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. Willis: I think it's all of the above. The first STAR House was in the back of an abandoned truck in Greenwich Village. Like, does one feed the other, especially when it comes to Black trans lives? She took on the name "Black Marsha," and eventually added on her famous middle initial and took her last name from a Howard Johnson restaurant she frequented. And so in the wake of the Stonewall riots, there was an entire web of nonprofit organizations that sprang out of that, right? She asked Marsha to help her create a place where they could feel safe, unite, and fight for their rights. A monument dedicated to Marsha P Johnson, the late African-American transgender activist and pioneer, will be unveiled in New York in 2021. At the time, 1992 was the worst year on record for anti-LGBTQ violence according to the New York Anti-Violence Project. 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. Cooking for myself, right? The Sylvia Rivera Law Project continues her legacy, working to guarantee all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence. The intersection of Christopher and Hudson streets in Greenwich Village, two blocks from The Stonewall Inn, was renamed Sylvia Rivera Way. In 2015, a portrait of Rivera was added to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., making her the first transgender activist to be included in the gallery. According to her nephew, Johnson always maintained a close but fraught relationship with her family back in New Jersey. 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. And they never forget it. 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. Who Is Trans TikTok Influencer Dylan Mulvaney? Hope y'all enjoy the long holiday weekend. Solly, Meilan, New York City Monument Will Honor Transgender Activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, Smithsonianmag.org, June 3, 2019,https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-york-city-monument-will-honor-transgender-activists-marsha-p-johnson-and-sylvia-rivera-180972326/. In one account, she started the uprising by throwing a shot glass at a mirror. Lee: How much does class play in all this? Lee: I think people have a pretty decent grasp of lesbian, gay, bi. Marsha P. Johnson. National Womens History Museum. Rivera said in an interview in 2001 that while she did not throw the first Molotov cocktail at the police (a long-enduring myth), she did throw the second. Chien-shiung Wu (1912-1997), professor of physics at Columbia University, 1963. So it has been intentional, and it is still intentional today. Perhaps you could say that trans people may have a more drastic experience, but it's so connected to the ways that boys and men in general are told that they can't have a certain well of emotion, that they can't be intimate and have other ways of moving through the world that don't involve control and domination. Turns out we're not there. What was STAR, and why was it so important? The riots had already started. There are many competing stories about what Johnson did during the raid on the Stonewall Inn, but it is clear she was on the front lines. Content Warning: This resource addresses physical and sexual violence. In 1990, Marsha contracted AIDS. You should stand as close to them as you can and help them out as much as you can. Marsha P. Johnson at the First Christopher Street Liberation Day March, 1970. Willis: No, I think that we have to find pockets of joy. The church was so full that the crowd spilled into the street. Marsha taught Sylvia how to apply makeup, live on the street, and look out for trouble. The first pride parades started in 1970, but Rivera and other transgender people were discriminated against and discouraged from participating. Johnsons life changed when she found herself engaging with the resistance at The Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. WebMarsha P. Johnson: The way I winded up being at Stonewall that night, I was having a party uptown. Note: Marshas life story includes a large amount of vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to teachers and students. 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. WebMarsha P. Johnson, transgender activist and urban legend, was never one to mince words. She began dressing almost exclusively in womens clothes and adopted the full name Marsha P. Johnson. And it's just a reminder that we've been here and it's a reminder we're gonna be here. WebMARSHA P JOHNSON SAVES BOY Randolfe Wicker 633 views 10 years ago Trans Women of Color and the Stonewall Riots Rachel Simon 1.7K views 7 years ago 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. If you would like to learn more about Johnson, we recommend Netflix's documentary ' The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson.' Article Correction: It was previously stated that Johnson said the quote,"No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us." She also reconciled with the gay rights movement that was now expanding to embrace the LGBTQ+ community. When you hear J.K. Rowling saying that, what's your response to that? 2022. The story of a company founded by four US Womens National Team soccer players seeking to challenge norms and inspire lasting progress. 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. So, like, what are you doin'? The City intends to have the monuments installed by 2021, as part of a plan to address gender gaps in public art. Yet this was not the first time Rivera was directly involved in activism. To make ends meet, she became a sex worker often getting arrested, losing count after the 100th incident. As he entered activism, community organizing, and politics, Milk became known as a champion of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, minorities, immigrants, women, and children. 