Stonewall inn
the beginning of the movement
The Stonewall Inn Riots were a series of riots lasting several days caused by a police raid on a gay bar on Christopher Street, New York. The protests are often regarded as the spark that began the Gay Right Movement.
stonewall inn raid
The Stonewall Inn riots were a series of demonstration resulting from a police raid on the gay bar Stonewall Inn in New York. During a time widespread homophobia and the presence of sodomy laws making it iligal for gay and lesbian people to solicitate homosexual relation, gay bars were often utilized as a place of shelter. As a popular gay bar, Stonewall Inn and many other gay bars were subject to police raids. Beginning in the early hours of June 28, 1969, Stonewall Inn was raided by police officers due to claims of a lack of a liquor license. In 1969, among the many sodomy laws banning various behavior, New York had a law making it illegal to not wear at least three articles of clothing deemed gender appropriate. As a result of this law, several people were arrested by the police along with the bartenders and employees of the bar. Although the bar had been subject raids before and the crowd around and in the bar always dispersed, the crowd instead banded together and rioted on the police. Multiple objects, as well as insults, were thrown at the police. As a result of the actions, the police officers were sourced to take shelter in the bar and reinforcement were called. With the greater numbers, the riot was eventually suppressed and the crowd was dispersed. Despite this, the Stonewall Inn Riots carried on for the next several days (Britannica).
Stonewall inn
the arrests
the riots
Memories of the night
“It was a safe place for us. When you walked in the door of Stonewall, you could hold hands, you could kiss and, more importantly, you could dance.”
Mark Segal
“We all had our lists in our heads of friends who were beaten, maimed, thrown out of their house, informed on by the cops — tragic stories, but there was nothing you could do about it.”
Marin Boyce
“Never wear heels, because you had to run,”
Martin Boyce
“The pain, the anger, the frustration, the humiliation, the constant badgering, the constant turmoil that they caused in our lives: Now was the time to get it out. You didn’t have to hurt a cop. You didn’t have to hurt somebody. You just had to scream it out.”
Mark Segal
“We always listened to them, we always broke up, but not this time. I don’t know what happened. I don’t know for the life of me.”
Martin Boyce
Stonewall Inn riots
The Stonewall Inn Riots went on for six days after the police raid on Stonewall Inn. The riots are often considered by historians as the breaking point in which gay and lesbian people, as well as other sexual minorities, reached their breaking point and rose up against police and social harassment and discrimination (Britannica). As the first large united LGBT force against discrimination, the riots eventually claim to include several thousand people. During the uprising, many individuals and groups voiced their demand for civil rights, inspiring people throughout the country to join the movement and fight for equal rights. Eventually causing the creation of LGBT right groups in every major city, the riots are considered the kick-start of the movement (National Park). The anniversary of the Stonewall Inn Riots were commemorated for several years after the raid by parades and other celebrations.
