Honoring Marsha P. Johnson During Black History Month
03 FEB 2025
Marsha P. Johnson was a key figure in the LGBTQ+ rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. With her signature floral crowns and infectious smile, she was a vocal advocate for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, those affected by HIV/AIDS, and the rights of transgender and gay individuals
PC: National Women's History Month
Born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Johnson grew up in an African American working-class family. She was one of seven children born to Malcolm Michaels Sr. and Alberta Claiborne. Her father worked on the General Motors Assembly Line, while her mother was a housekeeper. Raised in a devout Christian household, Johnson attended Mount Teman African Methodist Episcopal Church, a faith she maintained throughout her life. From an early age, Johnson expressed herself through clothing traditionally designated for women but faced bullying and even assault, leading her to suppress her identity during her youth. After graduating from Thomas A. Edison High School, she moved to New York City with just a bag of clothes and $15.
In New York, Johnson fully embraced her identity, adopting the name Marsha P. Johnson—where the "P" stood for "Pay It No Mind," her personal motto. She identified as a drag queen, transvestite, and gay person, using she/her pronouns. The term "transgender" was not commonly used during her lifetime. Despite challenges, she maintained ties with her family in New Jersey, though the relationship was often complex.
Life in New York was fraught with challenges for LGBTQ+ individuals, who faced systemic discrimination and police harassment. Unable to secure stable employment, Johnson turned to sex work to survive, often encountering violence and frequent arrests. She lacked stable housing and spent nights at friends' places, in hotels, restaurants, and even movie theaters. During this time, she also worked as a waitress and performed in drag shows. Reflecting on her early years, she once remarked, "I was no one, nobody, from Nowheresville until I became a drag queen."
It was during this period that she met Sylvia Rivera, an 11-year-old Puerto Rican transgender girl. The two became inseparable, with Rivera later describing Johnson as a maternal figure. Johnson encouraged Rivera to embrace her identity, offering support and guidance. Known for her flamboyant and creative outfits, Johnson often fashioned her own attire from thrift store finds and discarded items, always adorned with a crown of flowers.
On June 28, 1969, Johnson became involved in the historic Stonewall uprising. That night, police raided The Stonewall Inn, a bar frequented by the LGBTQ+ community, arresting patrons. Johnson and Rivera arrived at the scene as the raid escalated into a full-blown rebellion against police oppression. While accounts of her exact actions vary, it is clear that Johnson was on the front lines. The uprising ignited a wave of activism, leading to the first Gay Pride Parade in 1970 and the formation of advocacy groups such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance. However, Johnson grew frustrated with the exclusion of transgender and LGBTQ+ people of color from these movements.
PC: National Women's History Month
Determined to support marginalized members of the community, Johnson and Rivera founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) in 1970. The organization provided shelter and resources to transgender youth, many of whom had been abandoned by their families. They established STAR House, offering a haven for young transgender individuals. The first STAR House was an abandoned truck in Greenwich Village, later moving to a dilapidated building before being evicted after eight months.
Throughout the 1970s, Johnson became a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ movement. She joined the drag performance group "Hot Peaches" and caught the attention of artist Andy Warhol, who featured her in his "Ladies and Gentlemen" series in 1975. She frequently spoke about the need for equality, once stating, "As long as gay people don’t have their rights all across America… there is no reason for celebration."
Despite her vibrant public persona, Johnson faced personal struggles. She experienced mental health crises, leading to multiple hospitalizations. She also continued engaging in sex work due to financial instability, resulting in further arrests. In 1980, she was invited to ride in the lead car of the New York City Gay Pride Parade, a moment of recognition for her contributions to the movement.
In 1990, Johnson was diagnosed with HIV. Rather than retreat from public life, she used her platform to speak openly about her diagnosis and challenge the stigma surrounding the disease. On June 26, 1992, she gave an interview emphasizing the importance of compassion for those living with HIV/AIDS.
Tragically, on July 6, 1992, Johnson’s body was found in the Hudson River. She was 46 years old. Authorities initially ruled her death a suicide, but friends and activists suspected foul play. At the time, 1992 was the deadliest year for anti-LGBTQ+ violence, according to the New York Anti-Violence Project. Following public outcry, police reclassified her death as drowning from undetermined causes, though no further investigation was conducted. Her funeral drew hundreds of mourners, filling the church and spilling onto the street. In 2012, the New York Police Department reopened the case.
Johnson’s legacy endures. In 2019, New York City announced that she and Rivera would be honored with a public monument—the first in the city dedicated to transgender women. In 2020, a waterfront park in Brooklyn was named after her. Documentaries and books continue to celebrate her life, ensuring that she remains a lasting symbol of LGBTQ+ activism and the fight for equality.
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