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. May 31, 2022 6:30 AM. Black trans women continue to face disproportionate levels of violence. Thank you for joining the Goodnewsletter! 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. She was given a place of honor in the 25th Anniversary Stonewall Inn march in 1994. This video was created by the New-York Historical Society Teen Leaders in collaboration with the Untold project. All they think about is getting up your dress, anything to get up that dress of yours. Date accessed. Always sporting a smile, Johnson was an important advocate for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, those effected by H.I.V. Hey, Luke. Are we seeing a little bit of that now? When a Warhol screen-print of Marsha went on display in a Greenwich Village store, Marsha took some friends to see it. Dissident News has received the exclusive full transcript for the entirety of the RFK announcement speech. When we're talking to white people about white supremacy, we could say, "Read how to be an antiracist," right? Willis: I don't think so. Along with Marsha P. Johnson, Rivera started the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) around 1971. A person who was assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Were the front-liners. She was booed off the stage. Oh, there was a lot of little chants we used to do in those days. Even when she found work waiting tables or performing in drag shows, she still made most of her money as a sex worker. And we need the in-between. Sylvia Rivera, National Park Service,https://www.nps.gov/people/sylvia-rivera.htm. Acronym for Auto Immune Deficiency Disorder. Franois (Franz) Fleischbein (artist), Portrait of Betsy, 1837. Sylvia and Marsha hustled every night to make sure their new family had breakfast each morning. That night, police officers raided the gay bar. She also continued to engage in sex work, not knowing any other way to make money, and continued to get arrested. Do you disentangle your identity like that? Chicago Rothberg, Emma. It is said those who threw the first brick on Today, a look at how racism and transphobia have pushed Black trans women to the fringe of the gay rights movement and the movement for Black lives, and what's being done to change that. She returned to the city in 1992 after the death of Johnson. Marsha described I mean, I wish I could say yes, but Black cis folks are not doing enough. Or is it your gender identity first? Because as a Black trans woman, you telling me you want to abolish the police or you telling me you want to abolish prisons, that you want to defund the police doesn't necessarily put me completely at ease because I know that I could still be and am likely to be harmed by men in our communities, particularly Black cishet men. The new monuments and dedicated state park mark powerful steps toward recognizing and amplifying the voices of people who have changed history in their fight for equality, but much remains to be done. 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. Lee: On one hand, I get tired of the trope that the Black community is somehow more homophobic or more transphobic. Willis: I think a lot of it is proximity. Thank you for having me. The P stood for Pay It No Mind. To her, this was a life motto and a response to questions about her gender. Thank you for having me. Are you Black first? Gertrude Kasebier (photographer), Zitkala Sa, Sioux Indian and activist, c. 1898. According to NYC Mayor, Bill de Blasio, "putting up statues doesn't change everything, but it starts to change hearts and mindswe want to honor them because they lived their truth and they made history.[4] In addition to the monuments, Marsha P. Johnson State Park (previously East River State Park) in Brooklyn, NY has become the first state park in the state of New York to be dedicated to an LGBTQ person and a Trans woman of color. And you said, "Let today be the last day that you ever doubt Black trans power.". Marsha P. Johnson: The way I winded up being at Stonewall that night, I was having a party uptown. We have an issue particularly in media where we often get to be either victims, of course, and not alive, or we're a superstar or celebrity. 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. Marsha spent most of her life without a permanent home. Toshiko Akiyoshi changed the face of jazz music over her sixty-year career. The term transgender wasnt commonly used in Marshas lifetime, but she identified as a transvestite, gay and a drag queen and used she/her pronouns. Marsha P. Johnson was born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. When the organizers of the gay pride parade tried to ban STAR, they showed up anyway. LIVE! An acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer and is an umbrella term for the community of people whose gender and sexual identities exist outside of heteronormative expectations. In 2012, the New York Police Department reopened the case into Johnsons death. Not long after arriving in New York, 17-year-old Marsha met 11-year-old Sylvia Rivera. Johnson was involved in the early days of both but grew frustrated by the exclusion of transgender and LGBTQ+ people of color from the movement. As they watched their kids jump from a moving truck, Marsha and Sylvia realized they needed a real home. Johnson, an African American self-identified drag queen and activist, was also battling exclusion in a movement for gay rights that did not embrace her gender expression. Johnson, like many other transgender women, felt they had nothing to lose. Dunlap, David W., Sylvia Rivera, 50, Figure in Birth of the Gay Liberation Movement,New York Times, February 20, 2002,https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/20/nyregion/sylvia-rivera-50-figure-in-birth-of-the-gay-liberation-movement.html. Willis: It does hurt. Invite students to research the ways in which Marshas legacy is being remembered today. Having difficulty finding employment, Johnson turned to sex work. is a 2017 fictional short film that imagines the gay and transgender rights pioneers Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera in the hours that led up to the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. New-York Historical Society Library. Please try again. Like, we all carry insecurities about our gender, about who we are and who we're supposed to be in the world. Chicago Rothberg, Emma. We are a movement. How can food be used as a form of cultural memory & resistance? Marsha enjoyed expressing herself through her appearance. On July 6, 1992, Johnsons body was found in the Hudson River. I mean, how often does that happen? And we were all out there. In front of a crowd at that rally for Black trans lives, she had this to say. New-York Historical Society Library. 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? Steve Lickteig is executive producer of audio. What opportunities did she find? But I don't know if we'll even completely know we're in a revolution probably until maybe it's almost over, right? But when people are close to you and they're side, maybe they're family or people that you really respect and they don't get it, does that sting a little bit? 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. Date accessed. Lee: By the time Marsha died in 1992, people rarely talked about her role in the movement. At one point, Rivera attempted suicide. I will say this was a joy. The Stonewall uprising was an awakening for an entire generation of LGBTQ activists. Hey, Marsha. Regardless of the true nature of her death, she was a victim of violence, including police brutality, throughout her life. A lot of times Ive reached my hand out to people in the gay community that just didnt have nobody to help them when they were down and out., On Her Own Legacy: They call me a legend in my own time, because there were so many queens gone that Im one of the few queens left from the 70s and the 80s., .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Afeni Shakur. 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. Wells, Anna Julia Cooper were sidelined as Black women. Johnson is also now the subject of many documentaries. They fixed up the building and paid rent for nearly eight months. During Marshas lifetime, the term transgender was not commonly used. 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 was a proud and outspoken member of the LGBTQ+ community before it was popular to be so. Willis: I absolutely do think that there is a confluence and overlap of LGBTQ+ liberation and Black liberation. The two became instant friends. 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. Throughout the 1970s, she frequently tangled with gay rights leaders who were hesitant to include transgender people in their advocacy work. Once back in the city, Rivera got involved again with the fight for the inclusion and recognition of transgender individuals. MLA Rothberg, Emma. It's not entirely different from how women and girls of all experiences face not being seen as competent, intelligent, brilliant, and capability of leadership. Thats what made me in New York, thats what made me in New Jersey, thats what made me in the world., On Changing History: History isn't something you look back at and say it was inevitable. They were pushed out of the fight for suffrage in this country. Invite students to research recent activism around the extreme violence that trans women of color continue to face. [2] The permanent installation will be built in Greenwich Village, in a location to be determined after conversations with the community. The story of a leader in social, environmental, and political activism and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. In June of 2019, just as New York City was entering their month of Pride celebrations, the City announced its plans to build two monuments honoring the late Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera for their lifelong commitment to ending oppression for marginalized communities. 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. Apr 21, 2023. You know, I thought that we were at a point where we were past a lot of his misgivings or misconceptions about transness. New York State still persecuted gay people and frequently criminalized their activities and presence. Young trans women like Marsha were particularly vocal that night because they felt they had nothing to left to lose. So it is hurtful, but I don't have the luxury of giving up. Marsha described herself as a gay person, a transvestite, and a drag queen. 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? Black trans lives matter. 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. But in this moment, in the fight for trans equality, is it more important to grow allies in the Black community or allies with other women? Her lavish outfits were often made from thrift store finds, gifts from friends, and items she found on the street. An infectious disease that attacks a persons immune system and can be difficult to treat. 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. And we were all out there. While the genesis of the Stonewall Inn uprising remains shrouded in myth, theres no doubt Johnson was a key figure leading the events of June 28, 1969 some even credit her with throwing the shot glass heard around the world that started the rebellion. It was about the oppression and fear they felt every single day. Unknown photographer, A Typical Boomer Family, ca. What and who does she represent and why is this important? I think we have to have a real conversation on how white supremacy has also plagued the LGBTQ+ movement since its inception. So people like Marsha P. Johnson, Zazu Nova, a Black trans elder who's still with us named Miss Major were present there and were actively invested in the fight that sprang out of that moment. Marsha P. Johnson. National Womens History Museum. Silvia Rivera died of liver cancer in St. Vincents Manhattan Hospital in 2002 at the age of 50. I am a senior. 