by Jayy Dodd, Assistant Editor
The trailer for the upcoming Hollywood feature Stonewall would have us believe a collection of white, cis, gay boys, all on their own, brought revolution to the streets. Despite the extensive documentation of this historic moment in LGBTQ history, too often the people of color on the front lines of the work are erased. We cannot forget the police raids in Los Angeles and San Francisco. We cannot forget Sylvia Rivera and Raymond Castro, among others. We cannot forget that first brick in the Stonewall riots was thrown by Black gay liberation activist Marsha P. Johnson.
Thankfully, the independent film Happy Birthday Marsha celebrates the events leading up to Johnson’s brave action changing LGBTQ history forever. Written, directed, and produced by Reina Gossett and Sasha Wortzel, Marsha is now in post-production, with support from a successful fundraising campaign.
Starring Mya Taylor (Tangerine) as the titular icon, this is an all-too-rare cinematic moment: the trans leaders of this moment are all being played by trans actors. This departure from Hollywood’s cis-washing of history is refreshing and urgent.
As critiques of Roland Emmerich’s Stonewall shape the film’s potential hype, Happy Birthday Marsha has gained new buzz. Support the film by donating here. Follow the project online at @HBDMarsha.
