[ID: A Face book post by Emily Miller which states:
āThis 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 homeless kids, prostitutes, butch lesbians, effete gays, and other trans women who just wanted to dance. That was the chief draw of Stonewall Inn - the dancing.
When the police arrived, as they did nearly every month, those in dresses would be ācheckedā to see if their genitals matched their owner to the officerās satisfaction. If not, there was a paddywagon waiting outside. Their pictures would be in the papers for crossdressing. They might horrify their families. They would probably lose their jobs.
When youāre 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 of Marsha P. Johnson, an African-American street queen picked up a goddamn shotglass, shattered a mirror in that slum bar, and resisted arrest.
Never forget that 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 community hasnāt experienced in twenty years or more. Because of people like her we are free, while people just like her are marginalized, brutalized, and murdered.
Never forget who you owe your freedom to. Never forget that your pride was once against the law. And when discussions of reduced police presence at Pride come, I want you to remember Marshaās face, and ask yourself, who needs the greater protection, support, and solidarity? Who has the power, and who is struggling for the enforcement of their civil rights?
There is a black and white picture of Marsha P. Johnson, a black trans woman dressed in a heavy coat with a hat with a veil an beading. She also has a scarf and necklaces on.
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