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. 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/. What challenges did she face there? On every level, Black cis folks are not doing enough to show up in new and expansive ways around gender and it's a problem. 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 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." So, like, what are you doin'? 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. Lee: How much does class play in all this? I think we have to have a real conversation on how white supremacy has also plagued the LGBTQ+ movement since its inception. 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." The monuments are dedicated to their legacy and to share their stories for generations to come. Chicago Rothberg, Emma. Willis: It does hurt. You should stand as close to them as you can and help them out as much as you can. But when it comes to Black trans life and death and the violence heaped upon them, it comes likely from inside the community. By Emma Rothberg, NWHM Predoctoral Fellow in Gender Studies, 2020-2022. Were the front-liners. She was booed off the stage. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Dissident News has received the exclusive full transcript for the entirety of the RFK announcement speech. And it's not just Black trans women. But do we have a good enough holistic nuance view of that violence? Marshas friends and acquaintances strongly disagreed. In one account, she started the uprising by throwing a shot glass at a mirror. Marsha P. Johnson never self-identified with the term transgender, but the term was also not in broad use while she was alive. She began dressing almost exclusively in womens clothes and adopted the full name Marsha P. Johnson. Toshiko Akiyoshi changed the face of jazz music over her sixty-year career. Invite students to research the ways in which Marshas legacy is being remembered today. Oil on canvas. Rivera said in a 1995 interview with The New York Times of participating in this parade, the movement had put me on the shelf, but they took me down and dusted me offStill, it was beautiful. Mostly white cisgender gay men, but also cisgender lesbians as well. At her funeral, hundreds of people showed up at the church; it was so crowded that people stood on the street. And I think what is consistent unfortunately is the sidelining of our voices and the sidelining of our experiences and work. Marsha P. Johnson. National Womens History Museum, 2022. So you can't really say that womanhood is based in the ability to procreate as a woman. And that is also violence. Johnson, like many other transgender women, felt they had nothing to lose. It was about the oppression and fear they felt every single day. Despite her joyous personality and ever-present smile, Johnson experienced hardship. The first STAR House was in the back of an abandoned truck in Greenwich Village. 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. We don't really talk about how we have our own conceptions of which victims are worthy of our empathy. IE 11 is not supported. The P stood for Pay It No Mind. To her, this was a life motto and a response to questions about her gender. Willis: And so let today be the last day which you ever doubt Black trans power. 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. 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. I mean, I think things have definitely shifted in the last few years of my career. After this experience, Rivera left New York City and activism behind for a bit. While there are many conflicting stories about the uprisings start, it is clear that Marsha was on the front lines. Content Warning: This resource addresses physical and sexual violence. 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? You can't say that it's about having a particular set of chromosomes. WebMarsha P. Search streaming video, audio, and text content for academic, public, and K-12 institutions. Happy Birthday, Marsha A performance artist who typically dresses up like a woman for entertainment purposes. And so we've got to understand that. In the wake of the raid, Johnson and Rivera led a series of protests. Marshas whole life seemed to be a balance between popularity and exclusion. Cooking for myself, right? Is it a dropping of ego? To learn more, check out the vocabulary resource guides from. 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 Crowd: Black trans lives matter. 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. Marsha had a reputation for being generous and kind. Soul Poem Written and Performed By Marsha P. Johnson Marsha P. Johnson was born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. But I don't like straight men. 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 story of a leader in social, environmental, and political activism and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. I think when you're close to people it does hurt in a particular way. New-York Historical Society Library. How do you actually navigate those spaces? That night, police officers raided the gay bar. Do you disentangle your identity like that? She was assigned male at birth. Johnsons life changed when she found herself engaging with the resistance at The Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. She also encouraged Sylvia to love herself and her identity. Since the term transgender wasnt used during her time, she identified as gay, transvestite and as a drag queen, using the pronouns she/her. I've been around them for years, from working the streets. And I think for me as an activist, I take it also to be like, "Is what I'm doing even working? A term to describe people who wear clothes designed for the opposite sex. And we saw just from the turnout for the Rally for Black Trans Lives that there is momentum there also. A person who does not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. Together, they started raising their voices. One morning, they returned to the truck just as it was pulling away with STAR residents sleeping inside. Pride Month: Who was Marsha P. Johnson and why were they so All they think about is getting up your dress, anything to get up that dress of yours. Perry, Ana, Sylvia Rivera: Activist and Trailblazer, Face to Face Blog, National Portrait Gallery,https://npg.si.edu/blog/welcome-collection-sylvia-rivera. Lee: Are we seeing that? Willis: Right. She was beaten for doing so and, after being attacked on a school playground in sixth grade by another student, suspended from school for a week. Marsha taught Sylvia how to apply makeup, live on the street, and look out for trouble. 