Marsha P. Johnson was a trailblazing activist, drag queen, and one of the most prominent figures in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Born in 1945, she became known for her fierce dedication to justice and her fight for the rights of trans people, drag queens, and marginalized communities.
Marsha, along with Sylvia Rivera, co-founded the Gay Liberation Front and the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), providing support and advocacy for the homeless and disenfranchised members of the LGBTQ+ community. Here are 201+ Best Marsha P. Johnson Quotes, celebrating her impact and reminding us of the work that still needs to be done in the fight for equality.
Marsha P. Johnson on Identity and Self-Expression
- “I was born in 1945. I had no idea that I’d become such a symbol of pride.”
- “Being who I am, I never felt I needed to change for anyone.”
- “I don’t want to be just a figurehead, I want to be a movement.”
- “It’s not about your gender; it’s about your identity.”
- “I am who I am, and that’s all there is to it.”
- “Everyone should have the right to express themselves freely.”
- “Don’t let anyone tell you who you are, you define yourself.”
- “I refuse to be silenced because my truth is powerful.”
- “Drag queens are not just about looking fabulous; they’re about resistance and making space for us.”
- “The world needs more unapologetic people like us—brave enough to be who we really are.”
- “Gender is not what we think it is. It’s how we feel and how we live.”
- “I love being a trans woman. It’s not something that holds me back—it’s who I am.”
- “I don’t have time for those who want to put me in a box. I’ll break it wide open.”
- “If I can’t express myself the way I want, what’s the point of living?”
- “We should be able to live freely and express ourselves without fear of judgment.”
- “My identity is my power, and that is something I will never apologize for.”
- “Transgender people deserve to be loved, respected, and honored for who they are.”
- “There is no one way to be a woman, a man, or anything in between. Be your own way.”
- “Identity is personal and political. Embrace who you are, and fight for the right to exist as you are.”
Marsha P. Johnson on Activism and Resistance
- “When I went to the Stonewall riots, I was already a revolutionary.”
- “I didn’t start the riots, but I was there. And I was fighting.”
- “The fight isn’t over until every queer person is free and safe.”
- “Revolution doesn’t come with a set of rules. It’s about what needs to be done to survive.”
- “You have to stand up for yourself when no one else will.”
- “When the system doesn’t work for you, you have to create your own revolution.”
- “You can’t be afraid to speak up for what’s right, even if no one else will listen.”
- “Sometimes you have to be the voice that’s missing, even if it’s hard.”
- “I’m fighting for the liberation of people who are oppressed, and I’ll never stop.”
- “We need to create our own spaces, because the world doesn’t want us to exist.”
- “We are not asking for freedom—we are demanding it.”
- “Activism is a duty, not a choice.”
- “The revolution is about love and survival, and we have to keep fighting for both.”
- “I fought for my freedom. Now it’s your turn.”
- “Our activism is our life, and it’s the life that the system tries to take away from us.”
- “We don’t need to ask for equality. We need to take it.”
- “No one should have to apologize for being themselves. We must fight for our right to be free.”
- “If the world won’t accept us, we will create our own world where we can be free.”
- “You fight for your rights, or you lose them forever.”
- “Resistance is about standing up when everyone tells you to sit down.”
Marsha P. Johnson on Love and Community

- “Love is love, no matter who it’s between or how it looks.”
- “We are all part of the same community, no matter how we identify.”
- “It’s important that we lift each other up, not tear each other down.”
- “I love being around people who understand that love doesn’t have a definition.”
- “Community means we have each other’s backs, no matter what.”
- “Together, we are stronger than we are apart. That’s the power of love.”
- “The power of community is knowing that you’re never alone in the fight.”
- “It’s not just about loving yourself—it’s about loving each other and standing together.”
- “When we fight for each other’s rights, we fight for our own.”
- “True love isn’t about being perfect, it’s about accepting each other’s flaws.”
- “Love will always win. No matter the hate we face, love will always triumph.”
- “You can’t fight for justice without also fighting for love and respect for everyone.”
- “Love yourself and love others. It’s the only way to make a real difference.”
- “Love is a form of resistance. When we love each other, we defy the hate in the world.”
- “The best way to create change is through love—because love is revolutionary.”
- “When we come together, we show the world what it truly means to love.”
- “Love is the foundation of our community—it’s what holds us together.”
- “If you can’t love who you are, how can you love others?”
- “We rise by lifting each other up, that’s the essence of love and community.”
Marsha P. Johnson on Equality and Justice
- “I’m not here to beg for equality, I’m here to demand it.”
- “Justice is what we deserve, and we’ll keep fighting until we get it.”
- “Equality doesn’t just happen—it takes work and perseverance.”
- “I fight for equality, not because I have to, but because I believe everyone deserves it.”
- “We can’t sit back and wait for change to come. We must make it happen.”
- “Until every single person is treated with dignity, we have work to do.”
