Afterlives: Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson is THE icon of the LGBTQ+ movement and one of the mothers of the fight for trans rights. This season on “Afterlives,” we hear from Marsha in her own words.
Host Raquel Willis brings Marsha’s story to life through rare archival interviews and intimate conversations with queer elders, friends, and historians. Legend says she threw the first brick at the Stonewall riots, setting off the modern movement for queer rights. Immortalized by Warhol and known as “The Saint of Christopher Street,” Marsha was also unhoused, surviving through sex work, navigating violence, and resisting with joy.
More than 30 years after her still-unsolved death in the Hudson River, Marsha’s voice resounds louder than ever. As trans rights face renewed threats, “Afterlives” celebrates Marsha’s story and reflects on her enduring power as a trans ancestor.
Core Team:
Host and creator: Raquel Willis
Senior producer and scriptwriter: Dylan Heuer
Associate producer: Joey Patt
Story editor: Julia Furlan
Sound design and engineering: Jess Krainchich
Original music by: Wazi Maret
Executive producers: Raquel Willis, Jess Krainchich, Emilia Brock, Virginia Prescott, L.C. Crowley, Brandon Barr, The Katz Company