Photo: Getty Images North America
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a trailblazing Black transgender activist and author best known as “Miss Major,” has died, per PEOPLE. She was 78.
In an Instagram post on Monday (October 13), the official account for the House of GG, the nonprofit founded by Miss Major, confirmed the trans activist's death.
"Miss Major has left us — in the comfort of her home and surrounded by loved ones in Little Rock, Arkansas," the post read.
Described as a “beloved leader and revolutionary figure in the TLGBQ liberation movement,” Miss Major spent more than five decades advocating for marginalized communities, particularly Black trans women, incarcerated people, and those living with HIV/AIDS. Miss Major founded the House of GG (The Griffin-Gracy Educational and Historical Center), an Arkansas-based retreat and organizing space focused on healing and empowerment for trans and gender-nonconforming people, especially from the South.
“Her enduring legacy is a testament to her resilience, activism, and dedication to creating safe spaces for Black trans communities and all trans people,” the post continued. “We are eternally grateful for Miss Major’s life, her contributions, and how deeply she poured into those she loved.”
Miss Major, often referred to as "Mama," was a foundational figure in the modern trans rights movement. She was a veteran of the Stonewall uprising in 1969 and mentored incarcerated trans women, whom she lovingly called her “gurls," while also leading advocacy around prison abolition, HIV care, and anti-police violence.
“She affirmed that our lives hold meaning and that we stand on the shoulders of giants like her, whose courageous love and relentless fight assured our right to live with dignity,” the House of GG said. “We will forever honor her memory, her steadfast presence, and her enduring commitment to our collective liberation.”
Miss Major's cause of death remains unclear. She is survived by her longtime partner, Beck Witt, her three sons, Asaiah, Christopher, and Jonathon, along with her many daughters, her chosen family, and her extended activist community.
Rest in peace, Miss Major.
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