Trailblazing Trans Activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy Passes Away at 78, Leaving a Legacy of Resilience
October 14, 2025
In 2024, she was honored as a grand marshal at Pride and was celebrated as a mentor and maternal figure within the community, often called 'Mother' or 'Major'.
Miss Major's legacy is marked by resilience, fierce activism, and dedication to creating safety and justice for Black trans people and marginalized communities, leaving an indelible impact on the movement.
She was recognized with awards such as the 'Sue Hyde Longevity in the Movement' in 2024 and was a prominent speaker at major events, including the Democratic National Convention.
Her life story was documented in the 2023 memoir 'Miss Major Speaks,' which highlights her journey through challenges, love, and resilience, and she was regarded as a symbol of systemic resistance and radical love.
Despite health issues like a stroke in 2019, she continued her activism, founding the House of GG in 2019 and creating a refuge called the Oasis in Little Rock, emphasizing joy and resistance.
Miss Major is survived by her partner Beck Witt, her children, including Janetta Johnson, and numerous community members who regarded her as a maternal figure embodying courage, compassion, and the fight for trans rights.
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a trailblazing transgender activist and veteran of the Stonewall uprising, passed away at age 78 in Little Rock, Arkansas, with her death announced by the organization she founded, the House of GG.
Her activism spanned over fifty years, beginning with advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS in New York and extending to mentoring incarcerated individuals and fighting for LGBTQ+ equality.
Miss Major was outspoken against legislation such as Arkansas's 2021 ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth and stood in solidarity with young trans people in court and public meetings.
She played a vital role in the Stonewall uprising of 1969, fighting police brutality and becoming a symbol of resistance, often risking her safety during protests.
Her advocacy extended to prison abolition efforts, having been incarcerated herself, and co-founding organizations like TGIJP to combat transphobia in the prison system.
Her influence was widely recognized, with public figures like Indya Moore and Ericka Hart paying tribute to her enduring impact and love for the community.
Summary based on 17 sources
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Sources

The Guardian • Oct 14, 2025
Miss Major, trailblazing US trans rights activist and Stonewall veteran, dies aged 78
CNN • Oct 14, 2025
Transgender rights activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy dies at 78
PEOPLE • Oct 14, 2025
Longtime Activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy Dies at 78
KQED • Oct 14, 2025
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Trans Liberation Activist, Dies at 78