6.1 Marsha P. Johnson and drag performance

Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender activist, played a crucial role in the Stonewall uprising and LGBTQ+ rights movement. Her involvement in drag performance and activism challenged gender norms and brought visibility to marginalized communities in 1960s-70s New York City.

Johnson's legacy as a pioneering trans rights advocate continues to inspire future generations. Her work highlights the ongoing fight for equality and justice, especially for transgender individuals who still face discrimination and violence today.

Marsha P. Johnson

Early life and struggles

Top images from around the web for Early life and struggles

• 

  La statua Marsha P. Johnson sostuirà quella di Cristoforo Colombo View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Pride Month: What is the colour of my #PRIDE? | UCT News View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  #leimeritaspazio: Marsha P. Johnson, la combattente - Bossy View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  La statua Marsha P. Johnson sostuirà quella di Cristoforo Colombo View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Pride Month: What is the colour of my #PRIDE? | UCT News View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Early life and struggles

• 

  La statua Marsha P. Johnson sostuirà quella di Cristoforo Colombo View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Pride Month: What is the colour of my #PRIDE? | UCT News View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  #leimeritaspazio: Marsha P. Johnson, la combattente - Bossy View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  La statua Marsha P. Johnson sostuirà quella di Cristoforo Colombo View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Pride Month: What is the colour of my #PRIDE? | UCT News View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Born Malcolm Michaels Jr. in 1945 in Elizabeth, New Jersey faced discrimination and bullying from a young age due to gender nonconformity
• Left home at 17 and moved to New York City's Greenwich Village, a haven for LGBTQ+ individuals but still faced homelessness and harassment
• Worked as a sex worker to survive and began experimenting with drag, finding community and self-expression

Stonewall uprising involvement

• Present at the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969 when police raided the bar, a common occurrence at LGBTQ+ establishments at the time
• Joined in the resistance against police brutality and discrimination, becoming a key figure in the uprising that catalyzed the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement
• Accounts vary on her specific actions, but her presence and leadership during the multi-day uprising is undisputed

Gay Liberation Front activism

• Became involved with the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) shortly after Stonewall, an organization focused on militant activism for LGBTQ+ rights
• Participated in protests, marches, and political actions with GLF to demand equality and challenge societal norms
• Used her charisma and boldness to rally others and bring attention to the cause

Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR)

• Co-founded STAR with fellow activist Sylvia Rivera in 1970 to address issues faced by homeless LGBTQ+ youth and sex workers
• Provided shelter, food, and support for those most marginalized within the LGBTQ+ community
• Advocated for transgender rights and inclusion within the larger gay rights movement, which often excluded trans voices

Drag performance

Drag as art form

• Drag involves dressing and performing as the opposite gender, often with exaggerated makeup, hair, and clothing styles
• Requires skills in costuming, makeup artistry, and performance to create a fully realized character
• Allows for creative self-expression and exploration of gender identity

Subversive political statement

• In the 1960s-70s, drag was a way to challenge rigid gender norms and expectations in a society hostile to LGBTQ+ people
• Dressing in drag in public was a defiant act that asserted the right to exist and be seen
• Drag performances often mocked and critiqued societal norms and oppression, using humor and satire as political commentary

Marsha's drag persona

• Marsha's drag persona "Black Marsha" was known for her outrageous, colorful looks and joyful, uninhibited performances
• Often wore flowers and fruit in her hair and incorporated political statements into her costumes
• Used her platform as a performer to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and challenge oppression

New York City drag scene

Drag culture in 1960s-70s

• Despite criminalization and police harassment, drag balls and performances thrived in underground clubs and bars in NYC
• Drag competitions featured different categories like "femme queen realness" and "butch queen first time in drag"
• Drag houses formed, providing chosen families and support networks for LGBTQ+ individuals

Influential venues and events

• The Stonewall Inn was a popular gathering place for drag queens and trans women of color
• Annual events like the Queen's Ball and Miss All-America Camp Beauty Pageant celebrated drag artistry
• Theaters like La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club showcased avant-garde drag performances

Marsha's contemporaries and community

• Marsha was part of a vibrant community of drag performers, many of whom were also activists
• Contemporaries included Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, and Flawless Sabrina
• Drag houses like the House of LaBeija and House of Xtravaganza provided support and family structures

Intersection of drag and activism

Challenging gender norms

• Drag inherently challenges binary notions of gender by playing with and subverting traditional roles and presentation
• Marsha and other activists used drag to assert the validity and humanity of gender nonconforming individuals
• Pushed back against respectability politics within the LGBTQ+ movement that sought to downplay drag and transgender identities

Visibility for LGBTQ+ rights

• Drag performances and personalities brought visibility to LGBTQ+ people and issues in a time of mainstream media silence
• Unapologetic, highly visible drag queens like Marsha refused to be ignored or shamed by society
• Drag as a form of public art and protest made LGBTQ+ struggles harder for the mainstream to avoid

Drag as vehicle for social change

• Benefit performances and drag revues often raised money for LGBTQ+ causes and community support
• Drag shows created spaces for political organizing, information-sharing, and movement-building
• Many drag activists used their platform to speak out against oppression and advocate for change

Legacy and impact

Pioneering trans rights advocacy

• Marsha was one of the first high-profile advocates for transgender rights and inclusion, paving the way for future activists
• Worked to address issues like homelessness, police brutality, and healthcare access for trans people
• Helped make transgender identity and struggles more visible within the larger LGBTQ+ movement

Inspiring future generations

• Marsha's fearlessness, creativity, and commitment to justice continue to inspire LGBTQ+ people and allies today
• Her life and work are frequently cited and honored by activists, artists, and community members
• Documentaries, artworks, and organizations carry on her name and legacy

Ongoing fight for equality and justice

• Despite progress, transgender people, particularly trans women of color, still face disproportionate levels of violence, discrimination, and marginalization
• Marsha's intersectional approach to activism, centering those most vulnerable, remains vitally relevant
• Contemporary LGBTQ+ activists continue the work Marsha began, fighting for equity, inclusion, and liberation for all