Premium Content:

On This Gay Day | The 1969 Stonewall Riots started

Stonewall

The fight for queer liberation was propelled forward on this day in 1969 when riots broke out in New York following a police raid at the Stonewall Inn.

- Advertisement -

It is the tipping point where the queer community decided it had had enough of discrimination, intolerance and homophobia. Tired of the police raids and ill-treatment the patrons of the Stonewall Inn – a gay bar fought back.

When the police raided the bar they lost control of the situation and were forced to retreat, the local community in Greenwich Village organised a protest the next evening, and clashed police once again. Each night the protests grew bigger, and within weeks the area had been established as a place where marginalised people could be open about their sexuality.

Leaders in the fight were transgender women of colour including Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson. The riots became a inspiration for Pride marches around the world, and in many countries those marches have morphed into parades of celebration.

The riots were a catalyst that transformed New York City, within three months three separate newspapers for the gay, lesbian and transgender audience were launched.

The Stonewall Inn has become focal point for gay rights over the following five decades, with many LGBTIQ+ people making the pilgrimage to the site. In Christopher Park, opposite the venue, stand four statues, two same sex couples created by artist George Segal. In recent years more acknowledgement has been added to highlight the prominent role transgender people of colour played in the movement.

Today the entire month of June is declared Pride month, a celebration of LGBTIQ+ people, and a time to focus on the parts of the world where change is yet to come.

OIP Staff, this post was first published in 2020 and has been updated. 


You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

 

 

 

Latest

Basil Zempilas voices support for the surrogacy bill

The declaration from the Liberal leader was the opposite of colleague and deputy Libby Mettam.

Prosecutors seek death penalty for Tyler Robinson

The man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk has been charged with 7 crimes.

Alan Jones facing more indecent assault charges

There are now 44 charges laid against the broadcaster.

On This Gay Day | The TV series M*A*S*H premiered

One of the show's most memorable characters would be the dress-loving Corporal Klinger.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Basil Zempilas voices support for the surrogacy bill

The declaration from the Liberal leader was the opposite of colleague and deputy Libby Mettam.

Prosecutors seek death penalty for Tyler Robinson

The man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk has been charged with 7 crimes.

Alan Jones facing more indecent assault charges

There are now 44 charges laid against the broadcaster.

On This Gay Day | The TV series M*A*S*H premiered

One of the show's most memorable characters would be the dress-loving Corporal Klinger.

Libby Mettam says she’s opposed to the surrogacy bill

Mettam said she's concerned the bill will leave children who no one wants to raise.

Basil Zempilas voices support for the surrogacy bill

The declaration from the Liberal leader was the opposite of colleague and deputy Libby Mettam.

Prosecutors seek death penalty for Tyler Robinson

The man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk has been charged with 7 crimes.

Alan Jones facing more indecent assault charges

There are now 44 charges laid against the broadcaster.