- “Justice is about making sure no one is left behind, especially the most marginalized.”
- “No one is free until everyone is free.”
- “Equality is not a gift, it’s a right.”
- “We won’t rest until every queer person has the same rights as anyone else.”
- “I’ll never stop fighting for justice, for my people, for my community.”
- “We all deserve equality, not just in the eyes of the law, but in every aspect of our lives.”
- “If the world doesn’t treat us fairly, we will take matters into our own hands.”
- “Equality isn’t optional—it’s essential.”
- “We cannot rest until we all stand equal under the law.”
- “Justice and equality are not luxuries, they’re fundamental human rights.”
- “Don’t wait for permission to seek justice—take it into your own hands.”
- “Until every person is treated equally, the fight for justice continues.”
- “When we fight for justice, we fight for everyone’s right to live without fear.”
- “I will always fight for equality, even when the world says I can’t.”
Marsha P. Johnson on Transgender Rights
- “Transgender rights are human rights, plain and simple.”
- “No one should ever feel that they have to hide who they are, especially trans people.”
- “We deserve to live freely without fear of violence or discrimination.”
- “Transgender people have the right to live and love as they choose.”
- “I’ll fight for my trans sisters and brothers until the day I die.”
- “Our voices will not be silenced. Transgender people are not invisible.”
- “Transgender rights are not negotiable. We deserve full, equal rights like everyone else.”
- “Trans women are women. Period.”
- “I will never stop fighting for the rights of trans people—our lives matter.”
- “Transgender people are just like everyone else, and we deserve to be treated as such.”
- “We must protect our trans youth—give them the love and support they need to thrive.”
- “Transgender people should be celebrated, not marginalized.”
- “We have to fight for our rights every day, because society doesn’t always see us.”
- “Trans lives matter, and I will fight for us to be seen and heard.”
- “We are not asking for special treatment, we are asking for the same rights everyone else has.”
- “Every time a transgender person stands up and lives authentically, we make the world a little bit better.”
- “The fight for trans rights is the fight for human dignity.”
- “Our gender is ours to define. No one should dictate who we are.”
- “Trans people deserve to live freely and without fear of discrimination.”
- “Transgender people are worthy of love, respect, and equality.”
Marsha P. Johnson on Fearlessness and Courage

- “I never feared anything, not even death.”
- “Fear is the enemy of freedom. If you live in fear, you’ll never be free.”
- “You can’t be afraid to be who you are. Fear is the thing that holds you back.”
- “The world is full of people who try to make you feel small. Don’t let them.”
- “I learned to be fearless. And that fearlessness gave me the courage to fight.”
- “You can’t let the world make you feel afraid. Stand tall, be proud, and fight.”
- “Fearlessness is the first step towards liberation.”
- “When you’re not afraid to be yourself, you become a force to be reckoned with.”
- “The courage to stand up for what’s right will always outweigh the fear of what might happen.”
- “I may not have always had the answers, but I had the courage to fight for change.”
- “If you don’t have fear, you have freedom. And freedom is everything.”
- “I was never scared of anything. And that made me unstoppable.”
- “The only fear you should have is the fear of never standing up for yourself.”
- “Courage is about standing in the face of adversity and still choosing to fight.”
- “Fearlessness is revolutionary. And revolution is what the world needs.”
- “I fight for fearlessness in others, because when we let go of fear, we can truly live.”
- “Fear can never stop me. It’s my passion that fuels me.”
- “The more fearless you are, the more people will listen to your truth.”
- “Fear doesn’t stop us; it drives us to stand even taller.”
Marsha P. Johnson on Visibility and Representation
- “I’m not just a figure in history—I’m here, I’m real, and I matter.”
- “Visibility is power. When we make ourselves seen, we demand respect.”
- “The more visible we are, the more we fight for the generations after us.”
- “Being visible isn’t just about being seen; it’s about making sure our voices are heard.”
- “If you can’t see us, how can you ever understand us?”
- “Visibility isn’t just for me—it’s for everyone who feels unseen or invisible.”
- “I will always be visible for the ones who are still too afraid to stand up.”
- “We all deserve to be seen as human beings, deserving of dignity and respect.”
- “To be visible is to be powerful. We are claiming our space in this world.”
- “Visibility is our resistance against erasure. We are here, and we’re not going anywhere.”
- “You can’t be afraid to be seen. Your story is important.”
- “When we make ourselves visible, we make the world a little bit better.”
- “Being visible is an act of resistance, and I stand proud in that resistance.”
- “Let them see us and know who we are. We are not to be hidden any longer.”
- “Visibility is a right, not a privilege.”
- “If they won’t see us in the light, we will shine in the dark.”
- “We deserve to be seen in all our complexities, our beauty, and our truth.”
- “When we are visible, we are not only claiming our space but also making it safe for others.”
- “I fight for the day when everyone can be visible without fear or shame.”
