Trailblazing trans rights activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy dies aged 78
– 2 min read
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a pioneering figure in the global struggle for trans rights and a veteran of the 1969 Stonewall uprising, has died at the age of 78. Her death was confirmed by the House of GG, the educational and retreat centre she founded, who announced that she passed away peacefully at her home in Little Rock, Arkansas, on 13 October, surrounded by loved ones.
Known affectionately as “Mama” to many in the LGBTQ+ community, Miss Major was a lifelong advocate for the rights and dignity of Black trans women, incarcerated trans people, and those living with HIV/AIDS. Her activism spanned more than five decades and was rooted in her own lived experiences of marginalisation, incarceration, and resilience.
Born in Chicago in 1946, Miss Major was assigned male at birth but identified as female from a young age. After facing rejection from her family and expulsion from college for wearing women’s clothing, she moved to New York City in the early 1960s. There, she became immersed in the drag and ballroom scenes and was present during the Stonewall riots, a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history.
Her activism deepened following her incarceration in men’s prisons during the 1970s, where she endured abuse and dehumanising conditions. These experiences galvanised her commitment to advocating for trans people behind bars. She later became the first executive director of the Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP), where she mentored incarcerated trans women and fought for prison reform.
In the 1980s, Miss Major was on the frontlines of the HIV/AIDS crisis, providing care and support to those affected. She founded Angels of Care, a home health agency in San Diego, and later established GiGi’s Place, a drop-in centre for trans people in San Francisco. In 2019, she launched the House of GG in Arkansas, a sanctuary for Black trans women and gender non-conforming people to rest, heal, and organise.
Miss Major’s legacy is one of radical love, community care, and unrelenting resistance. She was a mentor to countless younger activists and a symbol of survival and strength in the face of systemic oppression. Her memoir, Miss Major Speaks: Conversations With a Black Trans Revolutionary, published in 2023, offered a candid reflection on her life and activism.
She is survived by her partner Beck Witt, her sons Asaiah, Christopher and Jonathon, her daughters including Janetta Johnson, and a vast chosen family of activists, mentees, and community members who continue to carry her vision forward.
Tributes have poured in from across the globe, with LGBTQ+ organisations, civil rights leaders, and community members honouring her as a “world builder,” a “visionary,” and a “revolutionary figure in the TLGBQ liberation movement.”
As the world mourns her passing, Miss Major’s words and work remain a guiding light: “We’re never done. We keep going. We fight for each other. We love each other. That’s how we win.”
