Marsha P. Johnson

A photo of Marsha P. Johnson

American gay liberation activist and drag queen

Marsha P. Johnson

Name	Marsha P. Johnson
Birth name
Birth date	(1945-08-24)August 24, 1945
Birth place	Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
Death date	July 6, 1992(1992-07-06) (aged 46)
Death place	New York City, U.S.
Alma mater
Occupation	Drag queen, activist
Years active
Organization
Known for	LGBT rights activism, Stonewall riots
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Marsha P. Johnson (born Malcolm Michaels Jr.; August 24, 1945 – July 6, 1992) was an American gay liberation activist and self-identified drag queen. Johnson was a prominent figure in the Stonewall riots of 1969 and a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front. She co-founded the Gay Activists Alliance and the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), alongside Sylvia Rivera.

Early Life

Marsha P. Johnson was born Malcolm Michaels Jr. on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She was the fifth of seven children in a working-class family. Johnson moved to New York City after graduating from high school, where she became a fixture in the Greenwich Village scene.

Activism

Johnson was a key figure in the Stonewall riots, which were a series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the LGBT community against a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. These riots are widely considered to constitute the most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBT rights in the United States.

In 1970, Johnson and Sylvia Rivera co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization that provided support to homeless transgender youth and fought for the rights of transgender people.

Later Life and Death

In the later years of her life, Johnson continued to be an active and visible presence in the LGBT community. She was often seen at pride parades and other events advocating for LGBT rights. On July 6, 1992, Johnson's body was found floating in the Hudson River. The cause of death was initially ruled a suicide, but friends and fellow activists insisted she was not suicidal. In 2012, the New York Police Department reopened the case as a possible homicide.

Legacy

Marsha P. Johnson is remembered as a pioneering figure in the fight for LGBT rights. Her life and work have been commemorated in various documentaries, books, and other media. In 2019, New York City announced plans to erect a statue in her honor, recognizing her contributions to the LGBT community and her role in the Stonewall riots.

See Also

• Stonewall riots
• Sylvia Rivera
• LGBT rights in the United States
• Gay Liberation Front
• Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries