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. And then the last thing I'll say is, you know, you brought up the contours of womanhood. Lee: You know, I don't want to either/or it or make it too reductive or too simple. Who Is Trans TikTok Influencer Dylan Mulvaney? Devaney, Susan, Who Was Sylvia Rivera? My name is still in story. But I don't like straight men. WebMarsha P. Johnson was one of the most prominent figures of the gay rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s in New York City. 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. 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. MARSHA P New-York Historical Society. But do we have a good enough holistic nuance view of that violence? So there was infrastructure being built. Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, mission specialist, carries her son Wilson Miles-Ochoa following the STS-96 crew return at Ellington Field. Dive into the world of small businesses with this compilation of powerful quotes that celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit, community impact, and unwavering commitment of local business owners. As the fifth of seven children of a General Motors assembly line worker and a housekeeper, Johnson was about five years old when she began wearing dresses, but was often harassed by other children. Well never share your email with anyone else. I mean how many years does it take people to see that? This video was created by the New-York Historical Society Teen Leaders in collaboration with the Untold project. By Source, Fair use,https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38099161. Invite students to study Warhols portrait of Marsha and learn about the, Invite students to learn more about the Stonewall Inn uprising by exploring the, A few days before her death, Marsha gave an interview in which she joked about the recent installment of a monument outside the Stonewall Inn. Marsha taught Sylvia how to apply makeup, live on the street, and look out for trouble. WebMarsha P. Johnson: The way I winded up being at Stonewall that night, I was having a party uptown. The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA), New York State Office of the Attorney General,https://ag.ny.gov/civil-rights/sonda-brochure. Marsha P. Johnson (U.S. National Park Service) We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Johnson was outspoken about the risks of tackling the Mob; her roommate at the time had been lobbying to have officials with alleged Mafia ties removed from the The store owners called her riffraff and threw her out. What does this make you think and feel? Leonard Fink / LGBT Community Center Archive. Apr 21, 2023. 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.. Oh, there was a lot of little chants we used to do in those days. They're really insulting to women. WebHappy Birthday, Marsha! How are you gonna support transforming our families, having those hard conversations with our elders? Yet this was not the first time Rivera was directly involved in activism. In the 1970s, Johnson experienced a series of mental health breakdowns and spent time in and out of psychiatric hospitals. WebIn December 1970, Liza Cowan of WBAI sat down with membersation a the newly formed Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (or S Sylvia Rivera, National Park Service,https://www.nps.gov/people/sylvia-rivera.htm. 'Cause we're all caught up in it. Rights for LGBTQ+ people were limited and sometimes ignored completely. And we need the in-between. MARSHA P. JOHNSON "You Gotta Have Soul !" - YouTube Quiz Bowl 2023 - 1A Sacred Heart vs. Norfork - PBS 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. Lee: This is from a 1989 interview with journalist Eric Marcus. says peoples pronouns should The raid on Stonewall galvanized the gay rights movement. I think when you're close to people it does hurt in a particular way. 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. To honor Johnsons life, public art will be included and interpretive park signage throughout the park will share her story. Lee: I think people have a pretty decent grasp of lesbian, gay, bi. 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. What was STAR, and why was it so important? It feels like a different time. The P stood for Pay It No Mind. To her, this was a life motto and a response to questions about her gender. She began dressing almost exclusively in womens clothes and adopted the full name Marsha P. Johnson. 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. Marsha P. Johnson | National Women's History Museum A monument dedicated to Marsha P Johnson, the late African-American transgender activist and pioneer, will be unveiled in New York in 2021. [2]Two Transgender Activists Are Getting a Monument in New York Together, they started raising their voices. Lee: Raquel, thank you so much for joining me. So you can't really say that womanhood is based in the ability to procreate as a woman. And so when I think about womanhood, we have to be expansive with all of these gender categories. Lee: By the time Marsha died in 1992, people rarely talked about her role in the movement. We went out and hustled the streets. One morning, they returned to the truck just as it was pulling away with STAR residents sleeping inside. You know, I thought that we were at a point where we were past a lot of his misgivings or misconceptions about transness. 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. Rivera also fought against the exclusion of transgender people from the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act in New York. Religious Experience and Journal of Mrs. Jarena Lee: giving an account of her call to preach the gospel, frontispiece. 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. But inevitably, you are all of your identities at one time. When it comes to transgender issues, I don't think people fully understand. 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. 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. When they could no longer pay, they were evicted. 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. There are plenty of cis women who don't check off a lot of criterias that are considered womanhood. She started Transy House, modeled off STAR House, in 1997 in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Though she struggled with mental health issues, Johnson was beloved for her charismatic persona. 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. However, Johnson also found a community in the city, especially after meeting Latina drag queen Sylvia Rivera. Invite students to. The movement did not appreciate the extent to which transgender youth needed help and support. She noted that many people had to die in order for two statues to be erected. