The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City.
They are frequently cited as the first instance in American history when people in the homosexual community fought back against a government-sponsored system that persecuted sexual minorities, and they have become the defining event that marked the start of the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.
The last years of the 1960s were very contentious as many social movements were active, including the African American Civil Rights Movement, the Counterculture of the 1960s, and antiwar demonstrations. These influences served as catalysts for the Stonewall riots.
Very few establishments welcomed openly gay people in the 1950s and 1960s. Those that did were often bars, although bar owners and managers were rarely gay. The Stonewall Inn, at the time, was owned by the Mafia. It catered to an assortment of patrons, but it was known to be popular with the poorest and most marginalized people in the gay community.
Police raids on gay bars were routine in the 1960s, but officers quickly lost control of the situation at the Stonewall Inn, and attracted a crowd that was incited to riot.
After the Stonewall riots, gays and lesbians in New York City faced gender, class, and generational obstacles to becoming a cohesive community.
On June 28, 1970, the first Gay Pride marches took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York commemorating the anniversary of the riots.
Gay Pride events are held annually throughout the world toward the end of June to mark the Stonewall riots.
Today, June 24, 2011, New York state gay and lesbian committed couples cross a great milestone to being equal citizens by being allowed to enjoy the rights of marriage.
“I’m not what I want to be,
I’m not what I’m gonna be,
But thank God I’m not what I was”
Filed under: National Headlines
Good on ya New York!!!!
I lived in Buffalo for two and a half years at the turn of the millenium, but have lived the longest in California. Shame on California for letting New York beat them in this important freedom and equality setting benchmark. How long, Sacramento, how long must we wait???
Want to get married in new York so bad
So its legit? Gays can marry in newyork now??
California should be next…I’ve been with my gf for 4 years now and I wannna marry her she’s the light 2 my dark tunnels…love u suzy
Congrats to NY! Unfortunately I live ina state that actually changed their constitution to say that marraige is one man one woman, so any stride in the right direction first has to take the extra step of changing that back… Boo on AZ… damn backwards!
Proud to say I was at stonewall this evening as this great and historical moment happened. Its surreal…we, the lgbt, have so much pride and appreciation, especially for the sancitity of marriage. Now we can marry who we love and want to spend the rest of our lives with. Hope ny is the beginning of other states to follow their example. I’m proud to be gay and even more proud of my lgbt family <3
I want to cry I’m so happy- 6 down, 44 to go, we got this guys!!
Just keep fighting on!!!!!!
Katie, I concur. There is much more work to be done! Let us not forget our brothers and sisters fighting the good fight in other states practicing inequality and discrimination against our GLBT brothers and sisters…..
I swear to God there’s hope.
Finally.