Stonewall and the Birth of the Gay and Lesbian Liberation

Goals:

1.    Understanding the significance of Stonewall.

2.    Global view of 1960s – 1980s “gay liberation decades”

Stonewall:

·         Spark that ignited the modern Gay Rights Movement

·         Put the LGBT community on the map

·         Media attention

·         Example of spontaneous resistance to authority

·         No shame about being publicly identified as a part of the LGBT community

o   The beginning

What actually happened:

·         June 28^th, 1969: Stonewall Inn was raided for serving drinks to homosexuals

·         There was a riot

o   The people in the bar were more violent/rough around the edges and prone to fight back than most others (they were more aggressive than what was considered the norm)

o   Out of the Past p. 336: “Suddenly, the paddywagon arrived and the mood of the crowd changed. Three of the more blatant queens—in full drag—were loaded inside, along with the bartender and doorman, to a chorus of catcalls and boos from the crowd. A cry went up to push the paddywagon over, but it drove away before anything could happen…The next person to come out was a dyke, and she put up a struggle—from car to door to car again. It was at that moment that the scene became explosive. Limp wrists were forgotten. Beer cans and bottles were heaved at the windows, and a rain of coins descended on the cops…”

·         Cognitive Dissonance: when two concepts don’t quite match up

o   Sissy fairy and violence don’t exactly go hand in hand

o   The queers were fighting back!

·         Pre-Stonewall gay rights movement

o   “Homophile” movement

o   Closeted society

§  Daughters of Bilitis (lesbian group) and Mattachine Society

Gay Liberation Front (energy but no focus)

The Lavender Menace:

·         Conspiracy theory that lesbians would infiltrate the women’s movement

1970s:

·         January, 1977—Gay Rights measures repealed by popular vote

·         1977—Harvey Milk elected

·         March, 1978—Brriggs Initiative (first time we see people actively going against homosexuals [initiative saying that openly homosexual persons could not teach in public schools, and if you knew about a homosexual teacher and didn’t tell, you could lose your job as well])

·         November, 1978—Harvey Milk assassinated

1980s:

·         June, 1981—AIDS identified

·         Arch, 1984—“Bathhouse fight”

·         March, 1985—Aids test invented