Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P Johnson August 24 1945 July 6 1992 was an American gay liberation activist and selfidentified drag queen Known as an outspoken advocate for gay rights Johnson was one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969 Johnson was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front and cofounded the radical activist group Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries STAR alongside close friend Sylvia Rivera Popular in New York gay life Johnson was also active in the Citys art scene modeling for Andy Warhol and appearing onstage with the drag performance troupe Hot Peaches Johnson was known as the mayor of Christopher Street for being a welcoming presence in the streets of Greenwich Village Beginning in 1987 Johnson was an AIDS activist with ACT UP Johnsons body was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992 While initially ruled a suicide by the NYPD controversy and protest followed the case eventually reopened as a possible homicide