Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson was a pioneering gender-nonconforming activist and drag performer who played a pivotal role in the early LGBTQIA+ rights movement. The "P" stood for "pay it no mind," her mantra. Johnson described herself as a gay person, a transvestite, and a drag queen and used she/her pronouns (the term “transgender” only became commonly used after her death).

Johnson moved to New York City in the 1960s and began performing as a drag queen. She experienced homelessness for much of her life and made money through sex work. This was a very dangerous time for queer people and "gay-bashing" in New York was at an all-time high.

She was a regular at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gathering place for LGBTQIA+ people that was frequently raided by police.

On June 28, 1969, at around 2am, she joined those already resisting police during a raid on the bar. The resulting riot sparked demonstrations that lasted for several days and is widely regarded as the birth of the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement.

Throughout the 1970s, Johnson continued to be a prominent figure in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement, co-founding the Gay Liberation Front and the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) with her close friend Sylvia Rivera. STAR provided housing and support for homeless transgender youth. Johnson also participated in protests and demonstrations, advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people and other marginalized groups.