When you hear J.K. Rowling saying that, what's your response to that? She also did not have a permanent home during this time, and bounced around sleeping at friends homes, hotels, restaurants, and movie theaters. 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. Other times, it seems like the vulnerabilities and the layer of vulnerabilities that Black trans people find themselves in are those layers of vulnerability that many Black people face: poverty, abuse and trauma. Marsha P. Johnson (U.S. National Park Service) reinc: The story of a company founded by four US Womens National Team soccer players seeking to challenge norms and inspire lasting progress. I don't trust men that much anymore., On the Fight for Freedom: No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us., On Her Reputation: I know people think Im a stupid little street queen out there begging for change cause theres nothing else she knows how to do., On Gender Roles: I'm very comfortable around straight men. Sylvia was a Puerto Rican trans woman who was also new to New York. Lee: Marsha P. Johnson was one of those women. The story of a transgender activist who participated in the Stonewall Uprising and fought for equal rights. During Marshas lifetime, the term transgender was not commonly used. Police are treating her death as a homicide. I think about how Black cis women like Breonna Taylor so often fall under the radar of a zeitgeist that prioritizes men regardless of your racial or ethnic background. It was about the oppression and fear they felt every single day. It was not easy to live on the margins. And when you think about people like J.K. Rowling, and I want to read this quote, she said, quote, "If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased." The police officers ruled her death a suicide. But in the 1950s and 1960s, LGBTQ peoples rights were strictly limited. 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. Emma Rothberg, Sylvia Rivera, National Womens History Museum, 2021. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/Sylvia-Rivera. The store owners called her riffraff and threw her out. Now they are getting a statue in New York She also encouraged Sylvia to love herself and her identity. Well never share your email with anyone else, Susan Devaney, Marsha P Johnsons Activism Matters Now More than Ever,. Show all 45 During her speech at her New York gig, the "Born This Way" singer also celebrated transgender activist Marsha P Johnson, who played a pivotal role in the Stonewall riots. Willis: It does hurt. It was written, directed, and produced by Tourmaline and Sasha What tensions existed within the gay liberation movement? Screen excerpts from this film so that students can hear directly from Marsha and the people in her life. It was a time when same-sex dancing in public wasnt allowed, bars were banned from serving alcoholic drinks to gay people and cross-dressing could lead to a sexual deviancy arrest. I really appreciate it. Unidentified African American woman in uniform, 1861. Willis: I don't think so. New-York Historical Society Library. In one account, she started the uprising by throwing a shot glass at a mirror. [2]Two Transgender Activists Are Getting a Monument in New York Lee: We got COVID-19, white supremacy, uprisings. Nicols Enrquez de Vargas (artist), Portrait of Sor Juana Ins de la Cruz, ca. Marsha P. Johnson was born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. When they could no longer pay, they were evicted. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Dissident News has received the exclusive full transcript for the entirety of the RFK announcement speech. Marsha P Johnson, born 24 August, 1945, holds a special place within the LGBTQ+ community for her larger-than-life spirit and trans rights activism. The case involving Marshas death remained closed for decades. A person who was assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman. WebMarsha P. Johnson was one of the most prominent figures of the gay rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s in New York City. Life Story: Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992), Women & the American Story, New-York Historical Society. The monuments are dedicated to their legacy and to share their stories for generations to come. 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. Willis: I don't know. It is said those who threw the first brick on Once back in the city, Rivera got involved again with the fight for the inclusion and recognition of transgender individuals. 