Well, it's PRIDE month so you know what that means: every major corporation, franchise, and mom-and-pop changing their branding by incorporating a Microsoft paint rainbow gradient and launching a slew of colorful products in an overly aggressive, theatrical display of allyship. Now, there isn't anything necessarily wrong or offensive about any of this...I just wish it was a consistent throughout the entire year. It's one thing to stand side-by-side the LGBTQ+ community in solidarity, but truly taking the time to learn the history and listen to the stories is totally different thing as it is acknowledgement of centuries of struggles and triumphs.
One such piece of history that tends to get the most attention is the Stonewall Uprising. Last month, I was able to visit the Stonewall Inn where in the small hours of June 28, 1969 the establishment was raided by the NYPD that led to several days of protests. However, LGBTQ+ history is more than just Stonewall. Rather it is a long narrative of discrimination that specifically targeted the LGBTQ+ community. At the time, homosexuality was considered a mental illness in the United States, sex between two men was illegal, and a conviction of lewd conduct (kissing or otherwise) required individuals to register as a sex offender. In addition to the criminalization of same-sex relations, the LGBTQ community faced tremendous harassment and oppression, particularly from the law enforcement.
In fact, there were MANY uprisings before the events that took place West Village...and here are just a few:
Cooper's Do-Nuts Uprising: 1959
In the 1950s and 1960s, not only did the LGBTQ+ community face discrimination from mainstream society but they were also specifically targeted by anti-gay legal system. According to legislation, the LAPD were able to arrest individuals who were not wearing at least three articles of clothing that corresponded with their assigned gender. During this time, verbal and physical harassment from the police were common and raids at known LGBTQ+ establishments were frequent--one such locale was Cooper's Do-nuts in downtown Los Angeles. One evening in May 1959, two police officers entered the cafe and asked for IDs from several patrons and attempted to arrest two drag queens, two male sex workers, and a gay man. As the group was being aggressively ushered into the police cars, onlookers began throwing assorted coffee, donuts, cups, and trash at the police until they fled in their car without making the arrests. Many LGBTQ+ historians believed The Cooper Do-nuts uprising to be the first gay uprising in the United States.
The Julius Sip-In: 1966
In the spring of 1966, members of the New York chapter of the Mattachine Society wanted to demonstrate that bars in the city discriminated against LGBTQ+ people. While
establishments to this day have the right to refuse service to any patron, many of the bars and restaurants of the time continually did not serve gay patrons under the veil of "disorderly conduct" according to the New York State Liquor Authority. Additionally, Bars that served gay people ran the risk of having their liquor license revoked and were often the targets of police raids due to the work of Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. Thus upon entering Julius', a small tavern in the West Village, the members of the Mattachine Society informed the bartender that they were gay and were immediately asked to leave. With the help of the New York Times and the Village Voice, word of the "sip-in" quickly reached the Commission on Human Rights and the American Civil Liberty Union and legal action was taken against the New York State Liquor Authority. Eventually, the discriminatory policy that enabled bars and restaurants to view homosexuals as "disorderly" was ruled unconstitutional as was the possibility that liquor licenses would be revoked if they did serve gay patrons.
The Black Cat Tavern Protest: 1967
On New Year's Eve of 1967, eight undercover police officers from the LAPD raided the Black Cat Tavern just after midnight while party goers were celebrating. During the struggle, patrons were beaten and dragged out of the bar and into the street as fourteen arrests were made. According to one of patrons that were interviewed, “one of the officers started tearing down Christmas decorations in a frenzy, and another pulled out a gun.” However, what truly happened that night was a bit muddled due to varying eyewitness accounts, but what did result was days of peaceful protests, picketing, and public speeches organized by Personal Rights in Defense and Education (PRIDE) and the Southern California Council on Religion and the Homophile (SCCRH) in response to the unprovoked police incursion. The demonstration attracted nearly 600 people, who gathered in front of The Black Cat building in peaceful resistance.
Because these and the many others that went unrecorded, the Stonewall Uprising became the tipping point in a long history of protests, marches, and riots for the sole purpose of creating equitable spaces, representation, and policies for the LGBTQ+ community. While we as a society have come a long way in terms of ending discrimination, there is still much work to be done. So while you're out there waving your flags and sporting that "Love Wins" tank top Target, take minute to remember the events that led to our ability to celebrate PRIDE every year.
Happy Pride Nerds,
Daryl
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