Marsha P. Johnson ( – ) was an American LGBTQ activist, sex worker, and performer.
American drag queen and activist Marsha P. Johnson was dedicated to social justice for the gay and transgender communities.
Marsha went by “BLACK Marsha” before settling on Marsha P. Johnson. The “P” stood for “Pay It No Mind,” which is what Marsha would say in response to questions about her gender.
Marsha P. Johnson was one of the most prominent figures of the gay rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s in New York City. Always sporting a smile, Johnson was an important advocate for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, those effected by H.I.V. and AIDS, and gay and transgender rights.
LGBTQ rights activist Marsha P. Johnson advocated for trans people and took part in the Stonewall riots. Read about her life as a drag queen, death, and more.
Marsha was part of a growing community of LGBTQ youth who sought acceptance in New York City. But in the 1950s and 1960s, LGBTQ people’s rights were strictly limited. For example, dancing with a person of the same sex as well as cross-dressing were illegal. It was difficult for Marsha to find work.
Marsha’s is facing backlash after a former manager and bartender said police were called on her after she was fired.
Marsha P. Johnson’s Story Still Has So Much to Teach Us - TIME
She was fondly known as St. Marsha, a central figure in New York City's gay liberation movement, a model for artists Andy Warhol, and an advocate for transgender and homeless youth.