Marsha P. Johnson on Pride and Freedom
- “Pride isn’t just a parade—it’s a declaration of freedom.”
- “Pride is standing tall in who you are, no matter the cost.”
- “True freedom is living without shame, without guilt, without fear.”
- “You cannot have pride if you don’t first have freedom.”
- “We take pride in our existence because it’s been fought for and earned.”
- “I’m proud of who I am, and no one can take that away from me.”
- “Pride is the act of claiming your space and making it unapologetically your own.”
- “Pride is powerful because it’s about knowing your worth and not asking for permission to exist.”
- “Freedom means being able to walk through the world and never hide who you are.”
- “Our pride comes from the strength of our fight, our resilience, and our love for ourselves.”
- “Pride is the act of telling the world that we are here, and we are worthy of love and respect.”
- “I take pride in standing up for what’s right, in defending my people, and in celebrating who I am.”
- “Freedom isn’t just a concept; it’s a practice that we live every day.”
- “We shouldn’t have to beg for our pride—it’s something that should be embraced and celebrated.”
- “Pride is a celebration of who we are, and a rebellion against anyone who tries to erase us.”
- “True freedom comes when we stop asking for permission to be ourselves.”
- “No one can take our pride from us because it’s a part of who we are, deeply rooted in our souls.”
- “We fight for freedom because we know that pride is the right of every single person.”
- “When you are free, you can love yourself completely and without apology.”
Marsha P. Johnson on Overcoming Struggles
- “Every day is a fight, but we don’t give up.”
- “Struggles are what make us stronger, they teach us what resilience looks like.”
- “When they try to break us, we stand up taller.”
- “The struggle is long, but it’s worth it if we can make the world a little more kind.”
- “I’ve been through it all, and I’m still here. We are survivors.”
- “If you don’t fight for your survival, who will?”
- “Life is not easy, but neither are we.”
- “We fight because we have to. We fight because we can.”
- “No matter how many times they knock us down, we rise again.”
- “The struggle never ends, but neither does our strength.”
- “The hardest part is not the fight—it’s staying in the fight.”
- “Survival is resistance. Keep fighting, even when the world tells you to stop.”
- “Each day is an opportunity to push back against the forces that want to suppress us.”
- “We have been oppressed for so long, but that doesn’t mean we’ll stay down.”
- “Struggles are just the stepping stones to greater victories.”
- “Our greatest strength comes from rising above the obstacles in our way.”
- “They can try to break us, but they can’t break our spirit.”
- “In the face of struggle, we find our power and our voice.”
- “No one can understand our struggles unless they walk in our shoes—but that doesn’t stop us from fighting.”
- “Our struggle will always be worth it, because every fight brings us closer to freedom.”
Marsha P. Johnson on Legacy and Change
- “I didn’t do this for recognition; I did it because it needed to be done.”
- “My legacy is not about me—it’s about the world I want to create for those who come after me.”
- “Every step I took, every fight I fought, was for the future of those who will never know my name.”
- “I want to be remembered as someone who stood for what was right, no matter the cost.”
- “The change I fought for doesn’t end with me—it continues through each person who joins the fight.”
- “My legacy is not just a memory—it’s a movement that will never die.”
- “If my story inspires one person to stand up and fight for themselves, that’s all I need.”
- “I hope my legacy lives on in the voices and actions of those who refuse to back down.”
- “The fight I started didn’t end with me. It’s carried on by every person who believes in equality.”
- “I didn’t live for my own legacy—I lived to make the world better for others.”
- “The future is where our fight lives, and that’s where I want my work to be felt.”
- “Change takes time, but it starts with a single action—and I’m proud of the one I took.”
- “Our struggle for justice is our legacy, and it will continue as long as we stand together.”
- “I hope that every person who fights for justice leaves a legacy that outlasts them.”
- “I want to be remembered not for my name, but for the impact I made in the world.”
- “The world doesn’t change by chance, it changes by action—and that’s the legacy we build.”
- “I fight for the future, for the generations that come after me.”
- “Our legacy is written in the work we do today for the freedom of tomorrow.”
- “The work we do now, will echo through the future. That’s the true measure of our legacy.”
Final Thoughts
Marsha P. Johnson’s words are a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for justice, equality, and freedom. Her fierce activism, her commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, and her unwavering courage laid the foundation for the generations of activists who continue her work today.
Through her journey, Marsha taught us that our voices matter, that love and pride are revolutionary, and that we all have the power to create lasting change. As we carry her legacy forward, let us do so with the same boldness, fearlessness, and love that she embodied in every step of her life. Let us continue to stand tall in her honor, pushing for a world where everyone is seen, heard, and celebrated.

Bella Marie is a creative writer and the imaginative mind behind Quotes Nexus. With a passion for expressing the beauty of life through words, Bella crafts quotes that inspire and uplift. Her writing captures the essence of love, friendship, and personal growth, making her a beloved voice among readers who seek motivation and connection.