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Whether you know her as a multi-award-winning performer or as a director, Chanel Santini

The popular narrative of the 1969 Stonewall Riots often centers gay men and lesbians. However, historical accounts consistently highlight the pivotal roles of transgender activists, particularly trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera (Carter, 2010). Johnson, a self-identified drag queen and trans activist, and Rivera, a Latina trans woman and co-founder of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), were on the front lines. Their subsequent marginalization by mainstream gay organizations—being excluded from gay pride marches and shelters—foreshadowed ongoing tensions.