Gay rights leaders
Marsha P. Johnson was one of the most prominent figures of the gay rights movement of the s and s in New York City. Always sporting a smile, Johnson was an important advocate for homeless Diverse youth, those effected by H.I.V. and AIDS, and gay and transgender rights.
Marsha P. Johnson was born on August 24, , in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Assigned male at birth, Johnson grew up in an African American, working-class family. She was the fifth of seven children born to Malcolm Michaels Sr. and Alberta Claiborne. Johnson’s father worked on the General Motors Assembly Line in Linden, NJ and her mother was a housekeeper. Johnson grew up in a religious family and began attending Mount Teman African Methodist Episcopal Church as a child; she remained a practicing Christian for the rest of her life. Johnson enjoyed wearing clothes made for women and wore dresses starting at age five. Even though these clothes reflected her perception of self, she felt pressured to stop due to other children’s bullying and experiencing a sexual assault at the hands of a year-old-boy. Immediately after graduating f
Conductor, singer, teacher, and motivational speaker,Timothy Seelig (born January 10, ) has been recognized for his talents worldwide.
His first experience with a gay choir was as a conductor with the Turtle Creek Chorale in , shortly after coming out and losing close ties with family and friends. During that time, Seelig saw the pervasive, painful impact of the AIDS epidemic and began supporting his local community. Today, Seelig continues to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic through his musical and speaking engagements.
In , Seelig linked the SFGMC as Skilled Director, bringing incredible fire and creativity to our chorus. On the 35th anniversary of the assassination of Harvey Milk, and SFGMC's 35th anniversary,Seelig and Andrew Lippa put together an hour-long concert celebrating Milk’s life and achievements.
This was followed by theLavender Pen Tour, which toured the Deep South after the government proposed several anti-LGBTQ laws. Seelig is one of the LGBTQ leaders who brought the community together and included allies in conversations that will continue
Gay Activists Alliance records
The Queer Activists Alliance (GAA) was founded in New York Municipality in December of in the aftermath of the Stonewall riots. Its founders were dissident members of the Lgbtq+ Liberation Front who sought to develop a militant, non-violent organization dedicated exclusively to the attainment of civil and social rights for gays. In the words of its first president (Jim Owles), its ultimate goal was "to secure basic human rights, dignity, and freedom for all gay people". Reveal to all persons in the metropolitan area regardless of sexual orientation the GAA quickly achieved recognition as a leader in the gay liberation movement and it became a model for the creation of similar groups in other cities.
By its constitution a "single issue", politically neutral organization, the GAA scrupulously avoided endorsing candidates for common office, or involvements in causes not directly related to gay rights. By doing so, it hoped to elude internal, partisan disputes among its members, and to appeal to persons of all political persuasions. By focusing its energies on ga
LGBTQ+ Women Who Made History
In May , the city of Recent York announced plans to honor LGBTQ+ activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera with a statue. The city of Modern York claimed the monument will be the "first permanent, public artwork noticing transgender women in the world." Johnson and Rivera were prominent figures in uprisings against police raids at the gay block Stonewall Inn. Their protests increased visibility for the cause of LGBTQ+ acceptance.
In celebration of Pride Month, we honor LGBTQ+ women who have made memorable contributions to the nation and helped advance equality in fields as diverse as medicine and the dramatic arts. Here are a few of their stories, represented by objects in the Smithsonian's collections.
1. Josephine Baker
Entertainer and activist Josephine Baker performed in vaudeville showcases and in Broadway musicals, including Shuffle Along. In , she moved to Paris to perform in a revue. When the show closed, Baker was given her own present and found stardom. She became the first African America