In 2015, The Marsha P. Johnson Institute was established. Johnson would go on to create a trans rights group with Sylvia Rivera called Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). This article is about the foundation of STAR, and includes quotes from an interview Feinberg conducted in 1998 with Sylvia Rivera. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Some books which include general information on Marsha are: Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution by David Carter (2010). For instance, Rivera insisted on claiming transvestite solely for use by gay people, writing in the essay "Transvestites: Your Half Sisters and Half Brothers of the Revolution", "Transvestites are homosexual men and women who dress in clothes of the opposite sex. After the funeral, a series of demonstrations and marches to the police precinct took place, to demand justice for Johnson. [83], U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 19362007, Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries: "Michaels, Malcolm Jr [Malcolm Mike Michaels Jr], [M Michae Jr], [Malculm Jr]. "[28] In an interview with Allen Young, in 1972's, Out of the Closets: Voices of Gay Liberation, Johnson discussed being a "Street Transvestite Action Revolutionary", saying, "A transvestite is still like a boy, very manly looking, a feminine boy. PROTECT AND DEFEND THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF BLACK TRANS PEOPLE! Much of Marsha's life was dedicated to helping others, despite suffering several mental health issues. STAR provided services including shelter (the first was a trailer truck) to homeless LGBTQ people in New York City, Chicago, California and England for a few years in the early 1970s but eventually disbanded. While working nights as a fire watcher at a Bristol garage during the .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Afeni Shakur. [8] [9] Known as an outspoken advocate for gay rights, Johnson was one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. AGender Variance Whos Who provides a short biography of Marsha, as well as a list of further readings, and links to a video of a panel discussion with several people who knew Marsha. For a while she performed with the drag group Hot Peaches. The police forced over 200 people out of the bar and onto the streets, and then used excessive violence against them. Marsha P. Johnson was an African-American gay man and drag artist - someone who dresses extravagantly and performs as a woman - from New Jersey, whose activism in the 1960s and 70s had a huge impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Read about our approach to external linking. [82] Some of her work to find justice for Johnson was filmed by David France for the 2017 documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. All Rights Reserved. Database on-line. Marsha P. Johnson Institute - Marsha P. Johnson Institute Information Careers Resources Contact Us Newsletter Subscription Community Standards Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Supporting The Marsha P. Johnson Institute Follow us PROTECT AND DEFEND THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF BLACK TRANS PEOPLE! Johnson is often credited with throwing the first stone after. She is credited for being an instigator in the Stonewall riots. [43] In 1992, gay bashing was epidemic in New York. Together we did", "Exploding the Myths of Stonewall Gay City News", "Gay History Month- June 28,1969: The REAL History of the Stonewall Riots", "Marsha P Johnson Carols for Ma & Pa Xmas Presents", "Gay rights activists Sylvia Ray Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Barbara Deming, and Kady Vandeurs at City Hall rally for gay rights", "Marsha P. Johnson (19441992) Activist, Drag Mother. Johnson became well known in the LGBTQ community for her colorful wigs (often crowned with flowers or artificial fruit), red heels, sparkly robes, and multiple strands of costume jewelry. However . In fact, it was likely a Black drag king with a complex gender identity from Louisiana named Storm Delarverie who threw the first brick by punching a police officer. We do this by organizing, advocating, creating an intentional community to heal, developing transformative leadership, and promoting our collective power. [32] Johnson sang and performed as a member of J. Camicias' international, NYC-based, drag performance troupe, Hot Peaches, from 1972 through to shows in the 1990s. Marsha was nicknamed the "Saint of Christopher Street" (where the Stonewall Inn is located), because of the generosity they had shown towards people in New York's LGBTQ+ community. She was seen dropping a very heavy object on top of a police car, among other actions. [6][10][11] Though some have mistakenly credited Johnson for starting the riots, Johnson was always forthcoming about having not been present when the riots began. [62] Johnson was one of the activists who had been drawing attention to this epidemic of violence against the community, participating in marches and other activism to demand justice for victims, and an inquiry into how to stop the violence. Johnson switched names repeatedly as she established her persona, alternating between her given name Malcolm and Black Marsha before settling on Marsha P. Johnson. Weve been busy, working hard to bring you new features and an updated design. [11] The riots reportedly started at around 1:20 that morning after Storm DeLarverie fought back against the police officer who attempted to arrest her that night. [56][57] While the original location