Marsha P. (“Pay it no Mind”) Johnson, a transgender, African-American, LGBTQ+ rights activist and advocate for trans people of color, continued to overcome challenges whilst refusing to be confined by societal standards. Born Malcolm Micheals, Jr on August 24, 1945, she experienced setbacks from an early age. Her Christian upbringing led to a difficult childhood before being homeless and having to succumb to prostitution to make ends meet. She battled with mental illness and many unconstitutional police encounters, but eventually gained joy, along with an audience, as a drag queen. She became a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community by helping the homeless and struggling LGBTQ+ youth.
Marsha was one of the few acknowledged for instigating the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a series of riots between LGBTQ people and police after the LGBTQ community was done with being arrested on questionable charges and being a target by police. Due to this, Johnson became recognized as the “vanguard of the gay liberation movement of the U.S.”. Later, she established the Street Transvestite (now known as Transgender) Action Revolutionaries (STAR), a group in New York City dedicated to helping homeless transgender youth. Despite her death on July 6, 1922 (age 46), her fearless and bold self did not go unnoticed as she continued to help those in need and speak out against injustice while becoming an important face to the LGBTQ+ community.