Major!

2013, English, Miss Major Griffin-Garcy, USA,

Director: Annalise Ophelian
Release Year: 2013

Synopsis:

In MAJOR! (2013), director Annalise Ophelian offers an intimate and empowering portrait of a pioneering figure in the transgender rights movement, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. This groundbreaking documentary sheds light on the life of a Black, formerly incarcerated transgender elder and activist, whose personal journey intersects with the larger history of LGBTQ+ rights, social justice, and survival. Through a combination of personal narrative, interviews with friends and family, and innovative visual storytelling,

 

MAJOR! presents a living history of a marginalized community that has often been erased or misrepresented. Miss Major’s life is a testament to resilience and the power of community. As a trailblazer in transgender advocacy, particularly for those impacted by incarceration, she has seen and experienced firsthand the brutalities of systemic oppression, while simultaneously shaping a movement of care, solidarity, and collective resistance. MAJOR! is not just the story of one woman’s remarkable life; it is a chronicle of struggle, survival, and revolutionary love. Through her eyes, we understand the urgent need for transgender justice—particularly for trans women of color—and the critical role of community-based activism in fighting for human dignity.

 

Born on October 25, 1946, in Chicago, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy was assigned male at birth, but her journey of self-discovery began at a young age. Growing up in a Black family on the South Side of Chicago, Miss Major’s early experiences were shaped by the cultural and political challenges of the 1950s and 1960s. By her early teens, she began to express her gender identity, which was met with rejection from her family and society. She was subjected to psychiatric treatment and religious interventions, experiences that were unfortunately common for LGBTQ+ individuals of that era. In the late 1950s, she came out as trans, at a time when the language and frameworks of gender identity were not yet developed as they are today. Describing the drag balls of the time,

 

Miss Major explains how these spaces became refuges for trans women and gender non-conforming individuals, where survival was a matter of wit, community, and keeping a sharp eye out for danger. Her narrative offers a raw and unfiltered look into the early lives of transgender people, particularly trans women of color, who were often invisible even within the broader LGBTQ+ movement. Miss Major’s life in New York City in the 1960s is integral to her story and to the history of the Stonewall Rebellion of 1969. She was a regular patron of the Stonewall Inn, and was present on the night of the riots, a seminal event in LGBTQ+ history. Her account of that night challenges the whitewashed narratives that often ignore the contributions of trans women of color. Miss Major recalls how the rebellion was not just about resisting police violence, but about asserting the right to exist freely, on one’s own terms. She notes that, for trans women, the Stonewall Riots were about more than the fight for sexual liberation; they were about survival in a world that offered no protection or recognition.

 

In MAJOR!, one of the most poignant moments comes when Miss Major recounts the death of her close friend Puppy, a trans woman whose tragic end catalyzed Miss Major’s transformation into an activist. Puppy’s death, officially ruled a suicide but strongly suspected by Miss Major to be a murder by a client, revealed to Miss Major the depths of violence faced by trans women—especially those who engaged in sex work for survival. This devastating loss sparked a commitment to protect and defend her trans sisters, a theme that would guide much of her activism in the years to come. Miss Major’s response to this violence was immediate and direct. She and her friends began taking proactive steps to ensure their safety, including making sure that other trans women documented information about potential clients, ensuring that people knew where they were and who they were with. This grassroots, self-organized form of resistance became a model for trans-led advocacy and support. In an era when systemic violence against trans women was largely ignored by mainstream society and law enforcement, Miss Major and her community showed that caring for each other was not just an act of survival—it was a radical, revolutionary act.

 

One of the most significant aspects of Miss Major’s activism, and a central theme in MAJOR!, is her work in addressing the intersection of gender, race, and the prison industrial complex. Miss Major’s experiences with incarceration, particularly as a trans woman in a predominantly cisgender male prison system, highlighted the brutal realities faced by transgender people behind bars. She has long been a vocal advocate for the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals within the criminal justice system. In the 1990s, after relocating to San Francisco, Miss Major’s activism expanded to include working with HIV/AIDS organizations and direct support for trans people, especially those who had been incarcerated. Her leadership role at the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP), which she co-founded in 2004, made a significant impact. TGIJP focuses on providing legal advocacy, social services, and support for transgender, gender variant, and intersex people who are incarcerated. Miss Major’s personal commitment to this cause, combined with her direct action and powerful storytelling, brought attention to the human rights abuses suffered by transgender people within the prison system. Her work at TGIJP also brought to light the broader ways in which transgender people are policed—not only in prisons but in everyday life. As she pointed out in interviews, the criminalization of gender non-conformity is part of the larger system of oppression that affects all transgender people, particularly those who are Black, Brown, or working-class. Miss Major’s activism was thus not just about trans rights but also about challenging the structures of power that perpetuate inequality and violence.

 

In addition to her work within the justice system, Miss Major’s life story in MAJOR! underscores the transformative power of community. For Miss Major, activism is not just about political change; it is about love, solidarity, and mutual care. This is evident in her later years, when she moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, and created the House of GG, a retreat center for trans people, which she later renamed Tilifi—short for "Telling It Like It Fuckin’ Is." The center serves as a space for healing, rest, and rejuvenation for trans people, offering a physical manifestation of the community and care that has defined Miss Major’s life. Miss Major’s activism is rooted in her belief that trans people, particularly trans women of color, deserve to live freely, to be safe, and to experience joy and connection. The community she has built is a testament to the revolutionary power of love and care, which is, in itself, an act of resistance against the forces that seek to marginalize and erase trans lives.

 

Through the lens of MAJOR!, we not only see the history of one woman’s extraordinary life but also the broader historical context of transgender activism, particularly the often-overlooked contributions of Black trans women. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy’s legacy is vast, but perhaps her greatest impact lies in the way she has taught others to care for each other, to resist violence, and to build communities that prioritize survival, dignity, and love. Her story challenges us to rethink the ways we approach activism and to recognize that true liberation is rooted in our ability to care for and protect one another. As Miss Major continues to advocate for justice and equality for transgender people, MAJOR! remains an essential work, offering a rare and invaluable glimpse into the life of a revolutionary whose contributions continue to shape the landscape of transgender rights today. Her memoir, Miss Major Speaks: Conversations with a Black Trans Revolutionary, published in 2023, further deepens our understanding of her journey and her vision for a world where transgender people—especially those from marginalized communities—can live and thrive without fear. In the words of Miss Major herself, "We’re not going anywhere." Indeed, her life and work show that the fight for transgender rights is not just about resistance; it is about claiming our space, our stories, and our right to exist.

via: missmajorfilm.com
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Image credits: YouTube