LGBT advocate from the Stonewall riots dies aged 93
Storme DeLarverie, the lesbian activist who took part in the New York Stonewall riots in 1969, has passed away aged 93.
DeLarverie died on Saturday night in a Brooklyn nursing home. She had suffered from dementia in recent years.
One of her lifelong friends, Lisa Cannistraci, said that DeLarverie “was born into adversity and lived in adversity her whole life.
“She was a very serious woman when it came to protecting people she loved.”
DeLarverie was born in New Orleans and throughout her life had been a successful drag act, a bouncer at a number of New York bars and an advocate for LGBT rights.
She was among the many who fought against a police raid at the original Greenwich Village Stonewall tavern in New York City, back in 1969, an event widely seen as the catalyst for the modern LGBT rights movement in America.
“DeLarverie was a fierce woman who stood up for our community on countless occasions,” the Bronx LGBTQ Center said.
“Her love of people made Storme an advocate, and she stood up to all injustice whenever she encountered or heard about it.”
A funeral service is planned for Thursday.
