Select from a curated set Primary Source Sets - Each set collects primary sources on a specific frequently-taught topic, along with historical background information and teaching ideas. Sadly, at the age of 46, on July 6, 1992, Johnsons body was found in the Hudson River off the West Village Piers. Johnson moved to Greenwich Village in New York City after graduating from high school. LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer. "[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. Michaels and their six siblings were raised in the Mount Teman African Methodist Episcopal Church. Marsha resisted arrest, but in the following days, led a series of protests and riots demanding rights for gay people. That same decade, he himself became the first trans man to undergo a phalloplasty. Johnson is often credited with throwing the first brick at Stonewall. About MPJI - Marsha P. Johnson Institute Two years later on July 6, 1994, Johnson was found drowned in the Hudson River off the West Village Piers. Much of Marsha's life was dedicated to helping others, despite suffering several mental health issues. Marsha P. Johnson was born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. This article is about the foundation of STAR, and includes quotes from an interview Feinberg conducted in 1998 with Sylvia Rivera. The same safe and trusted content for explorers of all ages. [23][24] After Johnson began hanging out with the street hustlers near the Howard Johnson's at 6th Avenue and 8th Street, their life changed. Activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were on the front lines of the fight for trans rights from as early as the 1960s when the movement was just beginning to gain traction. [33][34] When The Cockettes, a similar drag troupe from San Francisco, formed an East Coast troupe, The Angels of Light, Johnson was also asked to perform with them. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Marsha P. Johnson (Source: USA Today / Originally Netflix . This is where we get a lot of first-hand information from Marsha and most of the quotes of hers which I mentioned in the episode. [45][37] Johnson denied starting the uprising. Video, County Antrim pupils record special coronation hymn. [29], Johnson's style of drag was not serious ("high drag" or "show drag"[20]) due to being unable to afford to purchase clothing from expensive stores. In 2015, The Marsha P. Johnson Institute was established. 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. And we were all like, Oh my God! They just dropped her. Finding Primary Sources | Getting Started with Primary Sources [55] While the House was not focused on performance, Johnson was a "drag mother" of STAR House, in the longstanding tradition of "Houses" as chosen family in the Black and Latino LGBT community. How many years does it take for people to see that we're all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race? Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries by Leslie Feinberg (2006). Privacy Policy We are very excited to be coming back from hiatus tomorrow just in time for Pride Month! On June 28, 1969, Marsha P. Johnson became one of the faces of the Queer Revolution. How Nan Goldin Waged War Against Big Pharma, How the Greensboro Four Began the Sit-In Movement, Biography: You Need to Know: Bayard Rustin, Biography: You Need to Know: Sylvia Rivera, Biography: You Need to Know: Dorothy Pittman Hughes. Queer history podcast covering content from around the world and throughout time. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Johnson also confirmed not being present at the Stonewall Inn when the rioting broke out, but instead had heard about it and went to get Sylvia Rivera who was at a park uptown sleeping on a bench to tell her about it. [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. Civic Engagement and Primary Sources Through Key Moments in History. .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. However, none of Johnson's friends or relatives believed Johnson was suicidal. [45] In the 1979 Village Voice article, "The Drag of Politics", by Steven Watson, and further elaborated upon by Stonewall historian Carter, it had perhaps been for this reason that other activists had been reluctant at first to credit Johnson for helping to spark the gay liberation movement of the early 1970s. 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. Though we often glorify Marsha as one of the greatest civil rights leaders of the 20th century, and view through rose-colored glasses her glamorous role as muse to Andy Warhol, we also tend to white-wash her life and willfully forget that she was a prostitute that was often homeless. A pair of women seated, two men standing, with nothing really explicitly gay about any of them. Improved homework resources designed to support a variety of curriculum subjects and standards. "[62] In response, marches were organized, and Johnson was one of the activists who marched in the streets, demanding justice. 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. the hole in her head). It largely focusses on where Marsha's death sits within the wider context of transphobic violence across the USA. Marsha P. Johnson Institute - Marsha P. Johnson Institute Gender: Male. She was joyous and creative and enjoyed performing. Marsha was born Malcolm Michaels in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1945. . Johnson would go on to create a trans rights group with Sylvia Rivera called Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). Johnson also took part in Gay Pride parades and events. It was an "unrelenting wave of attacks. Who would have thought that her body would be found in the Hudson River with a hole in her head on July 6, 1992. I also recommend this one in particular if youd like a very in-depth look at the claims and evidence involved. While I recommend some of these sources for the information they contain, I dont condone this decision. As I mentioned in the podcast, there has been significant controversy surrounding this documentary, and theres plenty of information about that online. As the nascent Gay Rights movement swirled around her, Johnson fought social mores, the police, and her own demons. "I was no one, nobody, from