The Stonewall riots began on June 28, 1969 when the police raided the Stonewall Inn. This inn was one of the fist places gay Americans were able to hangout. This movement is what led to the later LGTBQ movement we know today. This is the riot that most look at for starting the movement for gay rights. Before gay Americans decided to fight for the rights that they deserved, they were not only faced with police going in to search their home, not being able to work in the government, as well as being told that being gay meant you had a mental disease. Gay Americans at this time did not feel safe, but why would they when police could come into their homes whenever they wanted to. Police during this time were actually openly discriminating and putting homosexuals in jail when they pleased. At this time gay Americans did not see any support from their community, they really could only count on the people who were closest to them.
The Stonewall Riots of 1969 created the shift that these Americans needed to see during this time. With protests and marches these Americans were able to finally start the talks for Gay Rights at this time. These riots were used to inspire the gay identity during this time and for later generations then on. The riots were seen as a growth to the members of the gay community. They were seeking human rights and used these protest and marches to show other Americans that there was nothing mentally wrong with them. They were just like everybody else the only difference was their sexual orientation. Before these riots took place the LGTB community did not get to experience the joy of having a community surround them and standing behind them if something went wrong.
The day of the raid, Saturday, June 28, 1969, the people who were at the inn at the time faced arrest, they decided they were going to fight back instead of standing down. America then saw all this taking place on the mainstream press as well as certain gay news outlets. During the next six days there were protests and people were fighting with the police. After this day America started seeing gay movements, organizations, pride, and activism. The fact that these riots even took place is sad to hear. Gaudium et spes is a factor during these protests because these Americans involved in the riots and movements that came after, were just fighting to have equal rights like the other Americans had at this time.
In the picture that is used down below, it can be seen what some of the protests after Stonewall looked like. The people that were protesting were trying to stop the oppression of the LGTBQ community. This is known as one of the very first gay pride parades, but it was not like the parades that take place today. During this time, it was more of a protest that happened after the Stonewall Riots because they believed that they deserved rights and respect just like the straight community was given. Just as the picture shows this was them fighting back against the government and other people that were against them in their communities. They were sick of the way they were being treated at this time and they were going to start fighting back for what they believed in.
If interested in learning more checkout the Lesbian History Archives website. Or watch a three-minute video over How the Stonewall Riots Sparked a Movement.
The Stonewall Riots are important to include in our discussion of twentieth century protests. The individuals who participated in these riots were members of the gay community who were demonstrating against the police. The gay community clearly did not have equal rights and desired liberation through this protest. This connects to Gaudium et Spes because the individuals who participated in the protests were "citizens oppressed by a public authority overstepping its competence", and "it is legitimate for them to defend their own rights and the rights of their fellow citizens against the abuse of this authority". This demonstrates that the gay community was justified in their actions in participating in the protest. This example of a twentieth century protest connects to the Women Strike for Peace protest group that I wrote about because like the gay community, women were seeking to make their voice heard and express their concerns. It is interesting that both of these protests took place in the 1960s which demonstrates the changes that took place in the United States during this decade.
ReplyDeleteThe Stonewell riots post was interesting to read because it helped to shed light on the strides made in the homosexual community toward equal treatment by others. It is a great piece of history in helping to understand the steps that were taken early on that helped lead to a better acceptance by others toward those who identified as homosexual. From the reading, I am currently do not understand what charges were brought against the members of the inn, however I do not know what laws were in the books at the time of the arrests that would allow for such persecution. I think every history class that covers the 20th century should include the protest movements of the homosexual community as well for their movements are often overlooked or ignored entirely.
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