And that fearless attitude exemplifies how the Black transgender activist lived her life, leading the charge for LGBTQ+ rights every step of the way and helping instigate the Stonewall Inn uprising that sparked the gay pride movement. What is it, do you think? As the gay liberation movement became increasingly white, middle class, and cisgender, STAR reminded everyone that transgender and gender non-conforming people deserved equal rights too. She was an advocate for drag queens, people of color, and transgender people, fighting for their right to be seen and heard.. I just recently had a really hard conversation with my brother. Lee: Raquel, thank you so much for joining me. Abigail Adams was an early advocate for women's rights. Marsha P. Johnson: The way I winded up being at Stonewall that night, I was having a party uptown. And so in the wake of the Stonewall riots, there was an entire web of nonprofit organizations that sprang out of that, right? In 1990, Johnson was diagnosed with H.I.V. She was identified as male at birth. Johnson also became an AIDS activist, later revealing in a 1992 interview that she had been HIV-positive for two years. She was arrested over 100 times. Her partner, Julia Murray, was with her at the time of her death. When the organizers of the gay pride parade tried to ban STAR, they showed up anyway. To make ends meet, she became a sex worker often getting arrested, losing count after the 100th incident. In 2012, the New York Police Department reopened the case into Johnsons death. The group became a space to organize and discuss issues facing the transgender community in New York City and they also had a building, STAR House, that provided lodgings for those who needed it. And in these moments where we see people rising up, and we see coalition building, and we see people coming together in the name of equality, do you believe in this moment that there is a true chance that we'll step closer to the equality that folks claim (LAUGH) they believe in? Marshas life dramatically changed when she found herself near the Stonewall Inn in the early hours of June 28, 1969. #RFK Presidential Announcement w/ Shannon Joy. AMERICAN IDENTITY AND CITIZENSHIP; ACTIVISM AND SOCIAL CHANGE, Major support for Women & the American Story provided by, Lead support for New-York Historicals teacher programs provided by, In 1975, artist Andy Warhol crossed paths with Marsha and photographed her for his. By following year, the first gay pride parades took place, and Johnson and Rivera founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) to house, feed and clothe young transgender people. I think about the Stonewall riots, and there were important Black trans folks who were on the front lines during that queer militant uprising back in 1969 against the New York Police Department. She began dressing almost exclusively in womens clothes and adopted the full name Marsha P. Johnson. Into America is produced by Isabel Angel, Allison Bailey, Aaron Dalton, Max Jacobs, Barbara Raab, Claire Tighe, Aisha Turner, and Preeti Varathan. Willis: No, I think that we have to find pockets of joy. Black trans women continue to face disproportionate levels of violence. New-York Historical Society Library. She was often abused by clients and arrested by the police. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Pride Month: Who was Marsha P. Johnson and why were they so And just as there's that education, there's also the education on whiteness. Marsha P Special thanks to Eric Marcus, founder and host of the podcast Making Gay History, for the use of his 1989 interview with Marsha P. Johnson. I actually think we're more powerful when we have numbers. I never do it seriously. Marsha P. Johnson, We have to be visible. They were pushed out of the fight for suffrage in this country. Sylvia Rivera, National Park Service,https://www.nps.gov/people/sylvia-rivera.htm. And it was an impressive sight. Rivera later said of Johnson, she was like a mother to me. As Johnson had done for herself, she encouraged Rivera to love herself and her identity. Marsha P. Johnson was one of the most prominent figures of the gay rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s in New York City. She used she/her pronouns. Black trans lives matter. Life Story: Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992), Women & the American Story, New-York Historical Society, https://wams.nyhistory.org/growth-and-turmoil/growing-tensions/marsha-p-johnson/#:~:text=After%20graduating%20high%20school%2C%20Marsha,to%20questions%20about%20her%20gender. Why do you think Marshas life has started to gain more attention in recent years? Marsha P. Johnson was born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. During Marshas lifetime, the term transgender was not commonly used. They thought it was more likely that Marsha was a victim of an attack. Though her life was cut tragically short, Marsha's legacy remains an inspiration to us all. You can't say that it's about having a particular set of chromosomes. I mean how many years does it take people to see that? They fixed up the building and paid rent for nearly eight months. I don't relish in these ideas of being the first, or being a token, or being an only. Johnson and Rivera arrived at Stonewall around 2am where, Johnson said in a later interview, the place was already on fire, and there was a raid already. 