Black History Month - Black Trans Women - February 2nd

For the 2nd day this month, I wanted to highlight someone whose impact may not always be talked about loudly, but whose work has kept countless trans women alive: Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy is a Black transgender activist who has spent her life showing up for the most vulnerable members of the trans community, especially incarcerated and formerly incarcerated trans women. Born in 1940 in Chicago, she came of age in a world where being Black and trans meant constant danger, criminalization, and survival on the margins. She later moved to New York City and was present during the Stonewall uprising in 1969, experiencing firsthand the police violence and resistance that helped spark the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. What makes Miss Major’s legacy so powerful is how deeply rooted it is in care. After surviving homelessness, incarceration, and systemic violence herself, she dedicated her life to protecting others from the same harm. As a longtime leader of the Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project, she has fought for the dignity, safety, and humanity of trans women inside prisons, a group often completely forgotten. Miss Major reminds us that trans liberation is not just about visibility, but about making sure people survive, are loved, and are not abandoned. Her work is a cornerstone of Black trans history and continues to shape how we talk about justice, care, and community today.