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 then the last thing I'll say is, you know, you brought up the contours of womanhood. The first Gay Pride Parade took place in 1970 and a series of gay rights groupsincluding the Gay Liberation Front, a more radical organization, and the Gay Activist Alliance, a more moderate and focused spin-off groupemerged. Thank you. Compare the lives of Marsha P. Johnson and, Connect Marshas life story to other LGBTQ individuals within, One of Marshas proudest moments was with Andy Warhol. In another, she climbed a lamppost and dropped a heavy purse onto a police car, shattering the windshield. Susan Devaney, Marsha P Johnsons Activism Matters Now More than Ever, Vogue UK, June 6, 2020, https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/who-was-marsha-p-johnson, Meilan Solly, New York City Monument Will Honor Transgender Activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, Smithsonian Magazine, June 3, 2019, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-york-city-monument-will-honor-transgender-activists-marsha-p-johnson-and-sylvia-rivera-180972326/, Hugh Ryan, Power to the People: Exploring Marsha P. Johnsons Queer Liberation, Out, August 24, 2017, https://www.out.com/out-exclusives/2017/8/24/power-people-exploring-marsha-p-johnsons-queer-liberation, Sewall Chan, Marsha P. Johnson, Overlooked, The New York Times, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/obituaries/overlooked-marsha-p-johnson.html?mtrref=&mtrref=undefined&gwh=7FAC77AD0450CB8215713140B8184F62&gwt=regi&assetType=REGIWALL. And it also of course extends to folks who are nonbinary or gender nonconforming who straddle all of these struggles. [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. Lee: On one hand, I get tired of the trope that the Black community is somehow more homophobic or more transphobic. A term to describe people who wear clothes designed for the opposite sex. Johnson enjoyed wearing clothes made for women and wore dresses starting at age five. Hey, Marsha. A term for all trans men and trans women. And I didn't get downtown till about 2:00. History isnt something you look back at and say it was inevitable, it happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities. Marsha P. Johnson, How many years has it taken people to realize that we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race? Almost 30 years on from her death, Johnson is getting the attention she was denied when she was alive, with tales of I've been around them for years, from working the streets. Willis: I don't think so. Abigail Adams was an early advocate for women's rights. In 2012, the New York City Police Department finally agreed to re-open it, yet the case still remains unsolved. For six nights, the 17-year-old Rivera refused to go home or to sleep, saying Im not missing a minute of thisit's the revolution!, Rivera resisted arrest and subsequently led a series of protests against the raid. TRANSCRIPT Lets take a journey through a deeply inspiring and She also reconciled with the gay rights movement that was now expanding to embrace the LGBTQ+ community. The Importance of Dialogue, Development and Acceptance [5] The parks updates will include a litany of updated facilities such as a public restroom and an educational hub. But Johnson spent much of her life being ostracised by society. She asked Marsha to help her create a place where they could feel safe, unite, and fight for their rights. Meilan Solly, New York City Monument Will Honor Transgender Activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, Smithsonian Magazine, June 3, 2019, Hugh Ryan, Power to the People: Exploring Marsha P. Johnsons Queer Liberation,. The Stonewall Inn uprising was also a turning point in the visibility of the gay rights movement. The movement did not appreciate the extent to which transgender youth needed help and support. Why do you think they were so close? Leonard Fink / LGBT Community Center Archive. Abigail Adams was an early advocate for women's rights. Within the past week, 22-year-old Mercy Mac was killed in Dallas and Brayla Stone was found dead in Arkansas. To learn more about Randy Wicker and Marsha P. Johnson, click here to access the episode notes from our original episode featuring the two activists. MARSHA P. JOHNSON "You Gotta Have Soul !" - YouTube Marsha P. Johnson. National Womens History Museum. We kept the building going. Quiz Bowl 2023 - 1A Sacred Heart vs. Norfork - PBS Lee: Raquel, thank you so much for joining me. I'm Trymaine Lee. There are plenty of cis women who don't check off a lot of criterias that are considered womanhood. She was excited about the work but frustrated at how white gay men and lesbians dominated the conversation. Marshas friends and acquaintances strongly disagreed. You can't say that it's about having a particular set of body, you know, thinking of the many women I know who have had hysterectomies, right? I walked down 58th Street and the young ones were calling from the sidewalk, 'Sylvia, Sylvia, thank you, we know what you did. Emma Rothberg, Sylvia Rivera, National Womens History Museum, 2021. And we saw just from the turnout for the Rally for Black Trans Lives that there is momentum there also. Marsha was part of a growing community of LGBTQ youth who sought acceptance in New York City. Lee: You know, I guess it was maybe two weeks ago now at the Black Trans Lives Rally in Brooklyn, we were actually driving home to Brooklyn and it was like I'd never seen (LAUGH) almost that many people. She spoke publicly about it and told people she hoped they would not be afraid of those who had the disease. It feels like a revolution. And that's also something that Black cisgender and straight people need to understand as well. 