Mabel Hampton

#MabelHampton (May 2, 1902 – October 26, 1989): Hampton was an American lesbian activist, a dancer during the #HarlemRenaissance, and a philanthropist for many Black and LGBTQ organizations. Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she was orphaned at a young age and sent to New York, where at the age of seven she was raised by an aunt and uncle. Fortunately, she ran away from home after one year in their “care,” escaping her uncle after he raped her and the apathy of the rest of the family. From the ages of eight until seventeen, she lived with a white family in New Jersey. During the 1920s, she danced in all-Black productions for Harlem Renaissance figures, most notably for #MomsMabley. Unfortunately, owing largely to racism and to the Great Depression, dance work declined and Hampton made a living as a cleaning woman for white families in New York City. In the 1930s, Hampton met Lillian B. Foster and the two remained a couple until Foster’s death in 1978. During World War II, Hampton and many other lesbian activists worked to support the war effort with the #NewYorkDefenseRecreationCommittee, where they collected cigarettes and refreshments for American soldiers. Though only ever earning a working-class income, she continued throughout her life to contribute to LGBTQ causes and the Martin Luther King Memorial Fund. She was honored in many Pride marches and spoke in 1984 at the New York City Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade, saying “I, Mabel Hampton, have been a lesbian all my life, for 82 years, and I am proud of myself and my people. I would like all my people to be free in this country and all over the world, my gay people and my black people.” Hampton died in 1989 at the age of 87 from pneumonia at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center. #PrideMonth #LGBTQIA #LGBTQIAPride #Pride #LegendsOfPride #YouCannotEraseUs