Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson (born Malcolm Michaels Jr. on 1945-08-24 in Elizabeth, New Jersey) was an iconic American gay liberation activist and self‑identified drag queen whose life spanned the tumultuous decades of the 1960s through the early 1990s. After a brief stint in the United States Navy, she moved to New York City in 1963 with only fifteen dollars and a bag of clothes, quickly becoming a fixture of Greenwich Village’s vibrant street culture. Johnson’s flamboyant drag style—characterized by flowing robes, bright wigs, and crowns of fresh flowers—made her a beloved presence on the streets, earning her the affectionate nickname “mayor of Christopher Street.” She was a frequent model for Andy Warhol, performed with the drag troupe Hot Peaches from the early 1970s into the 1990s, and appeared with the Angels of Light, showcasing a blend of humor, politics, and artistry that resonated with queer audiences. A vocal participant in the Stonewall uprising of 1969, Johnson later recounted arriving after the riots had begun, yet her presence at subsequent demonstrations cemented her status as a pioneering activist. In September 1970 she co‑founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) with Sylvia Rivera, establishing a shelter for homeless LGBTQ youth and serving as a “drag mother” to countless marginalized youngsters. Johnson’s activism extended to the Gay Liberation Front, the Gay Pride marches, and direct actions such as sit‑ins at New York University, where she famously shouted, “Darling, I want my gay rights now!” By the late 1980s she joined ACT UP, using her platform to fight the AIDS crisis, caring for friends with the disease, and publicly confronting institutional neglect. Her untimely death in July 1992—found floating in the Hudson River—sparked controversy and calls for justice, leading to multiple investigations and a lasting legacy that includes documentaries, murals, and the renaming of a New York state park in her honor. Marsha P. Johnson remains a symbol of resilience, generosity, and fearless advocacy for the LGBTQ community.