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. NASA on The Commons, via flickr, Home / Growth and Turmoil, 1948-1977 / Growing Tensions / Life Story: Marsha P. Johnson. and AIDS, and gay and transgender rights. Lee: This is from a 1989 interview with journalist Eric Marcus. Sylvia Rivera. National Womens History Museum. Even when she found work waiting tables or performing in drag shows, she still made most of her money as a sex worker. She brought some serious thoughts to this gay audience. Show more Show more We have to be having a holistic conversation on violence that not only talks about state violence but it also talks about the violence in our own homes, in our communities. June 7, 1999. 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. Note: Marshas life story includes a large amount of vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to teachers and students. We kept the building going. Looking for more quotes? Apparently, the truck was not abandoned after all. TRANSCRIPT Lady Gaga Stonewall Day Speech Transcript 2019: "I Would Take a For example, dancing with a person of the same sex as well as cross-dressing were illegal. I never do it seriously. Marsha P. Johnson, We have to be visible. Something went wrong while submitting the form. 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. Her partner, Julia Murray, was with her at the time of her death. Well never share your email with anyone else, Susan Devaney, Marsha P Johnsons Activism Matters Now More than Ever,. Marsha P. Johnson New York State still persecuted gay people and frequently criminalized their activities and presence. As one of few women and Asian musicians in the jazz world, Akiyoshi infused Japanese culture, sounds, and instruments into her music. 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. Her activism led her to become one of the most influential figures in the gay liberation movement. Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, mission specialist, carries her son Wilson Miles-Ochoa following the STS-96 crew return at Ellington Field. What opportunities did she find? Marsha P. Johnson was a proud and outspoken member of the LGBTQ+ community before it was popular to be so. Jen Carlson, Activists Install Marsha P. Johnson Monument in Christopher Park, Gothamist, August 25, 2021, https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/marsha-p-johnson-statue-bust-christopher-park, The Marsha P. Johnson Institute, https://marshap.org/, By Emma Rothberg, Ph.D. | Associate Educator, Digital Learning and Innovation. Throughout the 1970s, she frequently tangled with gay rights leaders who were hesitant to include transgender people in their advocacy work. You know, when I had this recent conversation with my brother, I left the conversation, you know, I was angry and I was tearful 'cause it does hurt. Soon, Marsha was attending rallies, sit-ins, and meetings of the newly formed Gay Liberation Front. We fed people and clothed people. When you hear J.K. Rowling saying that, what's your response to that? Initially ruled a suicide, many friends questioned that conclusion and suspected foul play. No matter how marginalized you are, you can still be an oppressor. Willis: I don't know. How are you gonna support transforming our families, having those hard conversations with our elders? Protest Leader: Black trans power matters. That is just another element of patriarchy. A man pulled a gun on me and snatched my pocketbook in a car. (LAUGH) But is her name and folks who came after her and worked alongside her, are those names forgotten, overlooked by accident, by intent? During Marshas lifetime, the term transgender was not commonly used. She dispensed cheer and joy. WebMarsha was an eccentric woman who was known for her exotic hats and jewelry which stood out to the public and attracted attention to her. 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 described What tensions existed within the gay liberation movement? Rivera was born in New York City in 1951 to a father from Puerto Rico and a mother from Venezuela. The first STAR House was in the back of an abandoned truck in Greenwich Village. 12 Best Marsha P. Johnson Quotes About LGBTQ+ Rights - Good 'Cause when I got downtown, the place was already on fire and it was a raid already. 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? Lee: You know, I don't want to either/or it or make it too reductive or too simple. It was written, directed, and produced by Tourmaline and Sasha Police are treating her death as a homicide. Willis: Of course. Toshiko Akiyoshi changed the face of jazz music over her sixty-year career. 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. You might know King as the wife of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., however, her legacy extends far beyond the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.. And I think that we have to be able to hold that. It will be the citysand according to New York City, the worldsfirst monument dedicated to transgender individuals. WebHappy Birthday, Marsha! She also did not have a permanent home during this time, and bounced around sleeping at friends homes, hotels, restaurants, and movie theaters. 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. Johnson is also now the subject of many documentaries. Marsha P. Johnson was a proud and outspoken member of the LGBTQ+ community before it was popular to be so. What and who does she represent and why is this important? She was sometimes homeless and living on the streets but almost always present for decades. 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 Throughout her life, she fought against the exclusion of transgender people, especially transgender people of color, from the larger movement for gay rights. Note: Marshas life story includes a large amount of vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to teachers and students. New-York Historical Society Library. 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. Marsha P. Johnson (U.S. National Park Service) Marsha enjoyed expressing herself through her appearance. We paid the rent. Although only 19, Rivera became a mother to many of the residents of STAR House. In a 1992 interview, Johnson said "I was no one, nobody, from Nowheresville until I became a drag queen.. Sylvia Rivera | National Women's History Museum Explore our collection of the best LGBTQ+ Pride quotes. [2]Two Transgender Activists Are Getting a Monument in New York And sometimes it seems obviously clear that this person was killed because they were trans. To make ends meet, she became a sex worker often getting arrested, losing count after the 100th incident. So, I mean, there are so many ways in which the argument against trans women being women also erases swaths of cisgender women who don't have those particular experiences. She was 46. 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. And that's also something that Black cisgender and straight people need to understand as well. Life Story: Marsha P. Johnson - Women & the American Marsha Pay it no Mind Johnson Challenging Gender "Don't you got money to make?". And we were all out there. It was not easy to live on the margins. In 1975, artist Andy Warhol crossed paths with Marsha and photographed her for his Ladies and Gentleman series. 