Friday, August 29, 2008

Word of the Gay: "Stonewall"

"Stonewall" refers to the historic event and location at a gay bar/inn in New York City that was raided by the police on June 28th, 1969. Police raids were common on homosexual establishments, but the "stonewall riots" were significant because gay men, and transgender women stood up to police brutality by fighting back. It has become a defining moment in queer history where LGBTQ people decided to fight back, get political, and demand social justice with actual results and community unity.

3 comments:

Dharma Kelleher said...

Were there no lesbians involved in the riots? Only gay men and transwomen?

Queers United said...

Dharma - I don't believe there were lesbians involved in this particular case. Stonewall was a gay bar male bar and at the time was frequented predominantly by crossdressers, drag queens, and the like. There were certainly many lesbians involved and heroic within the movement but I don't think they played a part in Stonewall, but if someone has any other info I'd be glad to be corrected.

Laurie said...

I'm glad cops don't do that now. It is good
to show the world that not all GLBT people
will take crap.

But at this point in the day and in the
week I really could use a stone wall so I
can bonk some peoples heads into it.


HUGS!!!!!!!!!

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