IT’S THE HOME OF STONEWALL (AND HENCE GAY LIBERATION)
In America, the Stonewall Riots are considered the most influential event leading to the Gay Liberation movement.
The peaceful and genteel Mattachine Society had been politely lobbying for recognition of homosexuals in law since the ’50s, and the establishment had been politely ignoring them.
But when queers took a stand against police brutality and corruption at the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969, it sparked a riot that continued over three nights. It dragged the issue of gay and lesbian civil rights kicking and screaming and bloodied onto the front pages at a time when even The Village Voice wouldn’t use the term “gay” to refer to homosexuals. Gay Liberation was born, not just in the USA, but around the world.
Since then, LGBTIQ heroes and our allies have protested tirelessly for equality. There are countless people to thank and honour – and with Stonewall’s 50th anniversary approaching in 2019, we look forward to that celebration.
President Trump’s attempts to ban trans people from the military, and the anti-LGBTIQ stance of Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary Of Education Betsy DeVos are as close as the current administration has come to rolling back our rights… so far. However, with the incumbent’s known appetite for racism, misogyny, transphobia and xenophobia, we’d better stay vigilant!