'Cause when I got downtown, the place was already on fire and it was a raid already. In 1970, Johnson and Rivera founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization dedicated to sheltering young transgender individuals who were shunned by their families. The two also began STAR House, a place where transgender youth could stay and feel safe. (LAUGH) But is her name and folks who came after her and worked alongside her, are those names forgotten, overlooked by accident, by intent? But there's still a lot of work to be done. I found a little bit of joy having this complex, smart conversation with you. New York State still persecuted gay people and frequently criminalized their activities and presence. Both women continued to be persistent voices for the rights of people of color and low-income queer and Trans communities for the remainder of their lives; Marshas life was cut short in 1992, though the details of her death remain a mystery. How have Indigenous people exercised sovereignty and self-determination in the modern world? We paid the rent. Although only 19, Rivera became a mother to many of the residents of STAR House. Well, I know how to handle them. Always sporting a smile, Johnson was an important advocate for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, those effected by H.I.V. On multiple occasions, clients pulled guns on Marsha. Quiz Bowl 2023 - 1A Sacred Heart vs. Norfork - PBS Willis: Right. Johnson enjoyed wearing clothes made for women and wore dresses starting at age five. The story of a leader in social, environmental, and political activism and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Throughout the 1970s, she frequently tangled with gay rights leaders who were hesitant to include transgender people in their advocacy work. Marsha was often alone with strangers in hotel rooms and cars. Looking for more quotes? Lee: You know, of course we've had this conversation around feminism and other movements before, whether women who are part of the movement are Black first or are they women first, gender first. We'll be back next week. Leonard Fink / LGBT Community Center Archive. [5] The parks updates will include a litany of updated facilities such as a public restroom and an educational hub. Hope y'all enjoy the long holiday weekend. Marsha P. Johnson was an African-American, activist from New Jersey, whose work in the 1960's and 70's had a huge impact on the LGBTQ+ community. One morning, they returned to the truck just as it was pulling away with STAR residents sleeping inside. A progressive social reformer and activist, Jane Addams was on the frontline of the settlement house movement and was the first American woman to wina Nobel Peace Prize. I mean, I wish I could say yes, but Black cis folks are not doing enough. Johnsons life changed when she found herself engaging with the resistance at The Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. Jarena Lee, 1849. Diana Davies/Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library, By Alexandra Burgos for NPS Cultural Landscapes Program, [1] Marsha P. Johnson, a black transgender woman, was a central figure in the gay liberation movement In 1970, Sylvia came to Marsha with an idea. She realized that the fastest way to make money was to hustle. This meant working as a sex worker; The work, due to stigmatization of sex workers, was incredibly dangerous. Toshiko Akiyoshi changed the face of jazz music over her sixty-year career. Johnson adored wearing colorful, fun outfits that she made from finds at thrift stores and discarded items; she was also often seen wearing a crown of flowers. Hey, Luke. Unidentified African American woman in uniform, 1861. WebToday, historians and former friends of Marsha describe her as a trans woman. Sylvia and Marsha hustled every night to make sure their new family had breakfast each morning. Date accessed. I think some people try to. On July 6, 1992, Marshas body was found floating in the Hudson River. Wilchins, Riki, A Woman for Her Time,The Village Voice, February 26, 2002,https://www.villagevoice.com/2002/02/26/a-woman-for-her-time/. And so I don't want to leave places, you know, coming in as the first Black trans woman to do X, Y, and Z and then have not built any pathways for more Black trans people to come into the space, to carry the banner when I leave and inevitably go do other work. Today, historians and former friends of Marsha describe her as a trans woman. Willis: I think it's all of the above. How did Marsha embody her Pay It No Mind name? Screen excerpts from this film so that students can hear directly from Marsha and the people in her life. When she was wearing these items For me, I found joy in having a chance to connect with the people closest to me in new ways, in deeper ways, reminding myself to take a walk not only for exercise but for the fresh air. A monument dedicated to Marsha P Johnson, the late African-American transgender activist and pioneer, will be unveiled in New York in 2021. Currently, LGTBQ+ monuments are not among the Citys public statues. [3] These will be the first permanent monuments dedicated to Transgender women in the state of New York. On July 6, 1992, Johnsons body was found in the Hudson River. It happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities., On Equality: How many years has it taken people to realize that we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race?, On Motivation: Darling, I want my gay rights now. Honey, I promise you, I'm not. I think the first thing people need to do is really sit down and analyze themselves, answer what their insecurities are around anything, you know, but particularly around gender. And we need the in-between. In one account, she started the uprising by throwing a shot glass at a mirror. [3]These transgender icons will be the first to get statues in the US Or is it your gender identity first? Lee: Are we seeing that? As the fifth of seven children of a General Motors assembly line worker and a housekeeper, Johnson was about five years old when she began wearing dresses, but was often harassed by other children. But the fight for protection and inclusion back then is so similar to the fight we are seeing today. A term to describe people who wear clothes designed for the opposite sex. But when it comes to this kind of allyship, especially when we're talking about Black people, right, what does it take? Willis: I think a lot of it is proximity. Sylvia Rivera. National Womens History Museum. Lee: How do you move through these movement spaces that, you know, the bounds of white supremacy are still there? STAR House then moved to a dilapidated building, which they tried to fix up, but the group was evicted after eight months. So there was infrastructure being built. Who Is Trans TikTok Influencer Dylan Mulvaney? Much of Marshas life story has been pieced together through interviews featured in the documentary. We know that homophobia and