Trans activist alleges the creator of the new Marsha P. Johnson documentary stole the idea

Reina Gossett posted to social media that the new Netflix film was based off of her work.

October 07, 2017

In an Instagram post posted to Twitter by Janet Mock, a black trans activist, Reina Gossett, says that her work was used by filmmaker David France for a new Netflix documentary about another trans activist, Marsha P. Johnson.

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Gossett alleges in the post that France used the work and grant application from her and a partner to create the film. According to Gossett, she was not given credit or financial compensation, despite France receiving a multimillion dollar deal from Netflix to create the fim.

"This week while I'm borrowing money to pay rent, David France is releasing his multimillion dollar netflix deal on Marsha P. Johnson," wrote Gossett in the Instagram post. "This kind of extraction/excavation of black life, disabled life, poor life, trans life is so old and so deeply connected to the violence Marsha had to deal with throughout her life."

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France responded to the comments made by Gossett, in a tweet to Mock, noting his own friendship with Johnson and detailing his own challenges in making the film. You can read his full statement, as well as Janet Mock's thread on the subject, below.

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Trans activist alleges the creator of the new Marsha P. Johnson documentary stole the idea