It is with great sadness that Queerguru has learned of the death of Victoria Cruz, a larger-than-life compassionate figure in the New York transgender community who was at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 when a police raid set in motion the gay liberation movement, and who later worked as an advocate for survivors of anti-trans violence.
She spent 17 years working for the New York City Anti-Violence Project, which provides counseling and other services for L.G.B.T.Q. and H.I.V.-affected survivors of violence. There, she focused on domestic abuse, but her role in the organization — and in the community — extended far beyond her official duties.
We had the privilege of meeting and interviewing her in 2017 after she played a starring role in David France’s documentary about the mystery surrounding the death of legendary NY drag queen and activist Marsha P. Johnson. She painted such a vivid picture of Marsha’s crucial role in the evolution of our community, but at the same time very generously played down her own major contribution.
We can, and should, never underestimate the contributions that both Victoria and Marsha made ………. we also feel honored we at least got to spend a very short time with Victoria and get to thank her. A small gesture for her lifetime of work.
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