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. In the early morning hours, police raided the bar and began arresting the patrons, most of whom were gay men. But the fight for protection and inclusion back then is so similar to the fight we are seeing today. While short-lived, STAR House was an important space for those who needed it. Marsha was often alone with strangers in hotel rooms and cars. Well, I know how to handle them. Darling, I want my gay rights now. Rivera frequently experienced homelessness and had problems with substance abuse. Lee: I always wonder, and I had been a police reporter for a long time, so I've covered all kinds of crimes. My name is still in story. Religious Experience and Journal of Mrs. Jarena Lee: giving an account of her call to preach the gospel, frontispiece. The Importance of Dialogue, Development and Acceptance The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. Brayla was just 17. MLA Rothberg, Emma. (LAUGH) Or is it too tough? Reyes, Raul A., A Forgotten Latina Trailblazer: LGBT Activist Sylvia Rivera, NBC News, October 6, 2015,https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/forgotten-latina-trailblazer-lgbt-activist-sylvia-rivera-n438586. When a Warhol screen-print of Marsha went on display in a Greenwich Village store, Marsha took some friends to see it. Marsha P. Johnsons Best Friend Was A Fellow Pioneer,Vogue UK, June 13, 2020,https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/who-was-sylvia-rivera. Here are 14 quotes from Johnson that capture her spirit and endless passion for LGBTQ+ rights: On Coming of Age: I was no one, nobody, from Nowheresville until I And so for me it's been very important to always be a Black trans woman when I come into spaces. 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. or a search for the Black Trans Lives Matter movement. That interview originally appeared on his show, Making Gay History. In the 1970s, Johnson experienced a series of mental health breakdowns and spent time in and out of psychiatric hospitals. Along with Marsha P. Johnson, Rivera started the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) around 1971. At one point, Rivera attempted suicide. And yet we have to contend with the fact that even if there was a clear story, which there rarely is for any victim, particularly if you're Black, he would not have gotten any more attention from most people because people have a bias against trans folks. Like, we all carry insecurities about our gender, about who we are and who we're supposed to be in the world. And it's not just Black trans women. Marsha P. Johnson | National Women's History Museum The Historic New Orleans Collection, acc. 'Cause we're all caught up in it. Are we seeing a little bit of that now? She was assigned male at birth. Oportunidades Iguales Para Las Mujeres En El Trabajo y La Educaccion, Womens Strike for Equality, New York, Fifth Avenue, 1970, Eugene Gordon photograph collection, 1970-1990. Invite students to. Willis: I absolutely do think that there is a confluence and overlap of LGBTQ+ liberation and Black liberation. WebMarsha P. Johnson at the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, a protest inspired by the events that took place at the Stonewall Inn. (LAUGH) I almost don't have time to tweet on some days 'cause I'm so busy. I was involved with that.. Unknown photographer, A Typical Boomer Family, ca. And that's part of why I have an issue with the way that we have framed violence as simply something that happens from the state, something that happens from police officers who are white that overwhelmingly happens to cisgender heterosexual men. New York State still persecuted gay people and frequently criminalized their activities and presence. But I don't know if we'll even completely know we're in a revolution probably until maybe it's almost over, right? Crowd: Black trans lives matter. After graduating high school, Marsha moved to New York City with only $15 and a bag of clothes. Subscribers get each new issue of the Goodnewspaper mailed to their home, get exclusive discounts for do-good brands, fill the world with more good news, and more. A man pulled a gun on me and snatched my pocketbook in a car. Hey, Luke. You may wish to start with a screening of. Do you disentangle your identity like that? A