5 Trans Latine Activists Who Changed the Course of LGBTQ+ History

In the fight for justice, some voices echo louder not because they seek attention, but because they demand liberation in spaces that long denied them a seat at the table. Among those strong voices, there are trans Latine activists who carry the weight of multiple intersecting identities and refuse to be erased by systems built to overlook them.

From the riotous frontlines of Stonewall to the advocacy rooms of Congress, trans Latine leaders have been the architects of a movement that insists on dignity, safety, and visibility for all. They confront racism within LGBTQ+ spaces, demand justice in immigrant detention centers, and create a community where institutions have failed. And yet, despite their transformative work, their contributions are too often sidelined. Today, we shine a light on 5 extraordinary trans Latine changemakers whose activism has redefined what it means to fight for liberation.

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Sylvia Rivera: The Revolutionary

We can’t talk about the fight for LGBTQ+ rights without mentioning the legendary Sylvia Rivera. Born in 1951 in New York City, Rivera was a transgender activist of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan descent who was involved in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, which sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Alongside Marsha P. Johnson, she co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) in 1970, an organization dedicated to helping homeless LGBTQ+ youth, especially trans and gender-nonconforming individuals, and providing shelter for them.

Rivera fought tirelessly against racism, classism, and transphobia within the gay rights movement, often reminding others that trans women of color were at the forefront of the struggle for equality. She advocated for housing, healthcare, and legal protections for trans people, making her one of the most influential figures in LGBTQ+ history.

Bamby Salcedo: A Voice for Trans Rights

Bamby Salcedo is considered a powerhouse in the trans rights movement. A Mexican-American transgender activist, she’s the founder and president of The TransLatin@ Coalition, an organization based in Los Angeles, California, with operations in 10 different states across the U.S., including Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and New York. With funding from local and state governments, foundations, and private organizations, the TransLatin@ Coalition leverages its resources to design advocacy strategies in response to structural and institutional discrimination. They also offer lunches, legal consultations, shelter, clothing, counseling, health services, training, and employment opportunities to the community.

Salcedo’s advocacy is deeply personal. Having faced poverty, incarceration, addiction, and violence, she transformed her life and now dedicates her work to uplifting trans people, particularly those from marginalized communities. Salcedo is known for her work in addressing issues like HIV/AIDS prevention, immigration reform, and transgender healthcare. She previously occupied the role of Vice-Chair of the Commission on the State of Hate in California, which is a state body established to strengthen efforts to stop hate and promote mutual respect among California’s diverse population, and currently, she serves as a commissioner. She has testified in front of Congress, spoken at the White House United State of Women Summit, worked with policymakers, and continues to fight for the legal protections and safety of trans-Latine individuals across the country, making her a nationally recognized Trans Latine leader.

Jennicet Gutiérrez: Advocating for Undocumented Trans People

When it comes to activism, Jennicet Gutiérrez is a force to be reckoned with. She’s an undocumented transgender woman from Mexico who rose to prominence in 2015 when she interrupted a speech by President Obama to bring attention to the plight of undocumented LGBTQ+ immigrants held in detention centers. Gutiérrez is Co-Executive Director of Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement (TQLM), an organization dedicated to advancing the rights of trans and queer immigrants in the U.S., where Gutiérrez helps organize trans and queer Latinx and immigrant communities at a national level.

Her activism focuses on ending the detention and deportation of LGBTQ+ immigrants, many of whom face severe abuse, harassment, and neglect in immigration detention centers. Gutiérrez’s bold actions have helped shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked issues faced by trans immigrants, particularly in the Latine community.

Victoria Cruz: A Fighter for Justice

Victoria Cruz is another Puerto Rican trans woman and a longtime advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in New York City. Cruz worked at the Anti-Violence Project (AVP) for decades, helping LGBTQ+ people who have experienced violence, harassment, and discrimination. She’s also known for her work as an activist and a survivor of violence herself, channeling her experiences into advocacy to help others.

Cruz was a close friend of Marsha P. Johnson, and she was featured in the documentary “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson,” which investigates the circumstances surrounding P. Johnson’s death. Cruz is known as one of the first trans women of color to work in victim advocacy at AVP, providing vital support to survivors of hate crimes and other forms of violence. She’s a retired domestic violence counselor and lifelong activist who remains a revered figure and continues to inspire new generations of LGBTQ+ advocates.

Isa Noyola: Transgender Rights Activist

Isa Noyola is a transgender Latina activist who works on the front lines of the fight for transgender rights and immigrant justice. She has served as Deputy Director at Mijente, a political home for Latinx and Chicanx organizing, and at the Transgender Law Center, a nonprofit organization fighting discrimination against transgender people through impact litigation and policy work. Currently, she’s Deputy Director at Border Butterflies Project, a coalition-led initiative that provides critical support to queer and trans BIPOC migrants both at the U.S. Southern border and internationally. Through her work, Noyola is a fierce advocate for gender liberation and the decriminalization of immigration, especially active in abolishing detention centers and pushing for the humane treatment of trans women in immigration detention.

Her activism goes beyond fighting for the immediate rights of the LGBTQ community as she’s dedicated to creating long-term, empowered communities that uplift all women. As a former board member of the Women’s March, she worked to expand the organization’s reach beyond the annual event, advocating for deeper engagement in critical areas such as immigration, climate change, and reproductive justice. Through her wide-ranging efforts, Noyola confronts systems that seek to limit the progress of intersectional feminism, ensuring it embraces all individuals who identify as women.

These trailblazing trans Latines have made their mark, fighting for their community and inspiring others to keep pushing for justice and equality. As we celebrate their contributions, let’s also commit to supporting and uplifting the trans community in any way we can.