Black History Month: Marsha P. Johnson Organized, Advocated, and Protected Her Community

Marsha P. Johnson was a Black transgender activist whose courage helped shape the modern LGBTQ+ movement. Widely associated with the 1969 Stonewall uprising, her legacy extends far beyond that historic moment. She dedicated her life to advocating for those pushed to the margins — especially Black trans women and unhoused LGBTQ+ youth.

In the years after Stonewall, Marsha co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) with Sylvia Rivera. Together, they created housing and community for transgender young people who had been rejected by their families. Marsha understood that liberation is not abstract. It requires safety, visibility, and collective responsibility.

At a time when being openly transgender invited violence and discrimination, she insisted on showing up — organizing, marching, and demanding dignity. Her leadership reminds us that Pride began as protest and that justice must center those most vulnerable.

At PFLAG Los Angeles, education, advocacy, and support are central to our mission. We honor Marsha P. Johnson not only for her role in history, but for the example she set: that real progress includes care for community and protection for those most at risk.