Williamsburg in Brooklyn in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

STAR House

A safe house for trans and gender non-conforming youth

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 16, 2024

1. STAR House Marker

Inscription.

STAR House. A safe house for trans and gender non-conforming youth.

"Sylvia Rivera deserves all the credit for STAR. I hope somebody writes a life story about her someday." , -Marsha P. Johnson

, STAR House was modeled on "house" culture, a form of mutual care in trans communities of color since at least the 1890s. Marsha P. Johnson founded STAR in 1970 with Sylvia Rivera, a Latinx trans woman known for her outspoken protests for gay and trans rights. At STAR House, Marsha and Sylvia served their mission for more than a year, providing food and housing. Traditional shelters are often unsafe and unwelcoming for trans people. STAR House served as a model for providing safe spaces for the TLGBQ+ community, STAR also had an activist branch, formed in 1970 during a five-day protest at New York University. The University's Gay Liberation Activist Group had hosted a summer series of dance-a-thons at the school's Weinstein Residence Hall. The school canceled the remaining events and banned further gay social organizing. In protest, Marsha, Sylvia, gay students, and soon, straight allies occupied the sub-basement of Weinstein Hall for days. Marsha and Sylvia seized the energy, led a march to Sheridan Square, and STAR was born. STAR's existence, separate from groups like the Gay Liberation Front and Gay Activist Alliance, reflected the struggle trans people had in being included in the greater gay rights movement, which would resist including trans people for many more years., STAR is now known as STARR, Strategic Alliance for Radical Reform, led by Mariah Lopez. STARR extends Sylvia and Marsha's legacy by fighting for health care, legal and police reform, as well as direct advocacy on behalf of trans people. STARR continues to serve the immediate needs of the transgender and gender non-conforming community, providing housing, food, and support. STARR has chapters throughout the United States, including the Deep South. STAR(R)'s work is rooted in the Civil Rights Movement, and at times overlapped with the Young Lords, Black Panthers, and other activist groups. STAR(R)'s work continues today., [Caption:] , The STAR Banner was first carried with the Young Lords in a Puerto Rican protest march in Spanish Harlem. Seen here, the banner is carried by members of STAR in the 1973 Christopher Street Liberation Day march. Sylvia Rivera is second from left. At this time, the larger community was still debating the inclusion of transgender people in the Liberation Movement. Parading the STAR banner represented a bold statement.

"Sylvia Rivera deserves all the credit for STAR. I hope somebody writes a life story about her someday."
-Marsha P. Johnson

STAR House was modeled on "house" culture, a form of mutual care in trans communities of color since at least the 1890s. Marsha P. Johnson founded STAR in 1970 with Sylvia Rivera, a Latinx trans woman known for her outspoken protests for gay and trans rights. At STAR House, Marsha and Sylvia served their mission for more than a year, providing food and housing. Traditional shelters are often unsafe and unwelcoming for trans people. STAR House served as a model for providing safe spaces for the TLGBQ+ community

STAR also had an activist branch, formed in 1970 during a five-day protest at New York University. The University's Gay Liberation Activist Group had hosted a summer series of dance-a-thons at the school's Weinstein Residence Hall. The school canceled the remaining events and banned further gay social organizing. In protest, Marsha, Sylvia, gay students, and soon, straight allies occupied the sub-basement of Weinstein Hall for days. Marsha and Sylvia seized the energy, led a march to

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Sheridan Square, and STAR was born. STAR's existence, separate from groups like the Gay Liberation Front and Gay Activist Alliance, reflected the struggle trans people had in being included in the greater gay rights movement, which would resist including trans people for many more years.

STAR is now known as STARR—Strategic Alliance for Radical Reform—led by Mariah Lopez. STARR extends Sylvia and Marsha's legacy by fighting for health care, legal and police reform, as well as direct advocacy on behalf of trans people. STARR continues to serve the immediate needs of the transgender and gender non-conforming community, providing housing, food, and support. STARR has chapters throughout the United States, including the Deep South. STAR(R)'s work is rooted in the Civil Rights Movement, and at times overlapped with the Young Lords, Black Panthers, and other activist groups. STAR(R)'s work continues today.

[Caption:]
The STAR Banner was first carried with the Young Lords in a Puerto Rican protest march in Spanish Harlem. Seen here, the banner is carried by members of STAR in the 1973 Christopher Street Liberation Day march. Sylvia Rivera is second from left. At this time, the larger community was still debating the inclusion of transgender people in the Liberation Movement. Parading the STAR banner represented a bold statement.

Erected by New

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 16, 2024

2. STAR House Marker

York State Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Civil Rights • Hispanic Americans • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1970.

Location. 40° 43.29′ N, 73° 57.769′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. It is in Williamsburg. It can be reached from Kent Avenue south of North 8th Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33 N 7th St, Brooklyn NY 11249, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New York City.

It is also in the American Northeast

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in North America

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Say Their Names (within shouting distance of this marker); Marsha P. Johnson's Legacy Continues (within shouting distance of this marker); Friends on the Fringes (within shouting

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distance of this marker); What Are Your Pronouns? (within shouting distance of this marker); A Trans Rights Timeline (within shouting distance of this marker); What Is Trans? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Park for the People (about 400 feet away); A Meadow in the City (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brooklyn.

Additional keywords. House culture; LGBT; LGBTQ; 🏳️‍🌈

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,468 times since then and 214 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 20, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.