THE DIVAS OF SHERIDAN SQUARE

As we approach another PRIDE season, with all the white-washing, revisionist and assimilation hoopla about PRIDE and LGBT rights;  revolutionary queers must remember our roots and the many struggles and rebellions which paved the way for us to be visible, to be out and to celebrate our Queer Pride.  For me personally, I have been reading and re-reading the many accounts of the primarily young street people, be they trans, gay, lesbian, that fought for Power to ALL the People (a common chant used by Sylvia).  At the center of these struggles was the Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries (S.T.A.R.), a group of young street transvestites whose mission proclaimed an end to the injustices of deadly prison conditions, daily police harassment, a hostile and malevolent legal and mental health system, discrimination against street transvestites in employment and housing.  The key visionaries of S.T.A.R. (Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson) envisioned a group and home for the abandoned street transvestite youths; and this organization stood for a social revolution and a dismantling of the very state institutions of a capatalistic system and society that was directly responsible for many of these horrific oppressions.

I have copied below Jimmy Centola’s poem written in the seventies called the “Divas of Sheridan Square” which pays homage to the denizens of Sheridan Square, Marsha “Pay it No Mind” Johnson [and Sylvia Rivera] among them!

THE DIVAS OF SHERIDAN SQUARE

HAVE YOU SEEN ALL THE DIVAS OF SHERIDAN SQUARE

KROOZIN DOWN TO THE RIVER BY MORTON STREET PIER

SOME ARE DARK, TOUGH AND TAKI, SOME FLAWLESSLY FAIR

I AINT DISHIN

JUST WISHIN

I COULD BE STANDIN THERE

DEAR MISS LANCE, TALL AND TRASHY AND EVER SO PROUD

SHE’S STILL KROOZIN AND LOOSING AND BEING QUITE LOUD

AS SHE SWIHSES BY GAYLY ON HER PINK FAIRY CLOUD

SHE’S A MYSTIC MIRAGE

TO THE WHOLE JOHN WAYNE CROWD

ARE THERE THOSE HOT LEATHER NUMBERS STILL DOIN THE ROCK

ARE THE STREET PEOPLE KROOZIN, THEIR BLUES SHOVED IN HOCK

EACH ONE PAYIN HIGH DUES

IN A HIGH CULTURE SHOCK

IS MISS MARSHA STILL TIPPIN AND SPREADIN GAY JOYS

AINT A THING THAT SHE’S MISSIN, CANT GET FROM THE BOYS

EITHER WORKING THE HIGHWAY OR CHECKING THE SCENE

MISS THING ALWAYS SPARES CHANGE

FOR SOME STONE DYING QUEEN

IS THE FAIR ROLLERINA STILL SKATING AROUND

IS SHE STILL MAKING MAGIC ALL OVER THE TOWN

SHE CAN ROLL UP A RAINBOW AND ROCK IT BACK DOWN

IN HER WHITE FAIRY GOWN

IS MISS BAMBI STILL SLEEPING ALL OVER THE STREET

CAN I STILL COP SOME POPPERS WITH ALL THE ELITE

ARE THE OLD GIRLS STILL TRIPPING, THE CHICKENS STILL SWEET

MISSING ALL THAT’S DISCREET

HAVE YOU SEEN ALL THE DIVAS OF SHERIDAN SQUARE

KROOZIN DOWN TO THE RIVER BY MORTON STREET PIER

SOME ARE DARK, TOUGH AND TAKI, SOME FLAWLESSLY FAIR

I AINT DISHIN

JUST WISHIN

I COULD BE STANDIN THERE

Jerimarie notes: Rollerina (from stonewall remembrance) A tranny called Rollerina glided around on roller skates. She wore an antique faded beige party dress, making graceful backward circles. Her poker face and gray wig, pulled back into a bun, gave her the appearance of a thin specter from an southern gothic novel. She waved her magic wand blessing the passers by. There was a glittered star at its tip: Dorothy’s Good Witch.

From Lady Clover Honey’s blog: Rollerina is the celebrated Drag Queen who was known in the 1970s for roller skating around the streets of Greenwich Village the paths of Central Park and the dance floor of Studio 54. She would wear flowing skirts, church lady hats, crazy glasses and blessed people with her fairy wand. She is still around today, kicking and making appearances - although she no longer roller skates. She is especially revered by Drag Queen artists today, whom she paved the way for. Decorating the walls of The Center were works of art re-created by artist David Avielles that were seen at the original Studio 54, including the infamous Man In the Moon with a Cocaine Spoon wall sculpture. “The Center does not condone drug use.” explained Dance 208 manager Joe Fiore. “The Moon is there for nostalgic reasons only.” Joe didn’t think it was proper to reveal a lady’s age when he introduced Rollerina for her big speech, but she proudly announced that she was 60 years old. She later said to me “I feel like I’m 40 and I don’t even use Viagra!” She also said she was proud to have me as a God Daughter. One of her favorite memories of Studio 54 was Halloween of 1977 when a prop that looked like a popper sprayed everyone on the dance floor with fairy glitter. Studio 54 is no longer around, but we all are glad that Rollerina is still here, still celebrating original gender expression and creativity and an inspiration to us all.

Miss Bambi is Bambi L’Amour from S.T.A.R.  Bambi and Sylvia first met in Rikers Island and both were founders of S.T.A.R. (The Gay Liberation Youth Movement in New York by Stephan L.
Cohen)

Marsha “Pay it (snap of the fingers) No Mind” Johnson needs no footnotes, she is our history!