Tourmaline celebrates Marsha P. Johnson's life as a manifestation of joy, authenticity, and communal care rooted in Riis Beach gatherings. The narrative centers on how joyful community building acts as a vital gift and source of resilience. Research drew on deep relationships with Marsha's friends and family and on archival newsletters and photos; the narrator is an amalgam of those community members. The account seeks to broaden recognition beyond Stonewall to Marsha's longtime roles in nightlife, as a muse for figures like Andy Warhol, and as an acclaimed performance artist who traveled internationally, emphasizing her expansive presence in collective memory.
One Day in June is a celebration! It's a story about all the magic that can happen when we turn up the volume on our lives and celebrate our full selves with real joy and authenticity. The story begins at one of my favorite places in New York City, Riis Beach, where Marsha and many LGBTQIA individuals continue to gather.
I was so lucky to grow deep in community with Marsha's loved ones over the course of writing this book. Her friends and her family were incredibly generous with their time, their stories, and even amazing archival materials like newsletters and photos. The old friend featured in the book is an amalgamation of all the amazing people who lit up the constellation, all of them stars literally, of queer life that Marsha was surrounded by.
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