✨ Shine Your Light – A Monument to Memory, Legacy, and Truth

On April 12, 2025, something historic happened on the steps of the Museum of the City of New York.

In a city known for towering monuments and cultural landmarks, a new kind of tribute was unveiled — one not built to honor war or conquest, but to celebrate truth, defiance, and the enduring brilliance of a Black trans woman who changed everything. The Crystal LaBeija monument stands as a permanent symbol of resistance, artistry, and leadership that shaped ballroom and LGBTQIA+ history — and continues to shape the world.

The Shine Your Light Ceremony was more than a dedication. It was a living moment — a gathering of community, history, and purpose. We did not simply look back at Crystal’s legacy; we stood in it. We stood because of it.

The ceremony opened with a powerful spoken word tribute by Justin Frett, whose words sparked the energy of the afternoon and brought Crystal’s spirit into the space. Throughout the program, voices from across our community took the mic to reflect on her legacy and the light we each carry forward:

• Sean Coleman, who grounded us in the realities of advocacy and the urgency of trans visibility.
• Tabytha Gonzalez Margiela, who spoke to leadership and the power of sanctuary in ballroom.
• Jeffrey Bryant, whose reflections honored Crystal and connected the past to our present.
• Freddie LaBeija Elixir, who spoke from the heart about the importance of community and how it has shaped, supported, and saved his life.
• Julian Prairie, the sculptor who translated Crystal’s light into stone, sharing how the monument came to life.
• And finally, Junior LaBeija, who closed the ceremony with the voice of lived history — offering laughter, truth, and a reminder that Crystal’s fire will never fade.

From the powerful words to the moment of silence beneath a sky lit by hundreds of small lights, every part of this gathering affirmed what we already knew: our stories are sacred, our legacy is real, and Crystal’s light still guides us.

📸 We've released a full gallery of images from the ceremony, capturing every moment — from quiet reflections to radiant celebration.

👉 Click here to view the full Shine Your Light photo album on Facebook

To everyone who helped make this moment possible — thank you. For showing up. For shining. For carrying the light forward.

We shine because she shined first.
We shine because we must.

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