transphobia knows no bounds. How have Indigenous people exercised sovereignty and self-determination in the modern world? All Rights Reserved. New-York Historical Society Library. In 2021, New York City will unveil a monument to Rivera and Johnson. The City intends to have the monuments installed by 2021, as part of a plan to address gender gaps in public art. Marsha P. Johnson was born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She used she/her pronouns. Marsha was part of a growing community of LGBTQ youth who sought acceptance in New York City. But in the 1950s and 1960s, LGBTQ peoples rights were strictly limited. For example, dancing with a person of the same sex as well as cross-dressing were illegal. Abigail Adams was an early advocate for women's rights. University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center. What was STAR, and why was it so important? [4]The transgender women at Stonewall were pushed out of the gay rights movement. And then the last thing I'll say is, you know, you brought up the contours of womanhood. All they think about is getting up your dress, anything to get up that dress of yours. Police are treating her death as a homicide. 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. [5]Brooklyns East River State Park renamed in honor of late LGBTQ activist and trans icon Marsha P. Johnson, Download the official NPS app before your next visit, "From the Vault: Sylvia Rivera & Marsha P. Johnson, 1970," Making Gay History Podcast, Marsha P. Johnsons Activism Matters Now More Than Ever, Site Renderings for Marsha P. Johnson State Park, LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History, "These transgender icons will be the first to get statues in the US", "'The Death And Life Of Marsha P. Johnson' Shows Fight For Social Justice Isn't Finished", "Two Transgender Activists Are Getting a Monument in New York", Marsha P. Johnson, a black transgender woman, was a central figure in the gay liberation movement, Two Transgender Activists Are Getting a Monument in New York, These transgender icons will be the first to get statues in the US, The transgender women at Stonewall were pushed out of the gay rights movement. "Don't you got money to make?". To learn more, check out the vocabulary resource guides from GLAAD: Transgender glossary and LGBTQ glossary. As one of the leaders of the Stonewall Inn uprising, the Black transgender woman was an early activist for LGBTQ+ rights in New York City. Encourage them to search for articles about the Marsha and Sylvia statue in New York City, Marsha P. Johnson state park in Brooklyn, and more. In 2020, New York State named a waterfront park in Brooklyn after Marsha. Wells, Anna Julia Cooper were sidelined as Black women. Well never share your email with anyone else, Susan Devaney, Marsha P Johnsons Activism Matters Now More than Ever,. And so when I think about womanhood, we have to be expansive with all of these gender categories. The LGBTQ community was furious the police did not investigate her death. And I think for me as an activist, I take it also to be like, "Is what I'm doing even working? Marsha P. Johnson. National Womens History Museum. She never let her personal setbacks stop her advocacy. And people don't want to say that because I think there's this idea that the biggest enemy is white supremacy, but that is a fallacy. With public installations already being implemented, the plan is to complete renovations by 2021. No matter how marginalized you are, you can still be an oppressor. Im a strong believer in that and thats why I try to do that for everyone I know has the virus. Marsha P. Johnson, You never completely have your rights, one person, until you all have your rights. Marsha P. Johnson, As long as gay people dont have their rights all across America, theres no reason for celebration. Marsha P. Johnson, Nobody promised you tomorrow. Marsha P. Johnson, I was no one, nobody, from Nowheresville, until I became a drag queen. Marsha P. Johnson, I always just do drag. Nearly 24 young people called the truck home. I got a chance to talk with Raquel Willis, a Black transgender activist and the director of communications for the Ms. Foundation, a nonprofit fighting for women's rights. That is just another element of patriarchy. At her funeral, hundreds of people showed up at the church; it was so crowded that people stood on the street. Since then, Marsha has become an icon of the transgender community. She also continued to engage in sex work, not knowing any other way to make money, and continued to get arrested. But do we have a good enough holistic nuance view of that violence? Like, does one feed the other, especially when it comes to Black trans lives? She wanted to protect young transpeople living on the street by giving them a home. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. When we're talking to white people about white supremacy, we could say, "Read how to be an antiracist," right? Is it a dropping of ego? Marsha described herself as a gay person, a transvestite, and a drag queen. Mostly white cisgender gay men, but also cisgender lesbians as well. I mean, I think about the early feminist movement and how people like Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Date accessed. WebIn 1963, Rivera met Marsha P. Johnson and it changed her life. As one of few women and Asian musicians in the jazz world, Akiyoshi infused Japanese culture, sounds, and instruments into her music. It was difficult for Marsha to find work. Chien-shiung Wu (1912-1997), professor of physics at Columbia University, 1963. I feel like what fuels a lot of the violence that may happen from Black men towards Black women comes from an innate feeling of not being man enough for whatever reason. Marsha P. Johnson (U.S. National Park Service) Lee: I think people have a pretty decent grasp of lesbian, gay, bi. Explore our collection of the best LGBTQ+ Pride quotes. Smithsonian Institute Archives Image # SIA 2010-1509. Silvia Rivera died of liver cancer in St. Vincents Manhattan Hospital in 2002 at the age of 50. Rivera had an incredibly difficult childhood.
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