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Dissident News has received the exclusive full transcript for the entirety of the RFK announcement speech. In 1990, Johnson was diagnosed with H.I.V. They were pushed out of the fight for suffrage in this country. Lee: Speaking of white women, that's a perfect segue. Ask them to think about the kind of monument or memorial they would want to create for Marsha, based on her life story. Emma Rothberg, Sylvia Rivera, National Womens History Museum, 2021. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/Sylvia-Rivera. Willis: I definitely think that names like Marsha P. Johnson were forgotten intentionally. 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 it's just a reminder that we've been here and it's a reminder we're gonna be here. Then when you get pregnant or something, they don't even want to know you., On Paying It Forward: Ill always be known [for] reaching out to young people who have no one to help them out, so I help them out with a place to stay or some food to eat or some change for their pocket. And so I don't want to leave places, you know, coming in as the first Black trans woman to do X, Y, and Z and then have not built any pathways for more Black trans people to come into the space, to carry the banner when I leave and inevitably go do other work. She slept in hotel rooms, restaurants, and movie theaters. So there's no way to talk about us getting to liberation without talking about Black trans people. Rivera had an incredibly difficult childhood. Emma Rothberg, Sylvia Rivera, National Womens History Museum, 2021. New York State still persecuted gay people and frequently criminalized their activities and presence. 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. We paid the rent. Although only 19, Rivera became a mother to many of the residents of STAR House. Marsha P. Johnson was a proud and outspoken member of the LGBTQ+ community before it was popular to be so. Even without lodgings, STAR provided a safe haven for people who had never had a place to call home. The story of a leader in social, environmental, and political activism and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. No matter how marginalized you are, you can still be an oppressor. Sylvia Rivera | National Women's History Museum Lee: I always wonder, and I had been a police reporter for a long time, so I've covered all kinds of crimes. But when it comes to this kind of allyship, especially when we're talking about Black people, right, what does it take? At Marshas funeral, hundreds of people showed up. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Gertrude Kasebier (photographer), Zitkala Sa, Sioux Indian and activist, c. 1898. She used she/her pronouns. Marsha was part of a growing community of LGBTQ youth who sought acceptance in New York City. But in the 1950s and 1960s, LGBTQ peoples rights were strictly limited. For example, dancing with a person of the same sex as well as cross-dressing were illegal. 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. She also encouraged Sylvia to love herself and her identity. After graduating high school, Marsha moved to New York City with only $15 and a bag of clothes. You say Marsha P. Johnson, and people who don't know, she was so about it, right, and so about the work. That night, police officers raided the gay bar. When you hear J.K. Rowling saying that, what's your response to that? We can educate you, learn the history. Date accessed. How did Marsha embody her Pay It No Mind name? After this experience, Rivera left New York City and activism behind for a bit. 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. 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. Almost 30 years on from her death, Johnson is getting the attention she was denied when she was alive, with tales of In one account, she started the uprising by throwing a shot glass at a mirror. Diana Davies/Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library, By Alexandra Burgos for NPS Cultural Landscapes Program, [1] Marsha P. Johnson, a black transgender woman, was a central figure in the gay liberation movement After a boy sexually assaulted her, she stopped wearing the clothes she loved and felt most comfortable in. 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? 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. I really appreciate it. It will be the citysand according to New York City, the worldsfirst monument dedicated to transgender individuals. She spoke publicly about her diagnosis and how people should not be afraid of those with the disease in a June 26, 1992 interview. Marsha P. Johnson. National Womens History Museum. When we're talking to white people about white supremacy, we could say, "Read how to be an antiracist," right? "Read Stamped from the Beginning," right? Throughout her life, she fought against the exclusion of transgender people, especially transgender people of color, from the larger movement for gay rights. And I think what is consistent unfortunately is the sidelining of our voices and the sidelining of our experiences and work. I walked down 58th Street and the young ones were calling from the sidewalk, 'Sylvia, Sylvia, thank you, we know what you did. I found a little bit of joy having this complex, smart conversation with you. That interview originally appeared on his show, Making Gay History. The story of a transgender activist who participated in the Stonewall Uprising and fought for equal rights. 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. Trans women, particularly women of color, were regular targets of hate crimes. Her partner, Julia Murray, was with her at the time of her death. 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. Not long after arriving in New York, 17-year-old Marsha met 11-year-old Sylvia Rivera. 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. They thought it was more likely that Marsha was a victim of an attack. Hey, Marsha. 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. What were the circumstances around Marshas death? Engraving. 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. Always sporting a smile, Johnson was an Marsha and Sylvia later formed the Street Transvestite Activist Revolutionaries (STAR). Raised by her grandmother, Rivera began experimenting with clothing and makeup at a young age. 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 became a drag queen. The story of a company founded by four US Womens National Team soccer players seeking to challenge norms and inspire lasting progress. But the impact of STAR had already been felt by many. And we saw just from the turnout for the Rally for Black Trans Lives that there is momentum there also. Immediately after graduating from Thomas A. Edison High School, Johnson moved to New York City with one bag of clothes and $15. and AIDS, and gay and transgender rights. 