GAY HISTORY: THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON

THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON

This is a must watch movie to learn about gay history and the fight for equal rights.

Marsha P. Johnson was one of the icons of the gay rights movement in the 1960s, the self-described "street queen" of NY's gay ghetto, and founded the Transvestites Action Revolutionaries with fellow luminary Sylvia Rivera. When Johnson's body was found in the Hudson River in 1992, police called it a suicide and didn't investigate. In David France's new documentary, trans activist Victoria Cruz seeks to uncover the truth of her death while celebrating her legacy.

Victoria Cruz is amazing in this documentary. As she works to uncover what happened to Marsha P. Johnson, it brings back so many memories of the old gay scene in NYC and what is was like to be gay in the 70's and 80's. 

I knew gay life from a different viewpoint. I was down at the piers, I watched the prostitution on West 10th street, but the difference was I was enjoying the gay lifestyle while people like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were fighting for it. I thought just by being on the gay parade float yelling back at the Westboro Church's hate was enough, but now I see the real fighters were these two ladies. 

Today on gay pride I will stay home. The younger people have no idea why they get to enjoy being gay in today's world. There were fights, we were killed, beaten. I do not think a week went by without hearing about one of my friends being beaten by homosexual haters. The Trans community had it worse. Most of them could not get a regular job, many had to turn to prostitution to just eat. I remember the spots on West 10th street and 14th Street lined with the Transgender community.

I feel bad. I was young and even know the gay community was hated, I got to enjoy it with my friends. The Trans community had to endure most of the hatred. They were the fighters of the cause. Every young person should see this movie. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera made a difference. They changed the world for the better.