monument dedicated to Marsha P Johnson, the late African-American transgender activist and pioneer, will be unveiled in New York in 2021. So there was infrastructure being built. Apparently, the truck was not abandoned after all. Chicago Rothberg, Emma. On July 6, 1992, Marshas body was found floating in the Hudson River. And I didn't get downtown till about 2:00. To learn more, check out the vocabulary resource guides from GLAAD: Transgender glossary and LGBTQ glossary. Well never share your email with anyone else. Cemetery Name: Marsha P. Johnson grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, with her mother. Willis: Well, you know what is interesting is we've gotta get out of this space of thinking that transgender people are having some kind of magically different gender experience. Yet this was not the first time Rivera was directly involved in activism. So there's no way to talk about us getting to liberation without talking about Black trans people. Today, historians and former friends of Marsha describe her as a trans woman. She began dressing almost exclusively in womens clothes and adopted the full name Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha and Sylvia later formed the Street Transvestite Activist Revolutionaries (STAR). The Gay Activist Alliance (GAA), which formed in response to Stonewall, frequently rejected the role transgender peoplethe majority of whom were people of colorhad played in the uprising. But life didnt start out fearlessly for Johnson. They're really insulting to women. Marshas whole life seemed to be a balance between popularity and exclusion. In 1990, Marsha contracted AIDS. I think its about time the gay brothers and sisters got their rights especially the women., On Embracing Her Identity: Id like to see the gay revolution get started If a transvestite doesnt say 'Im gay and Im proud and Im a transvestite,' then nobody else is going to hop up there and say 'Im gay and Im proud and Im a transvestite' for them., On Human Rights: You never completely have your rights, one person, until you all have your rights. Together, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera continue to inspire the fight for justice that has not been won. Smithsonian Institute Archives Image # SIA 2010-1509. But I'll be honest. Throughout the 1970s, Johnson became a more visible and prominent member of the gay rights movement. In 1975, artist Andy Warhol crossed paths with Marsha and photographed her for his Ladies and Gentleman series. In 2020, New York State named a waterfront park in Brooklyn after Marsha. There's still a lot of behind-the-scenes educating that has to happen for cis people who don't understand transness or gender nonconformity. Rivera explained in 1998 that she and Johnson decided it was time to help each other and help our other kids. Immediately after graduating from Thomas A. Edison High School, Johnson moved to New York City with one bag of clothes and $15. But do we have a good enough holistic nuance view of that violence? All they think about is getting up your dress, anything to get up that dress of yours. 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? The film stars Mya Taylor as Johnson and Eve Lindley as Rivera.. During Marshas lifetime, the term transgender was not commonly used. Thank you for having me. She also continued to engage in sex work, not knowing any other way to make money, and continued to get arrested. Honey, I promise you, I'm not. Her partner, Julia Murray, was with her at the time of her death. Cooking for myself, right? Rivera said of Johnson that she was like a mother to me. The two were actively involved in the Stonewall Inn uprising on June 28, 1969 when patrons of the Stonewall Inna gay bar in Greenwich Village in lower Manhattanrebuffed a police raid and set a new tone for the gay rights movement. Marsha P. Johnson Lee: You know, I don't want to either/or it or make it too reductive or too simple. And we were all out there. Marsha P. Johnson They were not only angered by the police raid but also the oppression and fear they experienced every day. Lee: I think people have a pretty decent grasp of lesbian, gay, bi. We don't really talk about how we have our own conceptions of which victims are worthy of our empathy. It feels like a different time. Though she struggled with mental health issues, Johnson was beloved for her charismatic persona. Johnson became known as much for her activism as for her attention-grabbing wardrobe, often complete with red plastic heels, colorful wigs and flowers and fruit in her hair. She slept in hotel rooms, restaurants, and movie theaters. Since then, Marsha has become an icon of the transgender community. The LGBTQ community was furious the police did not investigate her death. You know, and so when I think about the murders of Black trans women at the hands of Black cis men, I'm very