Marsha P. Johnson: “Death of an LGBTQ Icon” | MURDERISH Ep. 166

In the Summer of 1992, the scorching temperatures in Manhattan were of little concern to Marsha P. Johnson. Her days didn’t truly start until long after the sun had gone down. Fresh from the Pride Parade, Marsha made plans the evening of July 4th, 1992 to meet her friend Miss Kitty at The Anvil, one of the many gay bars lining Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. They were supposed to rendezvous at midnight. Only …Marsha never showed. Two days later, on July 6th, a passerby spotted something floating just off the Hudson River Pier shortly after sunrise. It was Marsha. The LGBTQ rights activist was dead at 46. Given Marsha’s notoriety as an outspoken supporter of gay and trans rights, friends immediately suspected foul play. The NYPD and medical examiner saw things differently, quickly declaring Marsha’s death a suicide by drowning. Those who knew the transgender pioneer well dismissed the notion that Johnson took her own life. Her history of substance abuse and depression notwithstanding, Marsha had never given any indication she was suicidal. Over 30 years have passed and still, Marsha P. Johnson’s death remains shrouded in mystery. Follow Jami on Instagram & TikTok @JamiOnAir and join the Serial Streamers true crime TV club! Subscribe to Jami’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jamionair Sponsors Mint Mobile: Visit MintMobile.com/MURDERISH to get a new 3-month of premium wireless for $15/month. City Beauty: Visit citybeauty.com and use code MURDERISH for 15% off sitewide. Sono Bello: Visit SonoBello.com/MURDERISH to give yourself the gift of a full body reset. Gabb Wireless: Visit gabb.com/MURDERISH for $25 off any new device to new customers. Dr. Marty’s: Visit FoodForPups.com/MURDERISH to watch Cesar Millan’s new video. Dirty Money Moves: Women in White Collar Crime - Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dirty-money-moves-women-in-white-collar-crime/id1619521092. Lipstick & Lies - Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lipstick-lies/id1704189120?i=1000625570159 Research and writing by: K. Brant Want to advertise on this show? We’ve partnered with Cloud10 Media to handle our advertising requests. If you’re interested in advertising on MURDERISH, please send an email to Sahiba Krieger sahiba@cloud10.fm and copy jami@murderish.com. Visit Murderish.com to learn more about the podcast and Creator/Host, Jami, and to view a list of sources for this episode. Listening to this podcast doesn’t make you a murderer, it just means you’re murder..ish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices