[ Davies, Diana. "Marsha P. Johnson hands out flyers for support of gay students at N.Y.U." 1970. The New York Public Library. ]
Marsha P. Johnson
Leader in a New Frontier of Inclusivity in the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement
Connecting With Community Through Activism
As a homeless, black, and transgender woman, Marsha P. Johnson viewed firsthand the struggles that oppressed people like herself had to deal with in day-to-day life. She channeled these struggles into activism, advocating for the rights of queer individuals, specifically those experiencing homelessness. She wanted to shine a spotlight on poor people and people of color in the lgbtq+ community, because at the time the community was dominated by white gay men. Johnson’s close friend, Sylvia Rivera, a fellow trans woman and person of color, referred to the gay rights movement as “a white, middle-class, white club.”
[ Wandel, Richard C.. "Marsha P. Johnson at Gay Liberation Front's Demonstration at Bellevue Hospital, 1970." 1970. Digital Transgender Archive. ]
Johnson was present at the first Christopher Street Liberation Day parade in 1970, a parade advocating for the rights of queer people who were living on the streets. She was known as a community leader in the West Village in New York.
[ Fink, Leonard. "Marsha P. Johnson at the First Christopher Street Liberation Day March, 1970." 1970. Digital Transgender Archive. ]
[ "Marsha P. Johnson Holding a Banner at the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade, 1975." 1975. Digital Transgender Archive. ]
[ Decker, L.. "Marsha P. Johnson at the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade 1977." 1977. Digital Transgender Archive. ]
“I have the names and addresses of people that are in jail, and we’re going to write them a letter and let them know that we’ve got them a lawyer, and have these lawyers go down there and see if they can get their names put on the calendar early, get their cases put out of court, make a thorough investigation.” - Marsha P. Johnson
Through her activism, Johnson made connections with other poor lgbtq+ people within her community. Queer people, specifically transgender people and cross-dressers were very likely to be arrested, and Johnson aided in helping her community members get out of jail.
Jonhson believed that oppressed people needed to advocate for themselves, or else no progress would be made. Her activism encouraged others to fight against oppression and to advocate for their equal rights.
“I think if transvestites don’t stand up for themselves, nobody else is going to stand up for transvestites. If a transvestite doesn’t say I’m gay and I’m proud and I’m a transvestite, then nobody else is going to hop up there and say I’m gay and I’m proud and I’m a transvestite for them, because they’re not transvestites.”
- Marsha P. Johnson