Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson (August 24, 1945 – July 6, 1992) was an African American gay liberation activist and self-identified drag queen. Known as an outspoken advocate for gay rights, Johnson was one of the prominent figures in the vanguard of the Stonewall uprising in 1969. A founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, Johnson co-founded the gay and transvestite advocacy organization S.T.A.R. (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), alongside close friend Sylvia Rivera. A popular figure in New York Citys gay and art scene, Johnson modeled for Andy Warhol, and performed onstage with the drag performance troupe, Hot Peaches. Widely-known as a welcoming presence in the streets of the West Village community, the site of Stonewall, Johnson has been hailed as the mayor of Christopher Street. In the 1980s and early 90s, Johnson became an AIDS activist with ACT UP.

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