Democrats Abroad Madrid announces a special Pride Month film screening of The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (David France, 2017) followed by a Q&A session with the Oscar-nominated director and journalist David France (How to Survive A Plague, 2012). The documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson reexamines the death of an icon of the trans world while celebrating the story of two landmark pioneers of the trans-rights movement – trailblazers who put the T in LGBT.

When the beloved, self-described “street queen” of New York’s gay ghetto was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992, the NYPD chalked it up to suicide and refused to investigate. However, as shown in David France’s film The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, it’s a decision many questioned. After having played a pivotal role in the Stonewall Riots of 1969, Johnson and fellow trans icon Sylvia Rivera formed the world’s first trans-rights organization, STAR (Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries) in 1970. And despite their many challenges over the years – homelessness, illness, alcoholism – Marsha and Sylvia ignited a powerful and lasting civil rights movement for gender nonconforming people. Now, a quarter century later, at a time when the transgender community is experiencing both unprecedented visibility and escalating violence, Marsha’s old friend and fellow activist Victoria Cruz reexamines what happened to Marsha. Dipping deep into jaw-dropping archival footage from another era of New York City life, the film follows Cruz as she pursues leads, mobilizes officials, and works tirelessly to get to the bottom of Marsha’s death while at the same time telling the story of Marsha’s life.

• Film director and producer David France will connect remotely for a brief Q&A session after the screening.
• This event in English is free and open to the public. The film will be projected with Spanish subtitles.
• Seating is limited and advanced registration is required.
• All are welcome!