Occurring on June 28th, 1969, and lasting over 6 days, Stonewall became one of the most famous instances of LGBTQ activism against authority ever, and while it was not the first time something like this happened, it became well known through extensive media coverage, and it spawned the annual Pride traditions and parades that we still practice today.
What was Stonewall?
The Stonewall Inn was a bar & restaurant that was bought by a crime family in 1966 to continue operating. To maximize profits and get around strict laws banning the sale of alcohol to homosexual people, the owners claimed it was an exclusive bottle bar in which patrons had to sign in to enter and bring their own liquor. However, drinks were still served, and this bar was one of the few where LGBTQ people were welcomed and could be themselves publicly.
For decades up to then, in the U.S., every state had laws against same-sex relationships. This made any gay public display of affection, dancing, or even cross-dressing illegal, and these laws empowered police to harass and brutalize LGBTQ people for decades. Bars suspected of serving gay patrons were constantly raided, including Stonewall. However, the family that owned Stonewall would bribe the police to get tips when raids were coming, which allowed them to evade serious punishment.
What happened on June 28th, 1969?
While the Stonewall Inn was no stranger to raids and had even been raided earlier that week, they received no warning on that fateful day.
Early that morning, police officers barged in and started arresting staff and patrons alike. Police roughed up anyone in the club and invasively checked citizens who they suspected of being transgender or cross-dressing.
Overwhelmed and tired of the years of oppression, this violence incited a spark of rebellion in the clubgoers, employees, and community in the surrounding neighborhood. It’s said that the inciting incident was an officer hitting a lesbian woman over the head and that her pleas for help inspired people to fight back, throwing coins, bottles, and other debris. This chaos would ensue for 5 more days as more people joined to resist the harassment perpetuated by the government and demand civil rights for LGBTQ citizens.
You may have heard this event referred to as the Stonewall Riots, but activists and members of the Stonewall Veterans Association prefer it be called an uprising or rebellion because “riot” was a term used by the police and media to justify force and police brutality.
After Stonewall
Before the rebellion at Stonewall, a variety of gay and lesbian groups published magazines, periodicals, and newsletters to educate the nation on gay rights and advocate for fair treatment. Some prominent ones were The Mattachine Society and The Daughters of Bilitis.
Two leading figures in this rebellion were transgender women, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who went on to find the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) to help unhoused LGBT youth. Although the organization dissolved in 1973, it has left a lasting legacy on LGBTQ activism.
While there were estimated to be a little over 100 groups before Stonewall, estimates from afterward count almost 2,000 LGBTQ+ liberation groups after the Stonewall Uprising. Stonewall was a catalyst for an increase in homosexual and transgender visibility and support, and a year later, on the anniversary of the uprising, citizens of New York marched from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park in what became America’s first Pride parade, a tradition continued in many cities to this day. In addition, President Obama also designated Stonewall Inn and the surrounding areas a national monument in 2016 for its contributions to the fight for gay rights.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, and while we have made leaps and bounds in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, stigma and prejudice still exist and harm queer people, especially queer people of color.
In these times of division, it’s important to remember that brave people from all over the spectrum have come together to fight against bigotry for the sake of love and equality for all. Take some time to learn more about the history of gay rights and the stories from queer individuals with the books, blogs, and media in our catalog!
LGBTQ Blogs & Lists, opens a new window
LGBTQ+ Cinema on Kanopy, opens a new window
Check out this topic guide for further reading - Beyond Stonewall, opens a new window
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