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. She was given a place of honor in the 25th Anniversary Stonewall Inn march in 1994. WebIn December 1970, Liza Cowan of WBAI saddle down with members of and novel formed Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (or S The full episode transcript for Into Black Trans Liberation. 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." MLA Rothberg, Emma. Johnson and Rivera arrived at Stonewall around 2am where, Johnson said in a later interview, the place was already on fire, and there was a raid already. MLA Rothberg, Emma. Describe Marshas and Sylvias friendship. But I'll be honest. Always sporting a smile, Johnson was an important advocate for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, those effected by H.I.V. Currently, LGTBQ+ monuments are not among the Citys public statues. Johnsons father worked on the General Motors Assembly Line in Linden, NJ and her mother was a housekeeper. I also think about our institutions. [3] These will be the first permanent monuments dedicated to Transgender women in the state of New York. 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. Lee: I'm Trymaine Lee, and this is Into America. And I think that we have to be able to hold that. I think some people try to. 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. How can food be used as a form of cultural memory & resistance? She was assigned male at birth. I mean, I think about the early feminist movement and how people like Sojourner Truth, Ida B. 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. WebMarsha P. Search streaming video, audio, and text content for academic, public, and K-12 institutions. To make ends meet, she became a sex worker often getting arrested, losing count after the 100th incident. But then the fact that she had the energy to use her platform to demonize trans people, demonize a more marginalized group of women is problematic to me, but it's also emblematic of white womanhood. 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? 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. To wear clothes typically associated with a different sex and is most commonly used to describe men who wear make-up and womens clothing. If you walked down Christopher Street, Marsha would receive you in the manner of a gracious host. TRANSCRIPT Soul Poem Written and Performed By Marsha P. Johnson She remains one of the most recognized and admired LGBTQ+ advocates. The weight is heavy, and there's a lot to be concerned, sad, angry about. You can't say that it's about having a particular set of chromosomes. However, young Marsha enjoyed wearing clothing made for girls. By Emma Rothberg, NWHM Predoctoral Fellow in Gender Studies, 2020-2022. [2] The permanent installation will be built in Greenwich Village, in a location to be determined after conversations with the community. 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 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. The church was so full that the crowd spilled into the street. Sylvia Rivera. National Womens History Museum, 2021. Once, she was even shot. Unknown photographer, A Typical Boomer Family, ca. Are we seeing a little bit of that now? Chicago Rothberg, Emma. Willis: I don't think so. During Marshas lifetime, the term transgender was not commonly used. Jarena Lee, 1849. She was excited about the work but frustrated at how white gay men and lesbians dominated the conversation. And that's also something that Black cisgender and straight people need to understand as well. I actually think we're more powerful when we have numbers. In 1963, Rivera met Marsha P. Johnson and it changed her life. Despite her joyous personality and ever-present smile, Johnson experienced hardship. Perry, Ana, Sylvia Rivera: Activist and Trailblazer, Face to Face Blog, National Portrait Gallery,https://npg.si.edu/blog/welcome-collection-sylvia-rivera. Encourage them to search for articles about the Marsha and Sylvia statue in New York City, Marsha P. Johnson state park in Brooklyn, and more. You may wish to start with a screening of. 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. 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. She was an advocate for drag queens, people of color, and transgender people, fighting for their right to be seen and heard.. Sometimes, the strangers were violent. I think its about time the gay brothers and sisters got their rights . There's only one thing they want to get up your dress. Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor: Culinary Anthropologist, Towards Hawaiian Sovereignty: Legacy of Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask, Dr. Wangari Maathai: The story of a leader in social, environmental, and political activism and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Chronicles of American Women: Your History Makers, Women Writing History: A Coronavirus Journaling Project, We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC, Learning Resources on Women's Political Participation, Defying Expectations: Unsung Hero: Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall Riots, https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/who-was-marsha-p-johnson, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-york-city-monument-will-honor-transgender-activists-marsha-p-johnson-and-sylvia-rivera-180972326/, https://www.out.com/out-exclusives/2017/8/24/power-people-exploring-marsha-p-johnsons-queer-liberation, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/obituaries/overlooked-marsha-p-johnson.html?mtrref=&mtrref=undefined&gwh=7FAC77AD0450CB8215713140B8184F62&gwt=regi&assetType=REGIWALL, https://wams.nyhistory.org/growth-and-turmoil/growing-tensions/marsha-p-johnson/#:~:text=After%20graduating%20high%20school%2C%20Marsha,to%20questions%20about%20her%20gender, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/marsha-p-johnson, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/Sylvia-Rivera, https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/marsha-p-johnson-statue-bust-christopher-park. Pay It No Mind: Marsha P. Johnson | Alexander Street, part of reinc: The story of a company founded by four US Womens National Team soccer players seeking to challenge norms and inspire lasting progress. Chicago Rothberg, Emma. WebMarsha P. Johnson, transgender activist and urban legend, was never one to mince words. 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. They fixed up the building and paid rent for nearly eight months. Crowd: Black trans lives matter. 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,.

Curse Of Strahd Sun Sword Location, Articles M