Educating For Democracy
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PROFILE OF RESISTANCE
MARSHA P. JOHNSON
activist, innovator
“How many years has it taken people to realize that we are all brothers and sisters and
human beings in the human race…we’re all in this rat race together!”
Background Information
Born August 24, 1945; Died July 6, 1992
Marsha Johnson experienced a difficult childhood due to the
intersection of her queer identity and Christian upbringing.
She was often punished for expressing herself by wearing
clothing that wasn’t traditionally seen as “masculine.” After
high school, Johnson moved to Greenwich Village in New York
City. In New York, Johnson was sometimes
homeless.i Eventually, she found joy as a drag queen and
became a prominent leader in the LGBTQ+ community.
Johnson’s Resistance
Johnson was present in 1969 when the police raided the Stonewall Inn, proclaiming, “I got
my civil rights!” and throwing a shot glass at a mirror. Some believe this action sparked the
riotsii. The Stonewall Riots began in the early hours of June 28, 1969, when New York
City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village. The
police raid led to a six-day violent riot, and many people were arrested.iii The
Stonewall riots were a catalyst for the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the U.S. and
around the world.
As Black trans woman, Johnson has consistently been overlooked, both as a participant in
the Stonewall uprising, and more generally, LGBTQ+ activism. As the broader gay and
lesbian movement shifted toward leadership from White cisgender men and women, trans
people of color were swept to the outskirts of the movement. In 1970, Johnson co-founded
the Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries (STAR) with Sylvia Rivera to provide resources
for homeless queer youth, which was revolutionary. In 1972, she joined the queer
performance troupe Hot Peaches, and in 1974 Andy Warhol painted her portrait as part of
his series “Ladies and Gentlemen.”
Achievements
Johnson fought for queer rights all her life and later joined ACT UP to advocate for people
with AIDS. In 1992, shortly after the NYC Pride March, Johnson’s body was found in the
Hudson River. The police ruled it a suicide and refused to investigate the death furtheriv. It is
generally believed that Johnson was murdered. Her death is symbolic of the widespread
violence against trans women in America.
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