And the Village has a lot of people with children and they were offended. Meanwhile, there was crowds forming outside the Stonewall, wanting to know what was going on. John O'Brien:In the Civil Rights Movement, we ran from the police, in the peace movement, we ran from the police. Corbis Philly took me to NYC for the 1st time and we went to a bar called The Sewer. John O'Brien:The election was in November of 1969 and this was the summer of 1969, this was June. Research assistance provided by Mario Burrus, Adam Joseph Nichols, and Cole Souder. It was a 100% profit, I mean they were stealing the liquor, then watering it down, and they charging twice as much as they charged one door away at the 55. Eric Marcus, Writer:It was incredibly hot. Maureen Jordan In 1924, the first gay rights organization is founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago. Katrina Heilbroner Windows started to break. And Howard said, "Boy there's like a riot gonna happen here," and I said, "yeah." The stomping occurred around 3 a.m. on June 28, 1969, at the start of what would later be known as the Stonewall uprising , the six-day series of disturbances that The mayor of New York City, the police commissioner, were under pressure to clean up the streets of any kind of quote unquote "weirdness." Stonewall riot primary source history: Debate over details and Colonial House On June 28, 1969, New York City police raided a Greenwich Village gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, setting off a three-day riot that launched the modern American gay rights movement. Most importantly, this anthology shines a light on forgotten figures who were pivotal in the movement, such as Lee Brewster, head of the Queens Liberation Front and Ernestine Eckstine, one of the few out, African American, lesbian activists in the 1960s. Martin Boyce:It was another great step forward in the story of human rights, that's what it was. It was as if they were identifying a thing. Send questions or suggestions It was a raid. This was ours, here's where the Stonewall was, here's our Mecca. Marc Aubin Home - Research Guides at Library of Congress Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. "The Stonewall Riotsis an invaluable addition to LGBTQ+ history, gathering for the first time a wealth of primary documents that will deepen understanding of a pivotal, culture-changing event." Anger erupted after New York City police arrested 13 people during a raid at the Stonewall Inn, a bar and safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. He may appear normal, and it may be too late when you discover he is mentally ill. John O'Brien:I was a poor, young gay person. Martin Boyce:Oh, Miss New Orleans, she wouldn't be stopped. When Raymond Castro:New York City subways, parks, public bathrooms, you name it. A sickness that was not visible like smallpox, but no less dangerous and contagious. Barney Karpfinger What Jimmy didn't know is that Ralph was sick. June is internationally recognized as Pride Month, and this years celebrations mark the 50 th anniversary of the Stonewall Riotsthe catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.. A medievalist. I hope it was. "The rebellion (it was never a 'riot') lasted five inconsecutive nights (they were not 'riots')" -STONEWALL Veterans' Association. Seymour Pine, Deputy Inspector, Morals Division, NYPD:We didn't have the manpower, and the manpower for the other side was coming like it was a real war. Suzanne Poli Were committed to providing educators accessible, high-quality teaching tools. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. There are multiple options for finding the documentary sources listed in the bibliographies. You knew you could ruin them for life. Early publications show that the LGBTQIA+ community largely did not use the term riot until years after the fact. I was never seduced by an older person or anything like that. Combining exhaustively researched narrative with meticulously curated photographs, the book traces queer activism from its roots in late-nineteenth-century Europe--long before the pivotal Stonewall Riots of 1969--to the gender warriors leading the charge today. Homosexuals do not want that, you might find some fringe character someplace who says that that's what he wants. Danny Garvin:And the cops just charged them. (Indeed, photographs taken by The New York Times from the final night of the riots, Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. Narrator (Archival):Richard Enman, president of the Mattachine Society of Florida, whose goal is to legalize homosexuality between consenting adults, was a reluctant participant in tonight's program. Howard Smith, Reporter,The Village Voice:And I keep listening and listening and listening, hoping I'm gonna hear sirens any minute and I was very freaked. The windows were always cloaked. Gay people were never supposed to be threats to police officers. So anything that would set us off, we would go into action. They raided the Checkerboard, which was a very popular gay bar, a week before the Stonewall. Mr. Katz highlighted several ways in which the documents cast new light on the Stonewall uprising: In an interview, Mr. Carter said of the documents, Theres potential there for learning a lot more.. They were afraid that the FBI was following them. TV Host (Archival):Ladies and gentlemen, the reason for using first names only forthese very, very charming contestants is that right now each one of them is breaking the law. And if we catch you, involved with a homosexual, your parents are going to know about it first. And I knew that I was lesbian. WebThe legacy of the Stonewall riots still makes its impact today. But I was just curious, I didn't want to participate because number one it was so packed. Homo, homo was big. City Room, a news blog of live reporting, features and reader conversations