Roxane Gay

1 week ago | audacity.substack.com | Roxane Gay

I really love how Tourmaline handled the muddling of Marsha’s memories. It was a reminder of how human we all are. Have you ever altered or conflated stories about yourself? What does it mean to you to have witnesses to your life? What do you hope people would say about you after you’re gone? Have you ever had the opportunity to get to know any queer elders? What kinds of stories did you hear? Right now it is easier than ever to document what’s going on in our lives.

1 week ago | audacity.substack.com | Roxane Gay

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I love to cook and sometimes I share photos of the process. If I had any kind of talent for video, I would make TikToks like all those cool creators but alas. I’m not there yet. I may never be. Anyway, I had a yen for a sausage roll because I saw a bunch of people on Tik Tok making them. I didn’t work from a recipe but if you want to recreate it, first I softened some onions and celery, seasoned well. Then I added tiny cubed apples and fennel.

1 week ago | audacity.substack.com | Roxane Gay

Let’s talk about the role of motherhood in the queer community. In what ways did Marsha’s relationship with her mother influence how Marsha took on a motherly role with the other queens and members of S.T.A.R? Even though S.T.A.R. only lasted a few years, in which ways was the organization successful? How did Marsha queer the concept of family? I loved the description of the meals Marsha’s mother cooked for her friends and later the ones Marsha cooked for those living at the S.T.A.R. house.

2 weeks ago | audacity.substack.com | Roxane Gay

I’m really grateful that Tourmaline took the time to write such a warm and living portrait of Marsha. We get a unique perspective about this woman from another woman in her community. That perspective matters. From early on in the book, Marsha felt like someone I already knew. What are some of your favorite details you’re learning about Marsha? Did you learn anything that made you feel connected to her? Marsha was a literal muse—who serves as your muse?

3 weeks ago | audacity.substack.com | Roxane Gay

In her 2018 film Happy Birthday, Marsha!, Tourmaline and her collaborator Sasha Wortzel offer a fictional account of how Black trans pioneer Marsha P. Johnson' spent the hours leading up to the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Marsha, played by Mya Taylor, invites friends to her birthday party, plans the celebration, and eventually makes her way over to the Stonewall Inn. Along the way, Marsha is harassed by security at the Stonewall and by police.