Movement Generation

Patty Berne,a Japanese-Haitian person with light brown skin, smiles playfully with love and light shining from their brown eyes. They wear an off the shoulder opalescent blue dress and an amethyst pendant. Their brown hair is pulled back into their signature two buns. Behind Patty is a pink background with radiant red and yellow flowers. Text reads: Remembering Patty Berne. Illustration by Nomy Lam.

On May 29, 2025, our community lost a dear friend and comrade, Patty Berne. Patty was co-founder and longtime Executive and Artistic Director of Sins Invalid and a primary architect of the Disability Justice movement, its 10 Principles, and core practices that center the lives, wisdom, and leadership of disabled queer and trans Black and brown people.

A few words from Movement Generation collective members from the past and present share some reflections on Patty’s beautiful life and legacy (audio version available here):

“I first experienced the gift of Patty Berne as a college student, as we were both members of Students Against Intervention in Central America. It was a bad-ass space of fierce and successful organizing, made possible in so many ways by Patty’s brilliance and visionary leadership. Patty always led with joy, discipline, directness, and tremendous political clarity. They took internationalism very seriously, and pushed us to think and act and care in innovative and necessary ways. Patty was great at getting us to cultivate curiosity, lean into discomfort, and foster our revolutionary learning edges as we did so. And: Patty was funny as fuck. Always. Their irreverence was delightful, refreshing, healing. Thank you Patty, for shining so bright, so true, so potent. ¡Patty Berne, presente!” –Mateo Nube

“What Patty taught me, I can never un-learn: that if capitalism depends on ableism—that industrial production brought with it measuring a person’s worth by how much profit their they can produce—then disability justice requires the end of capitalism. In other words, if we’re committed to a world where all mind-bodies are truly sacred and worthy of care and belonging, then we have to re-organize our relationships around collective care, interdependence, and mutual aid. I am forever indebted to Patty for their friendship, comradeship, and mentorship. I will miss her political brilliance, her artistic production, her always super-fly style. I am so grateful to have recorded a conversation with Patty in what we didn’t know would be their last year of life. If it would do you good to hear her voice, I invite you to listen here.” –Brooke Anderson

“I absolutely 100 percent move more boldly in everything I do since meeting Patty Berne.  Without a doubt they shifted my perspective, approach, and beliefs about my body and all bodies: no body is disposable and our bodies – disabled, queer, crazy, funky- are sexy as fuck. I sometimes forget this about myself, but Patty’s way of pushing with stern care, humor and realness continues to be instructive and inspiring and allows me to experience the worthiness, sensuality, and love for all bodies and all life. Thank you, Patty. I will never be the same and I am grateful.” –Angela Aguilar

“Patty showed me how to move from a place of unapologetic and fierce love. She could say ‘that’s not right and here’s another perspective’ in a way that could help bring someone into their heart instead of shame and defensiveness. Patty did that all with a twinkle in her eye, a flawlessly made-up face, a delightful giggle, and a lightness that made radical change feel imminently possible instead of heavy and hard.” –Michelle Mascarenhas

“Patty took us all under their wing, and for that I am forever grateful. A legend. A teacher. A beautiful human. Patty taught me how to be unapologetically myself. To embrace the complexity of being human at this time on earth, and to turn towards the moment with both fiery rage and the deepest, most expansive love possible. I am a better person, comrade, and leader because of Patty. Rest in MFing power, Patty Berne.” –Ellen Choy

“What I cherish is Patty’s smile and kindness; the fierce conviction and the loving critiques.  Patty was unafraid to grapple with the contradictions of all of our lives and the worlds we are navigating.  She taught me to let go of the fear of mistakes and the violent lie of perfection. She was always here for her communities and I know she always will be.” –Gopal Dayaneni