by Lynette Alice

Created on: June 01, 2008   Last Updated: January 19, 2009

Centered around the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street in New York City, the Stonewall riots (Often regarded as "The hairpin drop heard around the world") between the New York police department (NYPD) and local members of the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) community began. The Stonewall riots are considered as the worldwide impetus for the global modern LGBT rights movement. What exactly was Stonewall and why was it so significant?

Stonewall was not the first time the banner for gay rights had been taken up, in fact the struggle had been fought unsuccessfully for some twenty years primarily led by Harry Hay and the Mattachine Society he founded. The Mattachine society's formation along with the Daughters of Bilitis (A lesbian society) founded in 1955 led to the formation of the of the first student gay rights organization founded by bisexual student Stephen Donaldson in 1967 at Colombia University called the Student Homophile League (SHL). In 1968 Jerald Moldenhaurer founded a second SHL at Cornell University. What this has to do with Stonewall is that it all set the tone for Stonewall and provided a large pool of demonstrators for the Stonewall rebellion. Had these organizations have not existed and thrived in New York, the rebellion may likely have never carried forward.

To understand what life was like for an LGBT person in 1960's New York City (Or most anywhere) you must understand what daily life was like. Being closeted (Not publicly known as a homosexual or transgender person) was generally the only way to safely navigate life. Until the mid 1960's raids on gay establishments were a part of weekly life along with the shakedowns of owners and patrons known as "gayola." In fact in New York City and many other cities across the U.S. it was illegal to serve an alcoholic beverage to a table in which three known homosexuals were seated together. Failure to comply would result in a fine and the closing of the establishment for the remainder of the business day most times. Consider that for a moment. For the LGBT person in question they could face a fine, an overnight stay in lockup, and often had their name printed in the daily newspapers police blotter along with a record of their "criminal" activity. So vigilant were the police in carrying out this task they often arrested patrons of gay establishments for indecency charges which may mean nothing more than the person was a crossdresser, seen kissing, dancing, or even holding hands with a same sex

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>