Marsha P. Johnson was a well known figure in queer culture in New York City during the 1960's to the 1990's. A self styled "Drag Queen" She was a friend to the homeless and the street people, always ready to give what she had to help out her sisters and brothers. She was a co-founder, with Sylvia Rivera, of Street Transvestite ActionRevolutionaries in the early 1970's and would have been president of the organization if she had not refused, She was the mother of S.T.A.R House along with Sylvia, getting together the food and clothing to help support the young queens living in the house on the lower East Side of New York.
Marsha always had a smile for everyone. Once when appearing in court the judge asked her "What does the "P" stand for?" She gave her customary response "Pay it No Mind" This phrase became one of her trademarks, along with the exotic hats she loved to wear. Marsha was one of the most beloved figures in New York queer community.
Marsha P, Johnson's body was found floating in the Hudson River off the West Village Piers in 1992. The police recorded her death as a suicide, but her friends such as Randy Wicker believe that she was a victim of a violent crime. Efforts to get the police to conduct a serious investigation were unsuccessful
Marsha P. Johnson had become one of the best known martyrs of the queer community.