about New York City, has been archived. Narrator (Archival):Do you want your son enticed into the world of homosexuals, or your daughter lured into lesbianism? And a whole bunch of people who were in the paddy wagon ran out. Because if they weren't there fast, I was worried that there was something going on that I didn't know about and they weren't gonna come. A lot of them had been thrown out of their families. And it was one of the fewif not the onlygay bar left that allowed dancing. The Chicago riots, the Human Be-in, the dope smoking, the hippies. And, it was, I knew I would go through hell, I would go through fire for that experience. For LGBT periodicals, seeLGBT Life with Full Text(EBSCO),Archives of Sexuality and Gender(Gale), and theOutHistorywebsite. They began to jeer at and jostle the police and then threw bottles and debris. Danny Garvin:People were screaming "pig," "copper." Producers They didn't know what they were walking into. Metropolitan Diary continues to publish! They pushed everybody like to the back room and slowly asking for IDs. Through the lenses of protest, power, and pride, We Are Everywhere is an essential and empowering introduction to the history of the fight for queer liberation. They put some people on the street right in front ofThe Village Voiceprotesting the use of the word fag in my story. Doric Wilson:And I looked back and there were about 2,000 people behind us, and that's when I knew it had happened. If there had been a riot of that proportion in Harlem, my God, you know, there'd have been cameras everywhere. And all of a sudden, pandemonium broke loose. And I had become very radicalized in that time. He said, "Okay, let's go." All rights reserved. Lucian Truscott, IV, Reporter,The Village Voice:A rather tough lesbian was busted in the bar and when she came out of the bar she was fighting the cops and trying to get away. The "Stonewall Era" corresponds with the opening of the Stonewallin January 1966 until it closed in December 1969. Raymond Castro:So then I got pushed back in, into the Stonewall by these plain clothes cops and they would not let me out, they didn't let anybody out. He is not interested in, nor capable of a lasting relationship like that of a heterosexual marriage. Tom Caruso More progressives should keep that in mind these days. Danny Garvin Martha Shelley:The riot could have been buried, it could have been a few days in the local newspaper and that was that. Greg Shea, Legal To find additional materials on this topic, search the Library of Congress Online Catalog: The subscription resources marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. But I'm wearing this police thing I'm thinking well if they break through I better take it off really quickly but they're gunna come this way and we're going to be backing up and -- who knows what'll happen. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Whats more, the Mafia reportedly blackmailed the clubs wealthier patrons who wanted to keep their sexuality a secret. TV Host (Archival):That's a very lovely dress too that you're wearing Simone. An article in the Rat, Subterranean News entitled "Queen Power" chronicling the night of the Stonewall Uprising and the centrality of drag queens, trans, and gender non-conforming participants. That never happened before. I believe hes an honorable man, Essay On The Stonewall Riot Daily News Howard Smith, Reporter,The Village Voice:It really should have been called Stonewall uprising. There are a lot of kids here. Jerry Hoose Without police interference, the crime family could cut costs how they saw fit: The club lacked a fire exit, running water behind the bar to wash glasses, clean toilets that didnt routinely overflow and palatable drinks that werent watered down beyond recognition. For instance, solicitation of same-sex relations was illegal in New York City. Lilli M. Vincenz This is every year in New York City. Lucian Truscott, IV, Reporter,The Village Voice:What they did in the Stonewall that night. Dick Leitsch:And I remember it being a clear evening with a big black sky and the biggest white moon I ever saw. Thats why all our lessons and assessments are free. % It was an age of experimentation. You were alone. For the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, an anthology chronicling the tumultuous fight for LGBTQ rights in the 1960s and the activists who spearheaded it June 28, 2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall uprising - the most significant event in the gay liberation movement and the catalyst for the modern fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States. Narrator (Archival):We arrested homosexuals who committed their lewd acts in public places. Martin Boyce:There were these two black, like, banjee guys, and they were saying, "What's goin' on man?" Because he was homosexual. Stonewall Riots | Stanford History Education Group Doric Wilson:Somebody that I knew that was older than me, his family had him sent off where they go up and damage the frontal part of the brain. In the Life Stonewall riots | Definition, Significance, & Facts | Britannica At one point, an officer hit a lesbian over the head as he forced her into the police van she shouted to onlookers to act, inciting the crowd to begin throw pennies, bottles, cobble stones and other objects at the police. William Eskridge, Professor of Law:In states like New York, there were a whole basket of crimes that gay people could be charged with. Judy Laster Find out how the Stonewall uprising sparked a new era of LGBTQ activism, This article was most recently revised and updated by, Theres a Riot Goin On: Riots in U.S. History (Part Two), 5 Important Places in Global LGBTQIA+ History. That night, the most fun and fascinating nights of my life. Martha Shelley:Before Stonewall, the homophile movement was essentially the Mattachine Society and Daughters of Bilitis and all of these other little gay organizations, some of which were just two people and a mimeograph machine. A 1969 Account of the Stonewall Uprising - The Atlantic The very idea of being out, it was ludicrous. 