The Marsha P. Johnson Fund
Marsha P. Johnson was a radiant, fearless Black trans activist whose courage, compassion, and fierce joy helped shape the modern LGBTQIA2S+ liberation movement. A powerful presence in the uprising at Stonewall, she devoted her life not only to resistance, but to care, co-founding STAR with Sylvia Rivera to provide shelter, support, and community for unhoused queer and trans young people too often left behind. Marsha showed the world what it means to live your values boldly: to choose love over fear, mutual aid over abandonment, and to insist that those pushed furthest to the margins are worthy of safety, dignity, and celebration. Her legacy is not only one of protest, but of possibility, reminding us that liberation must be built with courage, tenderness, and an unwavering commitment to one another.
Marsha P. Johnson
The Fund
Q Center’s Marsha P. Johnson Community Fund was established in 2019 to provide emergency microgrants to QTBIPOC individuals, honoring the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson, whose life, courage, and compassion continue to light the way for queer and trans liberation. Rooted in her spirit of radical care, mutual aid, and collective resistance, the fund exists to uplift Black and Indigenous trans community members whose needs have too often been overlooked, underserved, or ignored.
The fund was created in response to the deep and ongoing inequities Black and Indigenous trans people continue to face, including disproportionate rates of violence, poverty, housing instability, and discrimination. These are not distant or abstract challenges. They are lived realities affecting members of our community every day, and they demand a response grounded in care, dignity, and action.
Since its launch, the fund has grown beyond its original vision in response to the strength and need of the community it serves. What began as a Portland-based initiative supporting 25 individuals expanded to reach 37 grantees in its first year, with virtual access allowing Q Center to extend support across Oregon and beyond. Requests continue to center on urgent essentials such as rent and medical care, revealing both the resilience of Black and Indigenous trans communities and the ongoing gaps in the systems meant to support them. This need is especially acute for those working in service, arts, and freelance fields, where economic instability can make even basic necessities harder to secure.
At its heart, the Marsha P. Johnson Community Fund is more than financial assistance. It is an expression of community showing up for community. It is a reminder that care is a form of justice, and that everyone deserves safety, dignity, and the resources to survive and thrive.
Funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Up to five awards are issued each month, and individuals may receive funding once per year.
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Donate to the Marsha P. Johnson Community Fund
Every donation made here is designated exclusively provides emergency financial support to BIPOC/Trans community members.
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