TheStonewall riotswere an important turning point for the gay rights movement in the United States.
But you probably already knew that the Stonewall riots came at an important and pivotal moment in American history.
However, there’s much more to know about the riots than just the time and place.
So, what exactly is the significance of the Stonewall riots?
That meant that the majority of people who were gay or gender non-conforming could not live openly.
However, in the years preceding Stonewall, some progress had been made by gay rights activists.
This necessitated places like the Stonewall Inn.
But no such warning came on June 28, 1969.
Slate noted that the raid took longer than usual, and patrons under arrest became agitated.
However, that’s been thoroughly debunked by the people who were there (viaThe New York Times).
What actually caused patrons to fight back that fateful night?
So, who threw the first brick at Stonewall?
One of the most common questions surrounding the mythos of the Stonewall riots is who threw the first brick?
But the focus on who “started” the Stonewall riots really misses the point.
He was the only journalist to have witnessed what happenedinside the bar that night.
Another reporter from the Voice, Lucian Truscott IV, covered what was happening outside the bar.
And “everyone” included reporters and other activists to keep the momentum going.
In an interview withPBS, Jerry Hoose recalled being there the night the organization was officially named.
“It was insane!
Such organizations worked tirelessly to change political and social conditions for the queer community.
One of the memorable ways in which they did so was by organizing Christopher Street Liberation Day.
To this day, theNYC Pride Marchpasses by the Stonewall Inn along its route.
Activists coordinated with organizers in other cities to hold marches in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.
And in 2016, he designated theStonewall National Monumentto honor the movement for LGBTQ+ equality.
And, of course, Pride marches are still held in cities across the world.
Stonewall is an important turning point in the struggle that had been ongoing for many years at that point.
