+ rights. Identifying as a transvestite in her lifetime, owed to a lack of common usage of the word transgender, Rivera helped pioneer for LGBT+ people after being forced to live on the streets from the age of 11 because of her family’s disapproval of her “effeminate” behaviour. Despite identifying throughout her life as a gay man, a gay woman, a drag queen and a transvestite, Rivera used she/her pronouns and in her later life began to take hormones. Sylvia took her own experiences, and the experiences of her contemporary, and used them to work as an advocate for her community to ensure that no one was left behind.

Marsha P Johnson

P standing for “Pay it No Mind”, Marsha P Johnson is one of the names that immediately conjures up images of the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. Identifying as a drag queen, transvestite, and a gay man, Johnson used a variety of pronouns. Following Stonewall, Johnson helped grow the Gay Liberation Front, and contributed to the early Pride Parades that followed Stonewall until the committee banned Johnson and friend Sylvia Rivera as they did not wish to “allow drag queens”. Injustice was not uncommon in Johnson’s life, but it only strengthened the resolve to make real change. Co-Founding STAR, which helped shelter gay and trans kids during the 70s, Johnson was responsible for helping to construct a real sense of community amongst the dispossessed LGBT people of New York.

Imara Jones

TransLash Media, Imara Jones’ creation, is a platform that provides content aimed at fighting for transgender people in America, and which seeks to dispel myths around the community. This is core to Jones, who in her other work has continued to promote and champion social justice and equity. After TransLash was nominated for a Queerty Award, Imara Jones went on to chair the first-ever United Nations High-Level Meeting on Gender Diversity to discuss important topics around the subject. As well as Gender Diversity and Trans Equality, Jones has also advocated for communities with HIV/AIDS, including her work whilst working at Viacom where her award-winning campaign brought attention to the importance of HIV and AIDS and knowledge around it.

Candy Darling

One of the Warhol Superstars of the 1960s, Candy Darling was a transgender icon of the post-war age. Appearing in a number of Warhol’s films, Darling made a name as one of the starlet socialites of the New York scene, parading from bar to bar throughout the city with a repertoire of high society friends. Meeting Warhol and going on to perform in a number of his works alongside other actors like Robert de Niro however, brought Darling to the mainstream. Dying young at the age of just 29, even in death Darling stayed true to her character - describing herself as bored of life on her deathbed, her funeral attracted sizeable crowds for the icon that captured imaginations.

Sam Smith

Award-winning singer-songwriter Sam Smith has had numerous successes in their field - from a number of number one hits (both those they performed themself, and those they wrote for others) to produce the Bond Theme for Spectre. According to interviews, Smith knew they were non-binary for many years, but negative reactions from peers at school and an incident of assault forced them back into the closet. After reaching success, however, and being able to come out as gay in 2014, Smith was able to find the courage and support to come out as genderqueer in 2017, adopting they/them pronouns.

Masen Davis

Executive Director of Transgender Europe Masen Davis has had a prolific career as an advocate for LGBT+ and particularly Transgender rights. Previously executive director of Freedom for All America and the Transgender Law Center, Davis worked ot eliminate insurance exclusions for Transgender people in California, as well as lobbying to pass laws to improve the support for Trans students. His careful work brought the organisation to national level attention, and he successfully tripled the size of the team working for Trans equality.

Isis King

Described as “one of the most visible transgender people on television”, Isis King staked a name for herself on the 11th and 17th series of America’s Next Top Model as the first trans woman to compete. Assigned male at birth, King prefers the phrase “born in the wrong body”, asserting that mentally, and on all levels except physical, she was born female. Facing rejection from her family over transitioning, and becoming homeless in the process, King pursued a career in runway modelling to support herself and launch her career. Since America’s Next Top Model, King has worked with a number of brands and celebrities to raise the profile of trans people in America and the issues concerning the community.

Ayla Holdom

National Police Air Servicewoman Ayla Holdom flew for the RAF for over a decade before switching to fly as a Search and Rescue Pilot for 7 years. Involving herself at all levels, Holdom has worked closely with the RAF’s Freedom Network, as well as All About Trans and Stonewall to tell her story and to work for positive representation of trans people, through providing trans role models. Featuring as one of the RAF Stories at the RAF Museum in London, and having her life portrayed in “Still Point Turning”, Holdom has overcome so many hurdles within her career. Outed by the Sun in 2010 because she worked with Prince William, she has climbed above those that would seek to pull her down and lives authentically as herself.