The 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots
2009 Marks Milestone Anniversary in History of Gay Rights Activism
Jul 17, 2009
This raid, which resulted in three days of rioting in New York City, is often considered to be the event that launched the modern gay rights movement. It serves, without question, as a critical historical moment in the collective consciousness of the LGBT community. Accordingly, LGBT supporters and activists worldwide commemorated the 40th anniversary of this event on June 28, 2009.
The Legend of the “Stonewall Lesbian”
One of the most widely told stories of the Stonewall Riots is that of the “Stonewall Lesbian.” Reportedly dressed as a male, she was attempting to help a man who was lying on the ground near the bar’s entrance. When she went over to help him up, a police officer informed her that she would need to keep moving. When she declined and continued in her attempt to assist the fallen man, the police officer clubbed her in the face. This was the event that is said to have sparked the rioting. Unidentified until very recently, this woman, whose name is Storme DeLarverie finally opened up to author Patrick Harris in an article that was published in a 2008 issue of Curve magazine. Now in her 80s, DeLaverie still lives in Chelsea and has been a lifetime activist for LGBT causes.
The Stonewall Riots and Reactions from the Public
In 1969, gay bars and clubs were subject to raids from police where those in attendance could be arrested under laws banning homosexuality in public. On this particular night, when police entered the Stonewall Inn, the patrons banned together to oppose the raid. Ultimately, more police officers than patrons of the bar were injured, and there were reports of one drag queen even beating a police officer with a high-heeled shoe. Many individuals, both gay and straight, hailed this as a victory against what they viewed as oppressive and unequal laws in New York City. Others, however, mocked the efforts of the protestors and ridiculed those who participated in the riots.
Despite the negative reactions on the part of some, the Stonewall Riots are considered to have had a profound impact on the development of the modern gay rights movement and have been praised as a turning event in the fight for gay civil rights.
Publications and Publicity
Numerous publications, radio broadcasts, and other forms of media attention have been given to the Stonewall Riots. Historians such as David Carter, the author of Stonewall: The Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution, and those in the media industry, such David Isay, who produced a radio documentary entitled “Remembering Stonewall,” have dedicated considerable attention to the riots and their place in American history. Both Carter and Isay pay tribute to those who participated in the protest and they investigate the continuing implications of the events.
Both of these men address the perspectives and the misconceptions of the American public when it comes to the riots. In fact, Carter takes a stand on the widely-circulated idea that the funeral of the well-known actress Judy Garland played into the events that occurred that night. In an interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, Carter dismisses that idea, saying that “the idea of Judy Garland’s funeral having a connection is something that came years later. Actually, at first, it was only written about to attack us. The first time it’s mentioned in print that I’m aware of is a right-wing writer for the Village Voice mocking the Stonewall uprising.”
Modern Implications
Despite the varying ideas of what ultimately ignited the protest at the Stonewall Inn – whether it was the clubbing of the Stonewall Lesbian, the funeral of Judy Garland, or just down-right anger and frustration with the laws in the city of New York – one element remains unchanged: June 28, 1969 would forever after be regarded as a landmark date in American history.
Before the Stonewall Riots, there were only a handful of gay rights advocacy groups in the nation; within one year of the events of that night, there were nearly 1500 rights groups from coast to coast. And, it was in that year following the riots that the nation's first "Pride" events took place in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City.
In fact, the implications have been so far-reaching that this year, Pride celebration organizers in San Diego, California will honor the legacy of those who participated in the Stonewall riots through the celebration's theme: “Stonewall Riots 2.0 – Activism for Equality.” Even after forty years, it is clear that this event continues to shape and impact the movement for gay civil rights, and it seems that the contributions of those who protested on that June night several decades ago will not soon be forgotten.
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