SAS Project Invites Philadelphia to Celebrate Marsha P. Johnson's Legacy at the "Happy Birthday, Marsha!" Community Cookout

Free Community Event Will Honor Marsha P. Johnson Through Queer Joy, Mutual Aid and a One-Stop Community Care Experience

July 30, 2026

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Sisters Affirming Sisterhood (SAS) Project is inviting the community to celebrate the life, legacy and enduring impact of LGBTQ+ icon and activist Marsha P. Johnson during the Happy Birthday, Marsha! Cookout, a free community celebration on Sunday, August 23, from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM at The Lawn at uCity Square, 37th and Filbert streets in Philadelphia.

 

Co-created with Philadelphia artist Precious, the annual event transforms Marsha P. Johnson's birthday into a day rooted in queer joy, mutual aid and collective care. Designed as more than a celebration, the cookout serves as a one-stop community experience where attendees can access essential resources, build meaningful connections and celebrate Black queer culture in an affirming environment.

 

Guests will enjoy free meals, live music and performances by Black and Brown queer artists, wellness and housing resources, a gender-affirming clothing swap, giveaways and opportunities to connect with organizations dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ communities.

 

The event also demonstrates the tangible impact community investment can have. This year's cookout will:

• Create 10 paid community roles
• Serve 250 free meals
• Recirculate more than 200 gender-affirming garments
• Distribute 75 hygiene kits
• Feature eight community partner organizations offering resources and services

 

"Marsha P. Johnson believed that everyone deserved dignity, safety and the freedom to live authentically," said Salome Hall, executive director of Sisters Affirming Sisterhood Project. "Happy Birthday, Marsha! is our way of carrying that vision forward. We're creating a space where people can experience joy, access life-changing resources and feel genuinely seen, celebrated and supported. We hope this event inspires communities everywhere to recognize that care is an act of liberation."

 

Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender activist, performer and leader in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, played a pivotal role in advancing the modern LGBTQ+ movement. Her legacy continues to inspire organizations across the country to create safer, more affirming spaces for transgender and gender-diverse communities.

 

For SAS Project, the cookout is the organization's flagship activation and a model for a future nationwide movement centered on queer care, mutual aid and community healing.

 

"This is what community looks like," Hall said. "When we come together to share food, resources, music and love, we create spaces where people don't just survive, they thrive. That's the future we're building."

 

The event is free and open to the public. Community members of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend, celebrate Marsha P. Johnson's extraordinary legacy and experience a day dedicated to belonging, connection and care.

 

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ABOUT SISTERS AFFIRMING SISTERHOOD PROJECT

Sisters Affirming Sisterhood (SAS) Project is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization dedicated to affirming, empowering and advocating for Black transgender women and gender-diverse communities. Through culturally responsive programming, mutual aid, leadership development and community-centered events, SAS Project creates opportunities for individuals to access resources, build community and thrive. Guided by the belief that affirmation is a right, not a luxury, the organization works to advance equity, visibility and belonging while fostering spaces where every person is celebrated for who they are. For additional information, visit www.sasproject.org.