Howdy Pride Family,
For 2025 Black History Month, we want to share the story of Sir Lady Java, a Black trans woman who paved the way for not just our San Diego community, but the entire national LGBTQIA+ movement.
As we face an ongoing onslaught of anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and bad-faith legislation, it’s essential to remember that the rights and spaces we have today are the result of decades of struggle and resilience. Our progress has never been guaranteed, and it was made possible by people like Lady Java.
Sir Lady Java
Lady Java, born in New Orleans in the 1940s, was an entertainer and activist who became a central figure in the LGBTQIA+ community everywhere she went. As a performer, she captivated audiences, and challenged rule number 9 that targeted transgender performers. Lady Java fought for the inclusion and visibility of trans people at a time when the fight for queer rights was often narrowly focused. She was one of the first openly trans women to challenge discrimination in employment, medical care, and housing, laying the groundwork for the trans rights movement we continue today.
Her activism went beyond the stage—Lady Java advocated for trans rights at a time when they were rarely considered in the broader LGBTQIA+ conversation. She stood at the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality, making her work particularly groundbreaking for Black and trans communities in a time where white LGBT activists used their positionality to punch down and exert racist power over our Black and brown kin.
This photograph displays Sir Lady Java and Redd Foxx standing in front of other protestors, holding a sign which reads, “Java vs. Right to Work” in front of the Redd Foxx club.
We Must Remember our History
As the saying goes, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” While we’ve made strides in codifying LGBTQIA+ rights, many of the issues Lady Java fought against—discrimination, erasure, and marginalization—are still with us as the federal government seeks to strip transgender and gender nonconforming people of legal recognition and protection.
Our history is so important. Our (Black) queer and trans elders fought so that we could have the rights and visibility we do today. We cannot afford to forget their sacrifices in a society that does not see our history and culture as worth teaching.
Their stories are not just relics of the past—they’re a battle plan for the future. As we face the butchering of transgender legal protections, it’s crucial to look back at the courage of people like Lady Java, Stormé Delarverie, and Marsha P. Johnson to find inspiration for the path ahead.
As we honor Black History Month, let’s remember the legacy of Sir Lady Java and continue fighting for a future where our history is preserved, and our rights are protected.
Con Orgullo,
With Pride,
Esmeralda “Esmé” Quintero-Cubillan
San Diego Pride raises funds primarily through festival ticket and beverage sales, and through sponsorships, and exhibitor fees. These funds support San Diego Pride’s community philanthropy which has distributed more than $2.5 million in advancement of its mission to foster pride, equality, and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities locally, nationally, and globally.
