It Wasn’t a Party—It Was a Riot
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA77XEK32l_BA19MOj1J2Va0VcRzsHQ-9zassCfwy6oFJ1KR-pnlOXx2-TlZvn28TxTNiZq3soZDpDrVgv11a0gPKdZiVgzhRZ0vcXH70PVNgemAlJNM5m0gPTT_VI4_-bOd9_q_G6d7SK/s640/Black_Trans_Lives_Matter_May_Day_2017_in_New_York_City%252834045294240%2529.jpg)
By Beryl Baker and Livian Yeh San Francisco Pride is turning 50 this year amid a global pandemic and worldwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism. In response to questions about the upcoming virtual celebration and rally , San Francisco Pride board president Carolyn Wysinger expressed support of the protesters and highlighted the especially vulnerable Black trans community. “Stonewall was started by a Black trans woman. Stonewall was a defense of Black bodies,” says Wysinger. “In honor of this, San Francisco Pride will use this moment to lift up and center our Black LGBTQ+ community members.” The woman Wysinger referred to was Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender activist and performer credited with throwing the first brick at Stonewall. As the saying goes, Pride didn’t start as a party—it was a riot, and members of the LGBTQ+ community have long fought back against police harassment and discrimination. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons. According to