Welcome to Queerty’s latest entry in our series, Queerantined: Daily Dose. Every weekday as long as the COVID-19 pandemic has us under quarantine, we’ll release a suggested bit of gloriously queer entertainment designed to keep you from getting stir crazy in the house. Each weekend, we will also suggest a binge-able title to keep you extra engaged.
The Timely: The Life & Death of Marsha P. Johnson
With pride month and protests happening outside the window, we thought it best for a bit of a history lesson from a queer heroine. Marsha P. Johnson’s name doesn’t get mentioned alongside that of Rosa Parks, Barbara Gittings or Angela Davis as an important activist, but it should. As a transgender woman, Johnson spent her life working as a drag performer, actress and activist in New York. Some anecdotes even hold that Johnson was the first one to throw a brick at Stonewall, which began the uprising that created the modern Queer Rights movement. While she did confirm that she had taken part in the protests, Johnson denied starting them.
The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson recounts the life of Ms. Johnson, along with her work and the mysterious details of her death in 1992. Did she commit suicide, or did something more sinister happen? Director David France brings his usual energy and enthusiasm to Johnson’s life, tracking down some of her close friends, uncovering some never-before-seen footage of Johnson, and examining the circumstances of her demise. It’s a beautiful tribute to an unsung hero full of joy and live–a contribution every LGBTQ person in America benefits from.
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Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
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weddingshoot
nice
Cam
Imagine how many people like Johnson should be people we learn about in school, yet because of bigotry and racism, they are erased from history books and lessons.
UlfRaynor
Here we go again, Martha P Johnson did NOT identify as trans, she self identified as a gay man who liked to dress up in drag and was in fact a drag performer
In Martha’s own words, she stated neither she or Sylvia was at the Stonewall inn at the start of the riots:
Johnson denied starting the uprising. In 1987, Johnson recalled arriving at around “2:00 [that morning]”, that “the riots had already started” by that time and that the Stonewall building “was on fire” after cops set it on fire. The riots reportedly started at around 1:20 that morning after Stormé DeLarverie (a lesbian) fought back against the police officer who attempted to arrest her that night
While, no doubt Martha was a true hero in her vigilant pursuit of LGBT equality and Martha’s dedication in starting the gay rights movement, you do Martha NO JUSTICE by trying to re-envision the gay rights movement being solely owed to trans activism and constantly diminishing those gay men and women who actually were there and started the riots.
Yes, trans people (mostly trans people of color) did participate in the days following the initial riot, but they were NOT the driving force behind it.
dougmbaaser
Did you READ the article? Just in case you didn’t have time before you feverishly started typing: “Some anecdotes even hold that Johnson was the first one to throw a brick at Stonewall, which began the uprising that created the modern Queer Rights movement. While she did confirm that she had taken part in the protests, Johnson denied starting them.”
It also does not refer to Johnson as a
JennyMcPike
Marsha. P. Johnson.
RFD
I do not know a lot about Marsha and do not have Netflix. One question is was Marsha a “transgender woman, Johnson spent her life working as a drag performer, actress and activist in New York.” as stated above or a gay male who performed as a drag queen? I am nore interested in the life lived and less who through the first brick at Stonewall. It happened and that is a great thing. And all seem to agree Marsha took part. Marsha said so too. Now watching the trailer I see there are also questions about how Marsha died. I would like to see this when I can.
RFD
Just read the Wikipedia page for Marsha. Very interesting and a lot of information.
justgeo
Why do you all need to deify he was just having fun? Marsha was not trans!
Why the misinformation? Crazy gay man is good too. Trans is not better! WTF?