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The Rainbow Clause:
Giving us the right to choose who; where; when; why; and how.
What Stonewall Taught Us
On June 27, 1969, one of greatest turning points
in gay history culminated into a night of riots. At the time, gay bars where
legal in NYC. However, if and when the police felt like it they would raid
the bar and arrest men because they either dressed like the opposite gender
did, or because they were kissing in public.
Prior to 1965 raids in gay bars was incredibly
common in NYC. Gay males were often forced to show identification so their
names could be written down. Then the names were printed in the newspapers.
They were arrested for everything from holding hands, to even being in the
bar. Despite this fact, in 1965 - when a liberal Republican mayor who had
promised to reform NYC was elected - there was less pressure on gay bars.
Where once it was illegal to sell gay men liquor
the bars were now permitted to do this. Raids occurred less frequently. Arresting
gay males for frivolous things was no longer allowed - until that fateful
night in 1969. On that night the police were ordered to shut down the
Stonewall Inn. No one had any idea that this would be the night that was
going to change GLBT (Gay; Lesbian; Bisexual; Transgender[ed]) history.
It was a somber night. Judy Garland had just
recently died and many of the men were still upset from the loss of one of
their most famous cultural icons. Some say this may have played a direct
role in the Stonewall Riots, however that is still an inconclusive theory.
Whatever the role, at around 1:20 in the morning police entered the bar -
though only one of the officers was actually in uniform. The patrons had
been warned of the raid in advance so they were prepared.
No one knows exactly why Stonewall was different
from other raids, or what exactly started the riots, but the crowd overwhelmed
the police and riots ensued. The police spent the night trying to get the
upper hand. They would go around beating effeminate looking men. Two men,
in particular, were beaten severely as a direct result of police brutality.
A division of the police (that was especially
trained to handle rioters) was called in to help aid the police during this
first night of rioting. The police hoped these individuals would be able
to get the upper hand. Unfortunately for them, they were overwhelmed by the
crowd and the riots continued.
Finally, early in the wee morning hours, the
crowd dispersed. Not surprisingly, only a small number of the 2000+ rioters
had been arrested. Every night, for the next five nights the rioters returned
ready to defend the bar and themselves. Irregardless of the role, the peaceful
gay community had finally reached their end and they were forced to turn
their cause into a violent riot to make their point: they were no longer
putting up with unfair, unequal treatment. They were no longer putting up
with the oppression by the police, the city of New York, or the entire country
for that matter.
We can learn many lessons from Stonewall. These
men were true to themselves. Rather than hide when the raids occurred, they
stood their ground. Many of these men worked on Wall Street, or in other
prominent or public jobs, and still they showed up. They did not hide who
they were. The Stonewall rioters believed in themselves. They felt their
rights and freedoms were being jeopardized. Their protections as Americans
were being infringed upon. No longer were gays going to be considered second
class citizens, and they demanded that the police recognize this fact.
Most importantly we can learn that gay and lesbian
history has progressed. It has been a slow progression, but with time comes
change. While violence is never the answer, sometimes it becomes necessary
if we must defend ourselves. Nevertheless, our ultimate goal should be to
stand up for our convictions and show the world we do have a voice that should
be heard, not silenced.
Interesting Stonewall Facts:
-
Many
cities celebrate gay pride during the month of June because that is when
Stonewall
occurred
-
Some stories attribute the start of the riots to a
transgendered woman while others attribute it to a lesbian
woman
-
The SLA (State Liquor
Authority) could revoke a liquor license from a bar if they served alcohol
to a homosexual prior to
1965
-
At
the time of the Stonewall riots the Stonewall Inn did not have a liquor
license
-
The Stonewall Inn was known for its "go-go" boys. These
dancers wore little to no clothing making Stonewall an almost perfect target
for a
raid
-
Mayor John Lindsay insists
he was just trying to clean up NYC by removing the type of bars he'd originally
supported. This was obviously a move done in hopes he'd get
re-elected
-
After
Stonewall the first division of the GLF (Gay Liberation Front) was started
in NYC
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