Sunday at Stonewall Park With Miss Simone and Monet

Portrait of Miss Simone and Monet.

Since 1969 after the Stonewall Riots, Christopher Street Park was a place where you could regularly see trans activist and drag performer Marsha P. Johnson living her truth. She was considered by many the "Saint of Christopher street." Marsha was known to put much of her energy into advocating for trans and homeless people/youth, sex workers, people living with HIV and AIDS, and incarcerated people. She also performed at times with the legendary drag theatre group Hot Peaches.

To this day Christopher Street Park, which is now officially "The Stonewall National Monument" since 2017, still retains the spirit of Marsha P. Johnson. It is a place where queer people and especially those in the POC and trans communities can go to find safe haven to express themselves freely where they are celebrated for living their truth out loud and proud.

This series of portraits features trans/drag artists Miss Simone and Monet. Miss Simone has been a regular at the park for many years and is known to have impromptu drag lip sync shows in the West Village and her favorite place is at the Stonewall Park where she always knows she will find the smiling faces of friends, locals and tourists visiting the area.

For me, these images capture the spirit of Marsha P. Johnson and her legacy of love and pride that can always be found at the Stonewall Park. If you happen to be in the area, be sure to go see Miss Simone sashay in all her glory...Happy Pride!

Portraits by Steven Menendez taken at the Stonewall Monument June 20 and 21, 2021. @steven_menenedez_official

Miss Simone performing in the park.

Monet Performing in the park.

Portrait of Monet.

Miss Simone and Monet next to historic portrait of Zazu Nova at a Gay Liberation Front meeting in 1970.

Sisterhood in the Park with, Tanya, Miss Simone, and Monet.

Miss Simone and Monet with portrait of Marsh P. Johnson and members of GLF and Street Transvestites for Gay Power, later known as S.T.A.R. outside Weinstein Hall, NYU campus, October 1970. Photo by Diana Davies.

Portrait of Love and Pride, Miss Simone and Monet.