Her rise to becoming a vanguard of the gay liberation movement began with the 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn. Many people credit Marsha with throwing the first punch, though she has denied this claim many times. This doesn’t mean she wasn’t one of the riots’ most prominent figures. She worked with many other activists during the uprising, pushing against the various police attacks occurring at the time. This rebellion gave energy to a more forceful push towards the access of LGBTQIA+ rights and set the stage for future congregations, including the first gay pride parade. I like to describe it as a gay “renaissance” in that activism and study of transgender theory skyrocketed.

Jalda Morancy

Thank you, Marsha Johnson. ♥️