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. She brought some serious thoughts to this gay audience. Show more Show more And so we've got to understand that. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, ca. Throughout Greenwich Village, she was known as Saint Marsha. Locals admired her ability to truly be herself. On July 6, 1992, Marshas body was found floating in the Hudson River. It will be the citysand according to New York City, the worldsfirst monument dedicated to transgender individuals. Willis: I think that we need all the allies. We went out and hustled the streets. It was written, directed, and produced by Tourmaline and Sasha It was difficult for Marsha to find work. 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. Marshas whole life seemed to be a balance between popularity and exclusion. What tensions existed within the gay liberation movement? If you walked down Christopher Street, Marsha would receive you in the manner of a gracious host. or a search for the Black Trans Lives Matter movement. The full episode transcript for Into Black Trans Liberation. 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. And that's something other LGBTQ+ folks, particularly white ones, need to understand. Chicago Rothberg, Emma. Like, it's hard to know in the moment. She believed no one should hustle or live on the streets, but she knew no other way to survive. Look no further than our guide. Even without lodgings, STAR provided a safe haven for people who had never had a place to call home. As the officers began to arrest people for violating various discriminatory laws, the patrons of the Stonewall fought back. In a 1992 interview, Johnson said "I was no one, nobody, from Nowheresville until I became a drag queen.. Despite her joyous personality and ever-present smile, Johnson experienced hardship. I actually think we're more powerful when we have numbers. As one of few women and Asian musicians in the jazz world, Akiyoshi infused Japanese culture, sounds, and instruments into her music. Well, I know how to handle them. To honor Johnsons life, public art will be included and interpretive park signage throughout the park will share her story. I found a little bit of joy having this complex, smart conversation with you. WebToday, historians and former friends of Marsha describe her as a trans woman. 'Cause it's like you're only cherished if you're dead, or you're only cherished if you can be in the spotlight and in some ways serve this desire of a cis person for you to be a spectacle, right, so they can add another layer of distance to you. 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. 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. But inevitably, you are all of your identities at one time. WebOn what would have been Marsha P Johnsons 77th birthday, the founder of the institute that bears her name discusses her powerful, often misunderstood legacy. 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. What was Marshas role in the Stonewall uprising, and how did it shape the rest of her life? June 7, 1999. Emma Rothberg, Sylvia Rivera, National Womens History Museum, 2021. She was identified as male at birth. I also think about our institutions. (LAUGH) I almost don't--, Lee: Right. But the impact of STAR had already been felt by many. Lee: Raquel, thank you so much for your time. Sylvia Rivera. National Womens History Museum. And that's also something that Black cisgender and straight people need to understand as well. Looking for more quotes? They thought it was more likely that Marsha was a victim of an attack. You know, at every level there's a systemic transphobia that is not being addressed. How did Marsha embody her Pay It No Mind name? So there's no way to talk about us getting to liberation without talking about Black trans people. Marsha is one of many Black Trans The story of a leader in social, environmental, and political activism and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. And so when I think about womanhood, we have to be expansive with all of these gender categories. Marsha P. Johnson was and is a woman impossible to forget. She was an activist, a sex worker, a drag performer, and even a model for Andy Warhol. She was at the forefront of pivotal moments in modern history. Since then, Marsha has become an icon of the transgender community. Cihak and Zima (photographer), Ida B. Wells-Barnett, ca. 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." And it also of course extends to folks who are nonbinary or gender nonconforming who straddle all of these struggles. Image Credit:Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Ron Simmons. 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. And I didn't get downtown till about 2:00. University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center. And that is also violence. And I think that we have to be able to hold that. And the idea of womanhood, is it worth having to explain to people what it means to live in this identity? 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. Lee: This is from a 1989 interview with journalist Eric Marcus. A term for all trans men and trans women. In 2012, the New York City Police Department finally agreed to re-open it, yet the case still remains unsolved. She was an advocate I'm not too friendly with them. 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.