Marsha P. Johnson

#MarshaPJohnson (August 24, 1945 – July 6, 1992): Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Johnson grew up in a religious household where bullying from local teenagers made Johnson feel that being gay or presenting as female was a far off dream. After graduating high school in 1963, Johnson left home and moved to Manhattan, where the journey of self-discovery and liberation began. Initially, Johnson performed as a drag queen, becoming well known by the name we all know today (the “P” stood for “Pay It No Mind,” which is what Johnson would say to people when asked about gender). As a performer, Johnson’s trademark was to use leftover flowers from the Flower District of Manhattan to make elaborate crowns. This likely would be how Johnson would have been remembered had it not been for the events of the #StonewallUprising, where Johnson and others fought back against the #NYPD as they attempted to raid the #StonewallInn on June 28th, 1969. Though the extent of Johnson’s involvement is debated, Johnson became a very well-known figure after the events at Stonewall, joining the #GayLiberationFront and marching in the first Gay Pride rally (held on the one-year anniversary of Stonewall). That year Johnson and close friend #SylviaRivera co-founded #StreetTransvestiteActionRevolutionaries (#STAR) and became visible and vocal presences at future gay liberation or other protest events. This group eventually established #STARHouse, a shelter for LGBTQIA street kids in 1972, where Johnson and Rivera paid the rent to keep the housing running with money made as sex workers. Throughout the 1980s, Johnson fought for HIV/AIDS awareness with #ACTUP. In 1992, after the pride rally, Johnson’s body was found in the Hudson River, and though police initially ruled her death a suicide, many (including #TomDuane, #MariahLopez, and #VictoriaCruz) have fought to have the case reopened as a possible homicide. Since Johnson’s death, there have been many tributes in Johnson’s memory, including a mural in Dallas, a monument near the site of the Stonewall club, and a statue in Johnson’s hometown that would replace an existing one of Christopher Columbus. #PrideMonth #LGBTQIA #LGBTQIAPride #Pride🌈 #YouCannotEraseUs