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. She grabbed the microphone anyway, telling the spectators and other marchers, If it wasnt for the drag queen, there would be no gay liberation movement. With public installations already being implemented, the plan is to complete renovations by 2021. #RFK Presidential Announcement w/ Shannon Joy. especially the women. Who Is Trans TikTok Influencer Dylan Mulvaney? In 1990, Marsha contracted AIDS. Willis: I think class affects all of it. series. Lee: I always wonder, and I had been a police reporter for a long time, so I've covered all kinds of crimes. You know, I think about how more work needs to be done at our colleges and universities, in our Greek organizations, in our professional organizations, in the Congressional Black Caucus. 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. She spoke publicly about it and told people she hoped they would not be afraid of those who had the disease. 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. During Marshas lifetime, the term transgender was not commonly used. 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. 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. She began performing with the drag group, Hot Peaches. She attracted the attention of many, including the pop artist Andy Warhol who included her in a series of prints in 1975 entitled Ladies and Gentlemen. In an interview Johnson did for a 1972 book, she said her ambition was to see gay people liberated and free and to have equal rights that other people have in America. She wanted to see her gay brothers and sisters out of jail and on the streets again. In another interview, she said as long as gay people dont have their rights all across Americathere is no reason for celebration. In 1980, she was invited to ride in the lead car of the Gay Pride Parade in New York City. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. The final bill passed in 2002 and prevents discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, credit, and the exercise of civil rights.. After a boy sexually assaulted her, she stopped wearing the clothes she loved and felt most comfortable in. 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. Lets take a journey through a deeply inspiring and Always sporting a smile, Johnson was an important advocate for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, those effected by H.I.V. Brayla was just 17. How have Indigenous people exercised sovereignty and self-determination in the modern world? 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. Alexander Street is an imprint of ProQuest that promotes teaching, research, Having difficulty finding employment, Johnson turned to sex work. 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. She was the fifth of seven children born to Malcolm Michaels Sr. and Alberta Claiborne. Police then reclassified the case as a drowning from undetermined cause, but the LGBTQ+ community was furious that the police refused to investigate further and that many press outlets did not cover her death. Their tireless efforts continue to resonate as issues surrounding the health, safety, and autonomy of Black, Brown, and Indigenous Trans women are still challenged. I think its about time the gay brothers and sisters got their rights . She also created and wore elaborate crowns of fresh flowers. Chien-shiung Wu (1912-1997), professor of physics at Columbia University, 1963. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, ca. Abigail Adams was an early advocate for women's rights. Their rage was not just about the police. But in the 1950s and 1960s, LGBTQ peoples rights were strictly limited. 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. Invite students to research recent activism around the extreme violence that trans women of color continue to face. Jen Carlson, Activists Install Marsha P. Johnson Monument in Christopher Park, Gothamist, August 25, 2021. reinc: The story of a company founded by four US Womens National Team soccer players seeking to challenge norms and inspire lasting progress. In 2021, New York City will unveil a monument to Rivera and Johnson. Rivera frequently experienced homelessness and had problems with substance abuse. 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. Well, I know how to handle them. Look no further than our guide. After graduating high school, Marsha moved to New York City with only $15 and a bag of clothes. 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. And it also of course extends to folks who are nonbinary or gender nonconforming who straddle all of these struggles. ' In 2001, she was marching in New York City Pride Parades and living in Transy House. says peoples pronouns should Like, it's hard to know in the moment. Why do you think Marshas life has started to gain more attention in recent years? The police officers ruled her death a suicide. Willis: No, I think that we have to find pockets of joy. 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. Are we seeing a little bit of that now? '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. She sometimes lived with friends. Our executive producer is Ellen Frankman. She noted that many people had to die in order for two statues to be erected. ", On Mental Health: I may be crazy, but that don't make me wrong., On Distrust: I got robbed once. The Importance of Dialogue, Development and Acceptance The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. We went out and hustled the streets. Willis: I think a lot of it is proximity. Were all in this rat race together! Marsha P. Johnson, I may be crazy, but that dont make me wrong. Marsha P. Johnson, I dont think you should be ashamed of anybody you know that has AIDS. WebMarsha P. Johnson, transgender activist and urban legend, was never one to mince words. They rented a dilapidated building with no electricity or running water. Like, we all carry insecurities about our gender, about who we are and who we're supposed to be in the world. Johnson: And Sylvia Rivera and them were over in the park having a cocktail. But life didnt start out fearlessly for Johnson. In 2019, New York City announced that a statue of Marsha and Sylvia would be the first monument to honor trans women in the city. 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. 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. Willis: First of all, anytime a celebrity tweets, I'm like, "How you got time for this?" 2022. Episode To wear clothes typically associated with a different sex and is most commonly used to describe men who wear make-up and womens clothing. We are a movement. 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. 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.
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