“We’re not going to be silent anymore. We’ve been quiet long enough.”
Loud, brash, and unapologetic are just some of the compliments used to describe Miss Major Griffin-Gracy! She was a Black, transgender activist who helped lead the 1969 Stonewall Uprising against the police. As a young adult, her transition from living as a man to living as a woman was tough. She was at constant risk of being bullied and hurt by others, and often did not have a home to live in. Miss Major was also kicked out of two schools after she transitioned to living as a woman. She found acceptance with the LGBTQ+ community at the Stonewall Inn, and was there with her girlfriend on the first night of the Stonewall Uprising.
In the years since, Miss Major continued her activism for the LGBTQ+ community. She founded Angels of Care, a group of Trans women who took care of dying gay men during the AIDS epidemic. She led many other advocacy groups including House of gg, a safe space where Transgender members can heal from pain and be nurtured into tomorrow's leaders.
At the age of 78, Miss Major passed away on October 13, 2025 in Little Rock, Arkansas following multiple health challenges. She is survived by three sons and countless daughters she helped raise.
In 2023, we at Historicons were fortunate to connect with Miss Major and show her as a piece of history in the Stonewall Uprising puzzle game. She expressed her support because it was a tool that could reach Trans youth. She did give us some constructive feedback, though! She wanted to see the word "Trans" written out so kids would be proud to say it. We listened and put it boldly in the Stonewall Uprising Coloring + Activity Book.
She also said the community's acronym should be TLGBQ+ because Trans persons are the ones who always lead the movement! You can read her full story in her book Miss Major Speaks. See the video below to watch Miss Major unbox her piece in history.
