06/01/2026
When people gather each June to celebrate Pride, they are building upon the courage of countless individuals who refused to remain invisible. Among the most influential were MARSHA P. JOHNSON and SYLVIA RIVERA, two transgender women whose advocacy helped shape the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
In the late 1960s, LGBTQ+ people faced widespread discrimination, harassment, and criminalization. On June 28, 1969, a police raid at New York City's Stonewall Inn sparked days of protests and resistance. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera emerged as key voices in the movement that followed.
Both women understood that true equality meant fighting for those most often pushed to the margins.
The influence of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera can be seen in the growing recognition that equality requires addressing systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities.
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Red Door Family Shelter shares the same values championed by Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera: housing, safety, dignity, and belonging for people facing marginalization.
At Red Door, we see every day how stable housing, community support, and a sense of belonging can transform lives. These were principles that Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera understood deeply. Through their work with STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), they created safe spaces and support systems for young people experiencing homelessness and rejection, many of whom had nowhere else to turn.
Red Door serves women, children, and families experiencing homelessness with the underlying mission of ensuring that people facing vulnerability are met with compassion, respect, and practical support. Everyone deserves safety, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive.
Be part of what comes next for women, children, and families ➤ www.reddoorshelter.ca
Red Door – Toronto’s largest gender-based violence shelter