particular about how and when and where I have those conversations because inevitably what is happening to us will be used in the service of white supremacy against Blackness writ large. I think about our media outlets and how often we don't have spaces like this, Trymaine, where a Black trans woman can come on and be in dialogue with a Black cis man about the state of the world. I think its about time the gay brothers and sisters got their rights . Lee: I'm Trymaine Lee, and this is Into America. The two became instant friends. I mean, I think about the early feminist movement and how people like Sojourner Truth, Ida B. And from those earliest days, people had concerns about Black folks, brown folks, people who are incarcerated, and of course trans people because we were seen as not in line with some of the assimilationist goals of many of those early movement figures. You should stand as close to them as you can and help them out as much as you can. Lady Gaga Stonewall Day Speech Transcript 2019: "I Would Take a Johnsons life changed when she found herself engaging with the resistance at The Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. 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. 'Cause when I got downtown, the place was already on fire and it was a raid already. For Black trans lives especially, is this a time? I found a little bit of joy having this complex, smart conversation with you. And whatever I can do to use the bit of access I might have, or privilege, or platform to push the dignity of Black trans people, I'm gonna do it. Her father was absent and her mother died by suicide when Rivera was 3 years old. Why do you think Marshas life has started to gain more attention in recent years? Ask them to think about the kind of monument or memorial they would want to create for Marsha, based on her life story. What opportunities did she find? Marsha described herself as a gay person, a transvestite, and a drag queen. Throughout Greenwich Village, she was known as Saint Marsha. Locals admired her ability to truly be herself. LIVE! She spoke publicly about her diagnosis and how people should not be afraid of those with the disease in a June 26, 1992 interview. I also think about our institutions. Why did Marsha move to New York City? . By Source, Fair use,https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38099161. There's this idea that because we are openly gender nonconforming or having an openly different gender experience that we deserve the abuse that we may receive, and that's just not okay. To make ends meet, she became a sex worker often getting arrested, losing count after the 100th incident. I am a senior. WebMarsha was a fixture in the West Village, known and adored by everybody. CNN However, Johnson also found a community in the city, especially after meeting Latina drag queen Sylvia Rivera. Invite students to research the ways in which Marshas legacy is being remembered today. Willis: I think class affects all of it. She used she/her pronouns. Stonewall 50 Minisode 1 Marsha P. Johnson & Randy Wicker The first pride parades started in 1970, but Rivera and other transgender people were discriminated against and discouraged from participating. Willis, Raquel, How Sylvia Rivera Created the Blueprint for Transgender Organizing,Out Magazine,May 21, 2019,https://www.out.com/pride/2019/5/21/how-sylvia-rivera-created-blueprint-transgender-organizing. Trans women, particularly women of color, were regular targets of hate crimes. Currently, LGTBQ+ monuments are not among the Citys public statues. It was difficult for Marsha to find work. As one of few women and Asian musicians in the jazz world, Akiyoshi infused Japanese culture, sounds, and instruments into her music. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. And I think that we do a disservice by allowing folks who lead Black liberation movements to envision liberation as contingent on one identity or one experience. She also found work waiting tables and performing in drag shows. Now they are getting a statue in New York, Brooklyns East River State Park renamed in honor of late LGBTQ activist and trans icon Marsha P. Johnson. Rivera ran away from home at age 11 and became a victim of sexual exploitation around 42nd Street. Johnson grew up in a religious family and began attending Mount Teman African Methodist Episcopal Church as a child; she remained a practicing Christian for the rest of her life. Is there a confluence there? And you said, "Let today be the last day that you ever doubt Black trans power.". We'll be back next week. In front of a crowd at that rally for Black trans lives, she had this to say. We know that homophobia and transphobia knows no bounds. Her lavish outfits were often made from thrift store finds, gifts from friends, and items she found on the street.
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