A4TE Mourns Passing of Transgender Icon Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

[Washington, D.C.] – Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) issued a statement today following the passing of pioneering transgender activist and icon Miss Major Griffin-Gracy: 
 
“Advocates for Trans Equality—its staff and community of advocates for transgender rights—deeply mourn the passing of Miss Major, who spent her entire life as a leading force in the fight for the rights and visibility of Black trans women and other trans women of color. Miss Major has been an endless source of inspiration to our work on trans equality. We owe Miss Major an immeasurable debt of gratitude for teaching us how to stand up and fight back, how to survive, and how to channel our anger into action for social change. 

"A4TE celebrates the life of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a giant in movement for trans equality. In addition to having participated in the uprising at Stonewall in 1969, Miss Major advocated for the rights of trans people, people who are incarcerated, and people living with HIV her entire life. Miss Major was the founder and Executive Director of the Transgender, Gender Variant, and Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP), an organization that worked on behalf of incarcerated trans people, until 2015. She also started the House of GG, a community center for trans people.

“Right now, the Trump Administration is terrorizing trans people and ushering in a regime built on hate, violence, and misinformation. Miss Major’s life is a reminder to all of us that righteous anger is an appropriate response when those in power refuse to treat us with dignity and equality. She lived her life in struggle, but with joy and humor, and we are honored to pick up her mantle and carry her spirit with us as we work for our communities until we have nothing less than equality.

“Our hearts go out to Miss Major’s loved ones and all who mourn her passing. Rest in power, Miss Major.”

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About A4TE

Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) is an organization that fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in the United States. Introduced in July 2024 after the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and the National Center for Transgender Equality merged, A4TE is the largest trans-led advocacy organization in the U.S. and brings together experts, advocates, and communities to shift government and society toward an equitable future where trans people live joyful lives without barriers.

Media Contact

Jonathan Adams, [email protected]