How did the Stonewall Riots impact and bring the Queer community together?

By: Shreya, Dana, and Andrea

What happened on June 28, 1969?

Police raided a gay bar called “The Stonewall Inn” which lead to a bunch of spontaneous protests in response to the raid. This was a big turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. During the 1960s and before was not a very welcoming era for LGBTQ+ americans. Since there were not welcomed, LGBTQ+ individuals would rush into gay bars and clubs where they would feel welcomed. However, the New York State Liquor Authority would only shut down gay bars and clubs suspected of serving alcohol and said that it was “disorderly”. (History.com, 2022)

Gay Nightlife in NYC

The riots led to NYC's annual “Pride parade” that happens every year on June 28th to remember the event. For the LGBTQ+ communities nightlife spaces have always been a memorable space to express themselves to the fullest and not be judged by mainstream judgement. Expressed themselves through their glamorous clothing. Not many people new the importance of LGBTQ+nightlife spaces, but in the late 1960’s and ‘70s it was able to help shape ativism and values that were guided by the Gay Liberation movement.

Leather Bars in NYC

During the spiraling 1950’s many leather bars was a safe community for gay men to freely express their sexual freedom and there sexual likings. Leather bar are know to be community to be safe but also have a lot of partying including drugs and a sex scene but never lead to violence or death. Many of the repetition of gay bars have been used for entertainment in the hollywood scene and mockery but never educating the importance of Gay Bars values and resistance.

How did the Stonewall Riots impact the bring the Queer community together?

The spontaneous protests was the reason the gay rights movement took off. Every year in June NYC has a bunch of pride fests to honorate the event that took place June 28th, 1969.This event created the Gay Liberation Front, which is the first ever group created to advocate for equal gay rights.There have been thousands of individuals participating in pride marches in brooklyn. In our source it stated that the marches were like “Pride, BLM, andTrans lives matter” all in one.The queer community has become stronger together ever since.