[ID: 3 screen captures, text + photo
This is Marsha. 48 years ago Marsha put on a dress (when that was against the law) and rode the subway to Greenwich Village to go dancing (where that was against the law) with men (when that was illegal). She partied until sometime after 1 am with a bunch of homeless kids, prostitutes, butch lesbians, effete gays, and other trans women who just wanted to dance. That was the chief draw of the Stonewall Inn - the dancing.
When the police arrived, as they did nearly every month, those in dresses would be
“checked” to see that their genitals matched their owner to the officer’s satisfaction. If not, there was a paddy wagon waiting outside.
Their pictures would be in the paper for cross dressing. They might horrify their families.
They would probably lose their jobs.
2. When you’re out celebrating pride this weekend, when you read the news about violence against black people, remember Marsha. The reason any of us can go to a three day festival as casually as we please with whomever we love and celebrate our lives, is because Marsha P. Johnson, an African-American street queen picked up a goddamn shot glass, shattered a mirror in that slum bar, and resisted arrest.
Never forget our lives are easier because of the sacrifices of our black and trans brothers and sisters who are STILL dealing with prejudice and discrimination on a scale the broader gay community hasn’t experienced in twenty years or more. Because of people like her we are free, while people just like her are marginalized, brutalized and murdered.
3. Never forget who you owe your freedom to.
Never forget that your Pride was once against the law. And when the discussions about the reduced police presence at Pride come, I want you to remember Marsha’s face and ask yourself, who needs the greater protection, support, and solidarity? Who has the power, and who is still struggling for the enforcement of their civil rights?
Underneath text is black and white photo of Marsha P. Johnson, a black woman, shown from shoulders up. She is smiling and biting her bottom lip, her mouth is framed by a crease on either side, accentuating her expression. Her hair hangs past her shoulders in loose waves and curls, windblown. Her eyes have smile lines around them, her nose and cheekbones are strong, her chin is squared and pushed forward by her smile. She is wearing two simple necklaces and a long scarf over a buttoned shirt and fuzzy coat. Her hat is worn at an angle to the left. Behind her is a street, parked cars and buildings. /End ID]