Legendary Activist Awarded Yale’s 2024-25 Brudner Prize for Contributions to LGBTQ Rights
In a historic celebration of resilience and advocacy, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a pioneering figure in LGBTQ+ rights and a lifelong advocate for the rights of transgender women of color, has been named the recipient of Yale’s esteemed 2024-25 James Robert Brudner ’83 Memorial Prize. The prize, awarded annually by Yale’s Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) program, recognizes leaders who have made significant and lasting contributions to the LGBTQ+ community, and Miss Major’s impact, spanning over five decades, represents precisely that caliber of service and commitment.
Miss Major’s life and work embody the spirit of the Brudner Prize. A veteran of the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, Miss Major has dedicated herself to advancing the rights of transgender people, particularly transgender women of color, who often face severe marginalization within broader societal and even LGBTQ+ movements. Her work is marked by her unapologetic visibility, courageous advocacy, and enduring legacy of helping others, including formerly incarcerated transgender people and those grappling with homelessness, poverty, and the impact of systemic injustice.
WGSS Program Chair announced Miss Major’s selection with praise for her ‘unwavering commitment to justice and her resilience in the face of adversity,’ highlighting her ‘profound influence on generations of activists and LGBTQ+ community members around the world.’ Miss Major’s lifetime of work and advocacy is both a blueprint for change and an inspiration to anyone who fights for inclusivity, equity, and dignity.
The Yale LGBTQ Center congratulates Miss Major Griffin-Gracy on this well-deserved honor and extends our deepest appreciation for her lifetime of resilience, advocacy, and dedication to advancing justice and equality for transgender people and the broader LGBTQ+ community. Her courage and leadership continue to inspire us all.