Nowheresville until I became a drag queen. Her life has been celebrated in numerous books, documentaries and films. [45] Watson also reported that Johnson's saintly personality was "volatile" and listed a roster of gay bars from which Johnson had been banned. She stated that the middle initial stood for pay it no mind, a phrase she often used when questioned about her gender or lifestyle. Police allowed Seventh Avenue to be closed while Johnson's ashes were carried to the river. After the NYPD reopened the case, the police reclassified Johnson's cause of death from "suicide" to undetermined. [Image: Astrological Sign: Virgo, Death Year: 1992, Death date: July 6, 1992, Death State: New York, Death City: New York City, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Marsha P. Johnson Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/activists/marsha-p-johnson, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: September 9, 2022, Original Published Date: December 14, 2017. marsha p. johnson Archives - PBS NewsHour Classroom Marsha was a founder of STAR - the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries - which provided food, housing, legal aid, and other necessities to homeless trans youth. 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. Marsha P. Johnson (U.S. National Park Service) Further, she talks about the impact the person on plaque #1 of the Village AIDS Memorial had on her life: Ed Murphy was the one who put me in the Stonewall Car in 1980; he took me from the back of the parades and put me up-front.. Birth Date: 24 Aug 1945. We do this by organizing, advocating, creating an intentional community to heal, developing transformative leadership, and promoting our collective power." The Marsha P. Johnson Institute is dedicated to supporting Black Trans communities. Read about our approach to external linking. Have students read the statement silently or out loud as a class. Her devotions were so ardently sincere that, on several occasions, eyewitnesses place her laying prostate on the floor of Catholic Churches around six in the morning and facing away from the altar because she considered it inappropriate to look directly upon, what she believed, was the holy habitation of the Lord. I mean how many years does it take for people to see that we're all in this rat race together. [53] Initially sentenced to 90 days in prison for the assault, Johnson's lawyer eventually convinced the judge that Bellevue Hospital would be more suitable. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the terms of our cookie policy, which can be found in our. argued that an individual should have the final say over what medical Women & the American Story: Marsha P. Johnson, Transgender Activist Watch on This video was created by the New-York Historical Society Teen Leaders in collaboration with the Untold project. Photo by Leonard Fink, Courtesy LGBT Community Center National History Archive, African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Occupation - Entertainer - Drag Performer, https://www.biography.com/people/marsha-p-johnson-112717, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/obituaries/overlooked-marsha-p-johnson.html, https://makinggayhistory.com/podcast/episode-11-johnson-wicker/, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Johnson's friend Sasha McCaffrey added, "I would find her in the strangest churches. When asked by the judge for an explanation for hustling, Johnson claimed to be trying to secure enough money for a tombstone for Johnson's husband. All I want is my freedom. There is power speaking the names of victims aloud. She worked both as a waitress and a sex worker. Marsha P. Johnson. Despite this, following the events at Stonewall, Johnson and her friend .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Sylvia Rivera co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) and they became fixtures in the community, especially in their commitment to helping homeless transgender youth. [31] Johnson was tall, slender and often dressed in flowing robes and shiny dresses, red plastic high heels and bright wigs, which tended to draw attention. Johnson was known for her immense generosity. However, she found joy as a drag queen amidst the nightlife of Christopher Street. "These were sacrifices to her father, and to Neptune, who got all mixed up together," explains Kohler. Happy birthday to Marsha P. Johnson, born 24 August 1945! [60], Between 1980 and Johnson's death in 1992, Johnson lived with a friend, Randy Wicker, who had invited Johnson to stay the night one time when it was "very cold outabout 10 degrees [Fahrenheit]" (12C), and Marsha had just never left. To learn more about Marsha, check out our podcast! Johnson gradually cultivated a unique personality and style and eventually began calling herself Marsha P. Johnson. [11] On the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall uprising occurred. [29] Also discussed are Johnson's experiences of the dangers of working as a street prostitute in drag, and Johnson's husband who was murdered. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. A feature photo of Johnson in this article shows Johnson in a flowing wig and makeup, and a translucent shirt, pants and parka highlighting the ways that, quoting Kate Millett's Sexual Politics, White says, "she is both masculine and feminine at once. Shes said that the town had zero tolerance for LGBTQ people and as a woman assigned male at birth, she left as soon as she could. Watch It", "Here I am marching with Jon Jon and Miss Marsha one sunny Gay Day. Research Guides: LGBTQIA+ Studies: A Resource Guide: Activism She is credited for being an instigator in the Stonewall riots. [45], Following the Stonewall uprising, Johnson joined the Gay Liberation Front and was active in the GLF Drag Queen Caucus. To share with more than one person, separate addresses with a comma. The Unsung Heroines of Stonewall: Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera [37][36] In 1990, Johnson performed with The Hot Peaches in London. 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. Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992) - BlackPast.org He began wearing girls clothing at a young age, but, after neighborhood children bullied him, he stopped. [35] In 1973, Johnson performed the role of "The Gypsy Queen" in the Angels' production, "The Enchanted Miracle", about the Comet Kohoutek. I cant explore the biases of all of them in a blog post, but in the case of history in general, and something as contentious as Stonewall in particular, I encourage you to consult multiple sources and think critically about what theirsource is, what theyre saying and why. [12] Johnson was also a popular figure in New York City's gay and art scene, modeling for Andy Warhol, and performing onstage with the drag performance troupe Hot Peaches. [61] When Wicker's lover, David, became terminally ill with AIDS, Johnson became his caregiver. The Marsha P. Johnson Institute is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Good Fund, a California nonprofit corporation and registered 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID (EIN) 46-1323531. Were very excited and we cant wait to share this with you! She was 46 at the time of her death. We can be as active and resilient as Marsha P. Johnson because our fights are far from over." 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. Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson: Listen to the Newly Unearthed The + is an inclusive symbol to mean 'and others' to include people of all identities. Johnson began going to the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City, in the late 1960s. "[51][52], During another incident around this time Johnson was confronted by police officers for hustling in New York. The two of them became a visible presence at gay liberation marches and other radical political actions. This book was the source of a lot of my information about Marshas relationship with Sylvia Rivera; about Marsha and Sylvias experiences in gay activism; and about STAR. 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. Johnson was born Malcolm Michaels, Jr., on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. 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. Its mission is to defend and protect the human rights of transgender and gender nonconforming communities. The police forced over 200 people out of the bar and onto the streets, and then used excessive violence against them. Heroes of Stonewall: Marsha P. Johnson - World Queerstory [69] When asked about religion in the last interview, Johnson said "I use Jesus Christ the most in my prayers, most of the time." LGBTQ Seniors, College Students Come Together In Lakeview Art Exhibit 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. [38] Johnson, who was also HIV positive,[39] became an AIDS activist and appeared in The Hot Peaches production The Heat in 1990, singing the song "Love" while wearing an ACT UP, "Silence = Death" button. And he said, 'You know, you might wind up with nothing.' [5] Police initially ruled the death a suicide,[37] but Johnson's friends and other members of the local community insisted Johnson was not suicidal and noted that the back of Johnson's head had a massive wound. In 2012 the police, under renewed public pressure, reopened the case. Marsha P. Johnson & Sylvia Rivera - National Park Service [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. The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (MPJI) protects and defends the human rights of BLACK transgender people. This Copyright 2019 Marsha P. Johnson Institute. Primary sources like this reel-to-reel recording offer crucial insight into LGBTQ history in its historical complexity, providing a window into Johnson and Rivera's ideas about gender and sexuality and political vision at the dawn of gay liberation. The witness said that when he tried to tell police what he had seen his story was ignored. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap. We were young enough to believe we could change the world. Marsha picketing Bellevue Hospital to protest their treatment of queer people c.1970, holding a sign reading Power to the people. But this year, the global Black Lives Matter anti-racism protests have encouraged people to shine a special light on the impact of black gay and trans activists. Marsha P. Johnson was one of the most prominent figures of the gay rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s in New York City. After completing high school in 1963, he moved to New York, New York. Blitz, Michael began reading texts on medicine, and endocrinology. For more information specifically on STAR, Id encourage you to check out: Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries: Survival, Revolt, and Queer Antagonist Struggle. This book talks about STAR in the context of other queer movements in New York at the time, including the GAA and GLF On p.36 youll find the list of STARs political goals which I referenced. [41], In 1992, George Segal's sculpture, Gay Liberation was moved to Christopher Park as part of the new Gay Liberation Monument. Andrew Cuomo dedicated a seven-acre waterfront park in Brooklyn to Marsha P. Johnson, the first state park dedicated to an LGBTQ historic figure and a transgender woman of color. "[68] In the summer of 1991, Johnson participated in the interfaith AIDS memorial service at the Church of Saint Veronica in Greenwich Village. "[63], Johnson remained devoutly religious in later life, often lighting candles and praying at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hoboken,[64] saying in 1992: "I practice the Catholic religion because the Catholic religion is part of the Santera of the saints, which says that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. [22], After graduating from Edison High School (now the Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Academy) in Elizabeth in 1963, Johnson left home for New York City with $15 and a bag of clothes. [74], Shortly after the 1992 Gay pride parade, Johnson's body was discovered floating in the Hudson River. She waited and waited, but no one showed up. (A drag queen is a man who dresses as a woman to entertain others.) Many eyewitnesses have identified Marsha as one of the main instigators of the uprising and thus, some have recognized her as the vanguard of the gay liberation movement in the United States.
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