Marsha P. Johnson was an Activist, Self-Identified Drag Queen, Performer, and Survivor
A prominent figure in the Stonewall uprising of 1969, Marsha went by “BLACK Marsha” before settling on Marsha P. Johnson. The “P” stood for “Pay It No Mind,” which is what Marsha would say in response to questions about her gender.
It is the consideration of who “BLACK Marsha” was that inspired The Marsha P. Johnson Institute. So much of our understanding of Marsha came from the accounts of people who did not look like or come from the same place as her. As transness is now more accessible to the world, introducing the Institute to BLACK trans people who are resisting, grappling with survival, and looking for community has become a clear need.
The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (MPJI) protects and defends the human rights of black transgender people. Click the button below to learn more.
Marsha P. Johnson Institute
Image by Kendrick Daye