Marsha P. Johnson (1945 – 1992) was an African American transgender activist, drag performer, and one of the most prominent figures in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Johnson moved to New York City in the 1960s, where she became a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front and a key participant in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. Known for her charisma, compassion, and advocacy, Johnson co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) with Sylvia Rivera, providing housing, support, and resources for homeless LGBTQ+ youth and transgender individuals. She performed in drag, engaged in protest, and championed marginalized communities, becoming a symbol of resistance and visibility. Johnson’s life was marked by both activism and personal struggle, and her mysterious death in 1992 remains a focal point for discussions on violence against transgender people. Today, she is celebrated as a trailblazer whose courage, love, and advocacy helped shape the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.