We Can’t Celebrate Pride Without Honoring Marsha P. Johnson

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate love, identity, resistance and the beautiful diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. But as we raise our flags and honor how far we’ve come, it’s essential to also look back and remember the individuals who made this progress possible.

One name we can't leave out is Marsha P. Johnson.

Marsha P. Johnson 24 August 1945 - 6 July 1992 The image from Marsha P. Johnson Institute Instagram Page @mpjinstitute

A Black transgender woman, drag queen and tireless activist, Marsha P. Johnson was at the heart of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States. She played a crucial role in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a series of protests against police brutality and discrimination that became a turning point in queer liberation.

Marsha wasn’t just present, she was fearless. She stood on the front lines, not just at Stonewall, but in the years that followed. In 1970, alongside fellow trans activist Sylvia Rivera, she co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), an organization that provided housing and support for homeless trans youth, long before the world was even ready to say the words “trans rights”.

Marsha’s legacy is powerful because it reminds us that Pride was born from protest. It reminds us that the first bricks were thrown not just in anger, but in hope, by people who were marginalized even within the queer community: trans women, people of color, sex workers, and those living in poverty.

If we are able to celebrate Pride today openly, joyfully and in public, Marsha P. Johnson is one of the people we owe that to. Her activism, courage, and compassion helped carve out the space we stand in now.

So as we celebrate Pride Month with parades, parties, campaigns, and rainbow flags, we must also pause to say:

We can’t have Pride without honoring Marsha P. Johnson.

Her courage continues to ripple through time, pushing us to be louder, bolder, and more inclusive. Pride is not only a celebration, it’s a commitment to keep fighting for equality, visibility, and justice for all, especially those still pushed to the margins.

This month, let’s celebrate everyone in the LGBTQ+ community, across all identities, backgrounds and stories. And let’s say her name Marsha P. Johnson with gratitude and Pride!