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The Stonewall Riots. New York City, June 27-29, 1969. The 1960’s. Age of Experimentation in Sexual Areas, Psychology, Psychiatry… All the rules were off in the 60’s… Freedom… but not for gay men and lesbians. The 1960’s & Homosexuality. In most cities, it was illegal to be a homosexual.
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The Stonewall Riots New York City, June 27-29, 1969
The 1960’s Age of Experimentation in Sexual Areas, Psychology, Psychiatry… All the rules were off in the 60’s… Freedom… but not for gay men and lesbians.
The 1960’s & Homosexuality • In most cities, it was illegal to be a homosexual. • Homosexuals that were “caught” would endure public humiliation. • Homosexuals were often hospitalized and treated with shock therapy.
Public Service Announcements • Scared Straight Tactics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P04-ccuRXs • Boys Beware (1950’s) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3S24ofEQj4 • Mike Wallace CBS News “The Homosexuals” (1966) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AXAOT_swIE&feature=related • Anti-Homosexual Films (1961) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh1FsRiwWQQ&feature=related
Civil Rights Weren’t For Homosexuals • New York had an 1845 Statute that made it a crime to masquerade. • Being in “drag” was a crime • A person must be in 3 articles of clothing of their gender or could be arrested—socks did not count!
1960’s & Political Upheaval • President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. • Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. • The Black Panther’s Party in Oakland was advocating armed self-defense against police brutality. • Race riots in Watt’s, CA (1965); Detriot, MI (1967); & Newark, NJ (1967). • Vietnam War protesters rioted in Chicago outside the Democratic Nation Convention in 1968.
Homophile Organizations Before Stonewall Riots • Daughters of Bilitis (1955) • Founded by 8 women in San Francisco • Mattachine Society of New York (1951) • Founded by Harry Hay
New York Before Stonewall Riots • Police would use many different tactics to “catch” and arrest homosexuals. • In New York alone 500 people per year were arrested for ‘crimes against nature’. Approximately 3,000 to 5,000 arrests were made for various solicitation and loitering crimes. • New York State Liquor Authority made it nearly impossible for any bar to get a liquor license that would serve homosexuals.
The Stonewall Inn • Located in Greenwich Village, downtown New York. • Patrons were primarily to gay men and “drag queens” • Owned and operated by the mafia
Summer of 1969 • New York City was amidst a re-election year for its current mayor. • Increase in raids • Police resume “entrapment” tactics • Vigilantes began coordinating attacks
The Perfect Storm • At 1:20 a.m. on June 29, 1969, 4 police officers in dark suits, 2 patrol officers in uniform, 1 detective (Charles Smith) and 1 deputy (Seymore Pine) entered the Stonewall Inn. • 4 undercover officers were already inside gathering information. • It was the 2nd raid that week.
The Last Straw “When did you ever see a fag fight back?...Now times were a-changin’. Tuesday night was the last night for bullshit…Predominately, the theme was ‘this shit has got to stop!’” • Some say… “it was the heat of the night” “it was spontaneous” “it was a collective feeling” “we weren’t going away, and we didn’t”
The Riot Begins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYCBG6J-TBk
Stonewall Liberation • Gay Liberation Front • Gay Activists Alliance • June 28, 1970—1st Gay Rights March in New York City • 3 Newspapers were est. to promote rights for gays and lesbians • 40 Years after Stonewall Riots http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDAGF5WHpmc&feature=related
“The true legacy of the Stonewall Riots is the ongoing struggle for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality.” David Carter
Resources http://socialistalternative.org/literature/stonewall.html http://www.pbs.org/search/?q=stonewall%20riots http://www.outhistory.org/wiki/Main_Page http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-701-1&va=stonewall+riots http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/exhibitions/sw25/case1.html