A New York Park Has Been Named After Marsha P. Johnson

Brooklyn’s East River Park is renamed after the LGBTQ+ icon, Marsha P. Johnson, following what would have been her 75th birthday. 

Photo Credit: Rob Gilliam/Google (June 30th Doodle)

Marsha P. Johnson is a legendary icon for her activism in LGBTQ rights. She was a leader in the Stonewall uprising of 1969 as well as a vocal advocate in AIDS/HIV treatment. She helped found Gay Liberation Front and Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (S.T.A.R), which aimed to help homeless gay and transgender people. These few accomplishments cements Johnson as the legendary icon as she is as she strived to achieve equality in face of adversity. 

The New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, celebrated Johnson’s legacy as he announced that the Brooklyn East River State Park would be renamed and dedicated to her. This change would mark a first in New York history as it would be the first park to be dedicated to a trans woman of colour. In addition to the name change, both art installations and education facility would be built to narrate her life. Cuomo acknowledges Johnson for her bravery and tenacity in achieving equality, stating that 

“Dedicating this state park for her, and installing public art telling her story, will ensure her memory and her work fighting for equality lives on.”

There are other future plans to include signage’s and an outdoor gallery to pay homage to the LBTQ+ movement.

Johnson was one of the fundamental people to pioneer change in American history as she fought against outdated societal expectations and strived to make the world a better place.

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