This week we honor Sylvia Rivera, one of the many transgender, LatinX trailblazers.

Born of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan descent, Sylvia was abandoned by her father early in life and became an orphan after her mother committed suicide when Rivera was 3 years old. She began living on the streets at 11 years old, where she joined a community of drag queens.

After the Stonewall uprising in ‘69, Rivera joined the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA) and worked to pass the NYC gay rights bill.

She was famously arrested for climbing the walls of City Hall in a dress and high heels to crash a closed door meeting on the bill.

In time, the GAA eliminated transgender concerns. Years later Rivera told an interview, “When things started getting more mainstream, it was like, ‘We don’t need you anymore.’” But she added, “Hell hath no furry like a drag queen scorned.”

Sylvia Rivera was a persistent and vocal advocate for transgender rights. Her activist zeal was fueled by her own struggles to find food, shelter and safety. In ‘70 Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson co-founded (STAR) Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) to help homeless youth.

8am Kettlebell
2 Rounds
1 min on each station, 30sec rest:
– Air squats
– Pushups
– Ring rows or pull ups
– Burpees

9am WOD
“Sylvia Rivera”
3 rounds for time:
– 50 back rack lunges 115/85
– 800m run
– 50 hand-release push-ups
Rest 2 minutes between rounds

10am Olympic Lifting