Unforgettable quotes by Marsha P. Johnson
Marcia P. Johnson is a woman who will never be forgotten. She was an activist, a sex worker, a drag performer, and an Andy Warhol model (open in new tab). She was at the forefront of a pivotal moment in contemporary history. She founded one of the first safe spaces in the country for transgender and homeless youth, Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) (opens in new tab). He was a tireless advocate for sex workers, prisoners, and HIV/AIDS patients.
Johnson is also said to have thrown the "shot glass heard 'round the world," signifying the beginning of the Stonewall riots of 1969. But Johnson remembers it differently: in an interview with Out magazine (opens in new tab), Johnson said the riots had begun before she arrived: "I was uptown, and I got downtown around 2:00. By the time I got downtown, it was already on fire there, and they were searching the houses. The riots had already started."
Johnson died in 1992. His body was found in the Hudson River and ruled a suicide. Authorities later reclassified the cause of death as drowning from an undetermined cause. The case remains unsolved, according to the New York Times. (Open in new tab) Her mysterious death is a reminder of the ongoing violence that black and transgender people face in this country.
In honor of Pride Month (open in new tab) and the protests currently taking place in our country (open in new tab), here are nine of Marsha P. Johnson's most timeless quotes. Note: Some fan-made artwork is available for purchase and will be used for a good cause.
To learn more about Johnson, we recommend the Netflix documentary "The Death and Life of Marcia P. Johnson."
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Article correction: it was previously stated that Johnson left the quote "No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us." This quote is from a Johnson poster (opens in new tab) created by artist Micah Bazant in 2013. Apologies.
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