of STAR House was evicted in 1971 and the building was destroyed,[54] the household existed in different configurations and at different locations over the years. She was 46 at the time of her death. And we were all like, Oh my God! They just dropped her. Check out our podcast to learn more about the wonderful Marsha P. Johnson! She made intricate outfits out of garbage, modeled for Andy Warhol and wrote poetry. Initially ruled a suicide, her death has since been ruled a possible homicide. Johnson gradually cultivated a unique personality and style and eventually began calling herself Marsha P. Johnson. After completing high school in 1963, he moved to New York, New York. How many years [does it take] for people to realize we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race.. It includes an interview with Marsha, which was the source of her definitions of drag queen, transvestite, and transsexual, which I quote in our podcast. Earlier this year, New York Gov. and 18% of those were based on violence perpetrated by police." If you cant wait until tomorrow, have a listen to our episodes on Marsha P. Johnson and Storm DeLarverie, wholl both be featured (as well as Harvey Milk for an unexpected cameo!). [36] In 1975, Johnson was photographed by famed artist Andy Warhol, as part of a "Ladies and Gentlemen" series of Polaroids. Please note: Text within images is not translated, some features may not work properly after translation, and the translation may not accurately convey the intended meaning. our podcast on drag queen and activist Marsha P. Johnson, Activist Dick Leitschs account, written September 1969, Articles by journalists Howard Smith and Lucien Truscott, written July 1969, Letter written by Edmund White, June/July 1969, Pay It No Mind - The Life and Times of Marsha P. Johnson. The witness said that when he tried to tell police what he had seen his story was ignored. She is wearing pearls and has her hair in an up-do decorated with flowers and feathers, Michael Dillon in his merchant navy uniform. And he said, 'You know, you might wind up with nothing.' This 2012 article is about the reopening of the investigation into Marshas death. Considering the proximity that the Church of Saint Veronica has to the Stonewall Inn, its important to recognize that it was Trans, non-binary, and Queer People of Color who initiated and led the uprising that began on June 28, 1969, and that lasted throughout the following six days and nights, ultimately sparking the birth of the Gay Liberation Movement. 'Cause you know, me and Jesus is always talking. Almost a year to the day before her untimely and tragic death, Marsha P. Johnson marched down Christopher Street in a parade headed towards the first interfaith AIDS memorial service in history at the Church of Saint Veronica. argued that an individual should have the final say over what medical We hope you and your family enjoy the NEW Britannica Kids. Tell students that the text displayed is a statement by directors Tourmaline and Sasha Wortzel on their short film Happy Birthday Marsha!, which depicts the life of trans activist Marsha P. Johnson in the hours prior to the Stonewall Rebellion. Marsha P. Johnson was an African American transgender women who was an LGBTQ rights activist and an outspoken advocate for trans people of color. Please support this #LivingMemorial by following on Instagram: JESUS WAS BLACK AND TRANS: Or at least the Jesus of Sheridan Square was Black and Trans. Despite her difficulties with mental illness and numerous police encounters, whenever she was asked what the P in her name stood for and when people pried about her gender or sexuality, she quipped back with pay it no mind. Her forthright nature and enduring strength led her to speak out against injustices. She waited and waited, but no one showed up. "[15], In Pay it No Mind friends Bob Kohler and Agosto Machado talk about Johnson's relationship with Neptune. She was identified as male at birth. These stats were sourced hereand here. The fifth of seven children, she was born Malcolm Michaels Jr. to Malcolm Michaels Sr. and Alberta (Claiborne) Michaels on August 24, 1945 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. According to Johnson, the police had forced her and others out onto the street to line up and be frisked the night before and then returned the next night and set the Stonewall Inn on fire. That same decade, he himself became the first trans man to undergo a phalloplasty. Marsha's legacy lives on today in organisations such as the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, which says it "protects and defends the human rights of BLACK transgender people". The flagrant disregard for the life of someone who was Black and queer caused outrage in the community at the time, in an early echo of the type of purpose that powers the Black Lives Matter Movement. To share with more than one person, separate addresses with a comma. [74][13], Several people came forward to say they had seen Johnson harassed by a group of "thugs" who had also robbed people. According to Susan Stryker, a professor of human gender and sexuality studies at the University of Arizona, Johnson's gender expression could perhaps most accurately be called gender non-conforming; Johnson never self-identified with the term transgender, but the term was also not in broad use while Johnson was alive. Have students read the statement silently or out loud as a class. Marsha resisted arrest, but in the following days, led a series of protests and riots demanding rights for gay people.