Mariah Lopez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mariah Lopez
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Lopez speaks at the NYC LGBT community center in 2013.
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| Born | 1985 (age 40–41) |
| Occupation | Executive director |
| Known for | Transgender rights activism |
Mariah Lopez (born 1985) is an American activist from New York City. She is known for her work fighting for the rights of LGBTQ people. Lopez has used the legal system to help create better laws and protections for the community. She is the executive director of STARR (Strategic Trans Alliance for Radical Reform), a group that supports the rights of transgender people.
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Early Life and Standing Up for Rights
Lopez was born and raised in New York City. When she was nine years old, her mother and grandmother passed away, and she was placed in foster care. She lived in several group homes, including some for gay and transgender youth. During this time, she met Sylvia Rivera, a famous activist, who helped her find housing. Lopez later earned her GED and went to college.
Even as a teenager, Lopez was a powerful voice for others.
- At age 13, she led a lawsuit to stop the mistreatment of gay and lesbian children in New York's foster care system.
- At age 16, she was living in an all-boys group home. She sued for the right to wear skirts and dresses, and at 17, she won her case.
- At age 20, she fought for New York City to cover the cost of her gender-affirming surgery. Although she lost the case on appeal, the city changed its policy two years later and began to cover these costs for others.
Before her surgery case was over, she also took legal action against the New York City Police Department. She said she was unfairly arrested and treated badly. The case was settled, and the city paid Lopez $35,000.
A Voice for the Community
Lopez has spent her adult life fighting for the rights and safety of transgender people.
Fighting for Justice
In 2006, Lopez spoke at a public hearing. She supported a new rule that would let people change the gender on their birth certificates without needing surgery.
In 2012, she pushed for the police to look again into the 1992 death of Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender rights activist. The police reopened the case to see if it was a homicide. In 2013, Lopez also protested when another transgender woman, Islan Nettles, was not treated with respect after her death.
Leading STARR
In 2014, Lopez started the Strategic Transgender Alliance for Radical Reform (STARR). .....
As a leader of STARR, Lopez supported a 21-year-old who had grown up in foster care. She was happy that the city's Administration for Children's Services (ACS) paid for the young person's gender-affirming surgery, following a policy that began in 2010.
Improving Safety and Housing
Lopez has also worked to create safe housing for gay and transgender people in jails and prisons. In 2014, she announced that a special housing unit was opening at Rikers Island after she had fought for its creation.
Recent Activism
Holding the City Accountable
Between 2017 and 2018, Lopez filed several lawsuits about her experiences at Marsha's House, which was the only shelter for LGBTQ adults in New York City at the time. Her legal action led to big changes. In 2022, New York City agreed to improve shelters for trans people. The city also promised to train staff better and make sure they do not discriminate. As part of the agreement, the city must report to Lopez to show it is keeping its promises.
Honoring History and Nature
In 2021, Lopez spoke out about a park named for Marsha P. Johnson. She wanted real flowers planted to honor Johnson, instead of the plastic ones the state planned to use. She also suggested creating another memorial garden for Johnson, Rivera, and other transgender people.
Lopez has also filed a lawsuit to protect the Christopher Street Pier, an important historical site for the LGBTQ community, from a new beach development. By July 2022, she had filed 14 lawsuits against government agencies to protect the rights and history of her community.
Personal life
Lopez is a Black-Latina trans woman.
