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The Stonewall Riots

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

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  1. The Stonewall Riots New York City, June 27-29, 1969

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  5. 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!

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  8. 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.

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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.

  12. 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”

  13. The Riot Begins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYCBG6J-TBk

  14. “Gay Power”

  15. 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

  16. “The true legacy of the Stonewall Riots is the ongoing struggle for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality.” David Carter

  17. 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

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