Marsha P Johnson

By: Roberta Calamari

Marsha P. Johnson, born Malcolm Michaels Jr. in 1945, was a bold, charismatic Black trans woman, drag performer, and activist who, by 1969, had become a vibrant and beloved figure in New York’s queer community. Living in poverty and often working as a sex worker to survive, Marsha nonetheless brought joy, defiance, and compassion wherever she went—draped in flowers, wearing bright clothes, and standing up for those society tried to ignore. She was known for her humour, her unshakeable faith, and her refusal to be quiet in the face of injustice.

In June 1969, Marsha was on the front lines of the Stonewall uprising—a spontaneous act of resistance against police harassment that would become a turning point in LGBTQ+ history. Though exact details vary, she quickly became one of the uprising’s most visible and enduring symbols. Soon after, she co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) with Sylvia Rivera, providing support and shelter for homeless queer youth and trans women of colour. Marsha was deeply spiritual, incredibly kind, and full of life—yet her life was also one of constant struggle, lived on society’s margins. Still, she radiated love, strength, and resilience.