4 0 obj Raymond Castro:There were mesh garbage cans being lit up on fire and being thrown at the police. The first police officer that came in with our group said, "The place is under arrest. One of the Published July 1969. Dan Bodner Often, those who had survived police raids were hospitalized or had to seek medical care for their injuries. Dick Leitsch:Mattachino in Italy were court jesters; the only people in the whole kingdom who could speak truth to the king because they did it with a smile. WebHIS 100 Module Four Activity Template: Historical Narratives Xavier Bethea Locate an additional secondary source relevant to your historical event. Martin Boyce:And I remember moving into the open space and grabbing onto two of my friends and we started singing and doing a kick line. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. The term like "authority figures" wasn't used back then, there was just "Lily Law," "Patty Pig," "Betty Badge." Updates? Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt And you will be caught, don't think you won't be caught, because this is one thing you cannot get away with. They were getting more ferocious. Eric Marcus, Writer:Before Stonewall, there was no such thing as coming out or being out. And the rest of your life will be a living hell. They would bang on the trucks. . I didn't think I could have been any prettier than that night. The Stonewall was also not the only bar in town being frequently raided. If that didn't work, they would do things like aversive conditioning, you know, show you pornography and then give you an electric shock. Stonewall The Mafia owned the jukeboxes, they owned the cigarette machines and most of the liquor was off a truck hijacking. NPS.gov. On June 28, 1970, two thousand gay and lesbian activists in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago paraded down the streets of their cities in a new kind of social protest, one marked by celebration, fun, and unashamed declaration of a stigmatized identity. How do you think that would affect him mentally, for the rest of their lives if they saw an act like that being? Do you want them to lose all chance of a normal, happy, married life? Howard Smith, Reporter,The Village Voice:I had a column inThe Village Voicethat ran from '66 all the way through '84. Susana Fernandes Fred Sargeant:Things started off small, but there was an energy that began to flow through the crowd. And gay people were standing around outside and the mood on the street was, "They think that they could disperse us last night and keep us from doing what we want to do, being on the street saying I'm gay and I'm proud? We ought to know, we've arrested all of them. He was later sued by the police officer, Gilbert Weisman, for assault, and had to pay a fine. William Eskridge, Professor of Law: The 1960s were dark ages for lesbians and gay men all over America. University, A We'd say, "Here comes Lillian.". Like many gay establishments at the time, the Stonewall Inn was owned by the mafia, and as long as they continued to make a profit, they cared very little what happened to their clientele. Eric Marcus, Recreation Still Photography Other images in this film are either recreations or drawn from events of the time. And they wore dark police uniforms and riot helmets and they had billy clubs and they had big plastic shields, like Roman army, and they actually formed a phalanx, and just marched down Christopher Street and kind of pushed us in front of them. Tires were slashed on police cars and it just went on all night long. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. And she was quite crazy. Arrest Reports From the 1969 Stonewall Uprising - New York Times The Genovese family bribed New Yorks Sixth Police Precinct to ignore the activities occurring within the club. (Enter your ZIP code for information on American Experience events and screening in your area.). Alexandra Meryash Nikolchev, On-Line Editors They'd think I'm a cop even though I had a big Jew-fro haircut and a big handlebar mustache at the time. Except for the few mob-owned bars that allowed some socializing, it was basically for verboten. With riveting narrative skill, he recreates those revolutionary, sweltering nights in vivid detail through the lives of six people who were drawn into the struggle for LGBTQ rights. And then as you turned into the other room with the jukebox, those were the drag queens around the jukebox. Because to be gay represented to me either very, super effeminate men or older men who hung out in the upper movie theatres on 42nd Street or in the subway T-rooms, who'd be masturbating. Martin Boyce:I had cousins, ten years older than me, and they had a car sometimes. And as awful as people might think that sounds, it's the way history has always worked. Perhaps the man in question was having a bit of fun at the arresting officers expense. David Huggins The Stonewall Riots (June 28, 1969) In 1969, a riot at the Stonewall Inn (later known as the Stonewall Riots) became a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ civil rights. Chris Mara They could be judges, lawyers. Don't fire until I fire. Lucian Truscott, IV, Reporter,The Village Voice:And then the next night. If you came to a place like New York, you at least had the opportunity of connecting with people, and finding people who didn't care that you were gay. Sourcing: Who was Jerry Lisker? When we got dressed for that night, we had cocktails and we put the makeup on. The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. and not published at the time, have resurfaced only in recent years.). John O'Brien:It was definitely dark, it was definitely smelly and raunchy and dirty and that's the only places that we had to meet each other, was in the very dirty, despicable places. Martha Shelley:I don't know if you remember the Joan Baez song, "It isn't nice to block the doorway, it isn't nice to go to jail, there're nicer ways to do it but the nice ways always fail." Interviewer (Archival):Are you a homosexual? Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Grey Villet/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images, https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/the-stonewall-riots. Beginning of our night out started early. WPA Film Library, Thanks to Slate:The Homosexual(1967), CBS Reports. Martin Boyce:Well, in the front part of the bar would be like "A" gays, like regular gays, that didn't go in any kind of drag, didn't use the word "she," that type, but they were gay, a hundred percent gay. You know, all of a sudden, I had brothers and sisters, you know, which I didn't have before. And the police were showing up. Like, "Joe, if you fire your gun without me saying your name and the words 'fire,' you will be walking a beat on Staten Island all alone on a lonely beach for the rest of your police career. This was the first time I could actually sense, not only see them fearful, I could sense them fearful. These homosexuals glorify unnatural sex acts. Website support provided by Margaret Paz. Fred Sargeant:The effect of the Stonewall riot was to change the direction of the gay movement. Lucian Truscott, IV, Reporter,The Village Voice:This was the Rosa Parks moment, the time that gay people stood up and said no. I learned, very early, that those horrible words were about me, that I was one of those people. Cop (Archival):Anyone can walk into that men's room, any child can walk in there, and see what you guys were doing. had beenorganizing an annual July 4th demonstration (1965-1969) known as the "Reminder Day Pickets," at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The organization with the largest donation to Christopher Street Liberation Day 1970 was the Queens Liberation Front, donating $50 (CSLDC Bulletin and Reports External, Cash Receipts Journal). William Eskridge, Professor of Law:The Stonewall riots came at a central point in history. Jerry Hoose:I was afraid it was over. Seymour Pine, Deputy Inspector, Morals Division, NYPD:Well, I had to act like I wasn't nervous. The police barricade was repeatedly breached, and the bar was set on fire. In the Civil Rights Movement, we ran from the police; in the peace movement, we ran from the police. Howard Smith, Reporter,The Village Voice:I had been in some gay bars either for a story or gay friends would say, "Oh we're going to go in for a drink there, come on in, are you too uptight to go in?" Stonewall riots, also called Stonewall uprising, series of violent confrontations that began in the early hours of June 28, 1969, between police and gay rights activists outside the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/stonewall A few of us would get dressed up in skirts and blouses and the guys would all have to wear suits and ties. Janice Flood And it was those loudest people, the most vulnerable, the most likely to be arrested, were the ones that were doing the real fighting. A Q-Ball Productions film for AMERICAN EXPERIENCE You throw into that, that the Stonewall was raided the previous Tuesday night. While the events of Stonewall are often referred to as "riots," Stonewall veterans have explicitly stated that they prefer the term Stonewalluprising orrebellion. They were the storm troopers. But we couldn't hold out very long. Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt:The police would zero in on us because sometimes they would be in plain clothes, and sometimes they would even entrap. I guess they're deviates. We were winning. Almost anything you could name. Please consider donating to SHEG to support our creation of new materials. Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt:Those of us that were the street kids we didn't think much about the past or the future. WebArrest Reports From the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Documents. And this went on for hours. When police raided Stonewall Inn on the morning of June 28, it came as a surprisethe bar wasnt tipped off this time. Accustomed to more passive behaviour, even from larger gay groups, the policemen called for reinforcements and barricaded themselves inside the bar while some 400 people rioted. Dick Leitsch:Well, gay bars were the social centers of gay life. Based on It was right in the center of where we all were. But I had only stuck my head in once at the Stonewall. A CBS news public opinion survey indicates that sentiment is against permitting homosexual relationships between consenting adults without legal punishment. New York Today is still going strong! The police weren't letting us dance. It eats you up inside not being comfortable with yourself. Marjorie Duffield Primary sources related to the Black Nite Brawl in August 1961 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For such reasons, LGBT individuals flocked to gay bars and clubs, places of refuge where they could express themselves openly and socialize without worry. Biting had not been documented as a tactic of the rioters. Because as the police moved back, we were conscious, all of us, of the area we were controlling and now we were in control of the area because we were surrounded the bar, we were moving in, they were moving back. And it was fantastic. WebWhile police raids on gay bars were routine in the 1960s, officers quickly lost control of the situation at the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. 12 Test Bank IS2080 - Chapter 9 Test Study Guide Chapter 8 Practice BANA 2082 - Chapter 1.6 Notes Group Draft WRD - Grade: B