Marsha

The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson

De: Tourmaline

Narrado por: Tourmaline

THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER

Featured in The New York Times's Nonfiction to Read This Spring

Black transgender luminary Tourmaline brings to life the first definitive biography of the revolutionary activist Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most important and remarkable figures in LGBTQIA+ history, revealing her story, her impact, and her legacy.

“She is the preeminent and foremost scholar on Marsha P. Johnson. . . . To us, Tourmaline is the expert.”—Janet Mock, Allure

“Thank god the revolution has begun, honey.” Rumor has it that after Marsha P. Johnson threw the first brick in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, she picked up a shard of broken mirror to fix her makeup. Marsha, a legendary Black transgender activist, embodied both the beauty and the struggle of the early gay rights movement. Her work sparked the progress we see today, yet there has never been a definitive record of her life. Until now.

Written with sparkling prose, Tourmaline’s richly researched biography Marsha finally brings this iconic figure to life, in full color. We vividly meet Marsha as both an activist and artist: She performed with RuPaul and with the internationally renowned drag troupe The Hot Peaches. She was a muse to countless artists from Andy Warhol to the band Earth, Wind & Fire. And she continues to inspire people today.

Marsha didn’t wait to be freed; she declared herself free and told the world to catch up. Her story promises to inspire listeners to live as their most liberated, unruly, vibrant, and whole selves.

©2025 Tourmaline (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

**One of Ms. Magazine's Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2025**

**One of The Mary Sue's 15 Most Anticipated LGBTQ Books of 2025**

“This long-overdue biography of Marsha P. Johnson is a revelation! With meticulous research and a tender touch, Tourmaline brings this groundbreaking activist to life, revealing her brilliance, her humor, and her unwavering dedication to freedom and our collective humanity. We learn not only of Marsha's pivotal role in the Stonewall Uprising, but also of the depth of her love for her chosen family and community, her fierce advocacy for Black trans lives, and the enduring power of her artistic spirit. This literary tribute, adorned in garlands and glitter, is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the true cost and the enduring legacy of an LGBTQIA+ icon's fight for liberation.”—Janet Mock, author of the New York Times bestseller Redefining Realness

"The depth of Tourmaline's storytelling is historic, an enduring and urgent reminder from Marsha P. Johnson that history is not inevitable, it is made."—Meena Harris, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book Ambitious Girl

“Tourmaline continues her practice of creativity as a revolutionary act, this time to illuminate the remarkable life of Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha's story and Tourmaline's unique voice blend seamlessly, in a narrative that will break your heart and put it back together again, leaving you better than when it found you. This is a book for our times, full of inspiration, community, truth and—at its core—radical love.”—Lena Dunham, actor, director, producer, and author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book Not That Kind of Girl

The Joy!

It’s been a long time since I’ve read anything that’s caused me to think about the world and society we’ve created. Tourmaline gives Marsha P. Johnson big spaces to be herself in this work. She throughly covered Marsha’s many forms of art making. I also bought the ebook and found myself flipping from audio to ebook to audio because the passion Tourmaline brought to her performance was fabulous!

A shimmering and momentous gift to the world

I don’t think anyone could have told this story with such joy, gentleness, and care as Tourmaline. Tourmaline’s performance here was so easy and warm to listen to. There’s a natural playfulness in the way she reads her work that instills joy and almost a sense of wonder while moving through the pages. I so appreciate how this book humanized and brought Marsha’s story down to earth in a way that is so critical in today’s day as she was more than just a name and legend of stonewall. She was a friend, a wife, a lover, an artist, a performer, community organizer, etc... Marsha deserved all of her flowers and this is yet another important piece in the constellation that was Marsha’s life and community. Thank you for sharing this gift with us Tourmaline, you can feel with every chapter the depth of research, time, and study that was required to create this book.

Slow Burn

The story of Marsha is beautiful, but I felt like this dragged in certain spots and could have been more detailed in others.