Pride.
“History isn't something you look back at and say it was inevitable. It happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities.”
- Marsha P Johnson
Marsha P Johnson was born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She was the fifth of seven children of Malcolm Michaels, and Alberta Claiborne. Marsha said the she was “young and naive” when she started wearing dresses at 5 years old, and she soon stopped after being bullied and harassed by the young buys in her neighborhood. In an interview in 1992 Marsha opened up about being the young victim of rape by a thirteen-year-old boy. After this she said "I got married to Jesus Christ in church when I was sixteen years old, still in high school. And I haven’t married anybody in church since then. Cause I think he’s the only man I could really trust. He helped me out when I was in need, and listened to my problems, and never laughed at me, he takes me very seriously”
After graduating from high school in 1963, Marsha moved to New York City with $15. She began wearing extravagant outfits, long gowns and dresses, shimmering robes, red plastic high heels shoes, a crown made out of flowers, or even wearing Christmas lights in her hair. It is then that she began using the name Marsha P. Johnson. The “P” she said stood for “Pay It No Mind.” “It was not an easy time to live outside the sexual mainstream… persecution of gay people and criminalization of their activities were still common. Same-sex dancing in public was prohibited. The State Liquor Authority banned bars from serving gay people alcoholic beverages. People could be charged with sexual deviancy for cross-dressing. Police enforcement was often arbitrary.”
“I started wearing makeup in 1963, 1964. And in 1965, I was coming out more, and I was still wearing makeup, but I was still going to jail just for wearing makeup.”
Marsha struggled to find work. She often worked as a sex worker, this meant that she often had to be alone with strangers, who were sometimes violent. When Marsha was 17 years old she met 11 year old Sylvia Rivera. Sylvia’s father had abandoned the family, and her mother committed suicide when Sylvia was just three years old. Sylvia stayed with her grandmother who disapproved of Sylvia “feminine” behavior. At just 11 yrs old Sylvia began living on the streets, with no other choice but to work as a child prostitute. When Marsha met Sylvia they became instant friends. Marsha taught Sylvia how to live on the street, and encouraged her to love herself and her identity.” It was not uncommon for Marsha to be kind, and supportive to friends and strangers.
“Marsha always gave this blessed presence and encouragement to be who you wanted to be.”
While police raids on gay bars were routine during this time, the early morning of June 28, 1969 was different. There are a lot of different accounts of what started the stonewall riots. Marsha herself often said that she joined the riots later. Other witnesses recalled Marsha saying “I got my Civil Rights” and then she threw a shot glass into a mirror, and that started the riots. “Tensions between New York City Police and gay residents of Greenwich Village erupted into more protests the next evening and again several nights later. Within weeks, Village residents organized into activists groups demanding the right to live openly regarding their sexual orientation, and without fear of being arrested… A year after the uprising, to mark the anniversary on June 28, 1970, the first Gay Pride Marches took place in Chicago, Los Angelas, New York, and San Francisco. Within a few years gar rights organizations were were founded across the US and the world.” However, many in the gay community tried to ban transgender people from being in the parade. In response to this Marsha and Sylvia went ahead of the parade’s opening banner, and ended up leading the parade. After this her and other transgender peoples right to to be apart of the parade could not be overlooked.
“We just were saying no to police brutality. And we had enough of police harassment in the village and other places.”
After the stonewall uprising, Marsha said she did her “own little rioting” She participated in rallies, sit-ins, and meetings of the newly formed Gay Rights Organizations, and she became a HIV/ AIDS activist. “She was excited about the work but frustrated at how white gay men and lesbians dominated the conversation. She questioned where transgender people fit in. Transpeople were more likely to be homeless and targeted by police.” In 1970 Sylvia came to Marsha with an idea. She wanted to help and protect trans people, and thought that they could do that by providing a place for them to stay, a place where they could be together and be safe. Marsha and Sylvia created STAR (Street Transvestite Activist Revolutionaries) “The first STAR House was in the back of an abandoned truck in Greenwich Village. Nearly 24 young people called the truck home. Sylvia and Marsha hustled every night to make sure their new family had breakfast each morning.” One day they came back to the truck, and saw it being pulled away, so they found an old rundown building, that they fixed up themselves and rented for eight months as the new STAR House. Many of Marsha’s friends remembered that she would go missing for days, sometimes because she had gotten arrested. Marsha battled severe mental illness that often led to monthlong stays at psychiatric hospitals. Even through her own struggles with mental health her commitment and devotion to STAR continued.
“I’ll always be known reaching out to young people who have no one to help them out, so I help them out with a place to stay, or some food to eat or some change for their pocket.”
Marsha was included in Andy Warhol’s “Ladies and Gentlemen,” a 1975 portfolio of screenprints depicting drag queens and transgender revelers at The Gilded Grape, a nightclub. In 1972 Marsha began performing in the drag performance group “Hot Peaches” Marsha passed away on On July 6, 1992. Her body was found in the Hudson River. Though the police ruled her death a suicide, her friends and acquaintances disagreed, they maintain that Marsha was not suicidal. Her death was reclassified as a drowning from undetermined causes in 1992. In 2012, police agreed to take a fresh look at the case, the case is officially still open. “Marsha’s whole life seemed to be a balance between popularity and exclusion. Throughout Greenwich Village, she was known as “Saint Marsha.” Locals admired her ability to truly be herself. Marsha had a reputation for being generous and kind. She gave people clothes and food, even though she had little of her own.” Marsha P Johnson is an inspiration to us all to be whoever we want to be, and to help others.
“I was no one, nobody, from Nowheresville until I became a drag queen. That’s what made me in New York, that’s what made me in New Jersey, that’s what made me in the world.”
How Yoga Can Help
“It is through your body that you realize you are a spark of divinity.”
- B.K.S. Iyengar
In this class we learn the foundational backbending actions that fully open the chest, and free and extend the spine from the support of the upper back. The backending poses teach us to open our hearts without fear, because the lift of the heart is supported by strength and courage of our back.
Notes on Practice:
Pose 1- 3
Adho Muka Virasana (Child’s Pose) Adho Muka Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose) Uttanasana (Intense Stretch Pose/ Standing Forward Bend) These poses help to prepare for the backbending postures that come up later in our practice. By fully stretching the arms and legs we extend the spine, open the shoulders, and relieve tension in the spine, neck, and back.
Pose 4
Adho Muka Vrksasana (Handstand/ Full Arm Balance) This pose strengthens and stretches the arms and legs, lengthens the spine, and helps mobilize the upper back. Regular practice of this pose helps bring a sense of freedom and lightness.
Pose 5- 6
Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana (Inverted Staff Pose) Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Facing Bow Pose) In these poses stretch and open the whole front of the body. The quadriceps, hips, and abdomen, and chest are stretched. The backbending actions are invigorating, and help us feel stronger and confident. The heart opening action promotes feelings of love, kindness, and compassion.
Pose 7- 8
Bharadvajasana (Chair Twist) Pavanmuktasana (Forward Fold) These counter poses help restore the spines natural range of motion, and calms the mind and soothes the nerves.
Pose 9- 10
Savasana (Corpse Pose/ Legs Up The Chair) This variation of savasana (corpse pose) helps release the back, relax the muscles, and calm the mind.