08/25/2026
Today we celebrate the birth of Marsha P. Johnson and honor her legacy! 💖
Marsha P. Johnson was a Black transgender woman and activist and was a central figure in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, which ignited the LGBTQ rights movement. Born in 1945 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Johnson moved to New York City’s Greenwich Village at age 17, where she found community among other LGBTQ individuals. Known for her vibrant personality, distinctive flower crowns, and colorful sense of style, Johnson became a beloved figure within the LGBTQ community and an enduring symbol of resistance against injustice.
Along with Sylvia Rivera, a Latina transgender activist, Johnson co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) in 1970, an organization dedicated to providing housing and support for homeless LGBTQ youth. STAR became one of the first LGBTQ organizations in the U.S. to focus specifically on transgender issues. It pioneered a legacy of advocacy for transgender and gender-nonconforming people who were often overlooked by mainstream gay rights organizations.
