This Week In History: Stonewall Sparks Gay Pride

This week marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, five days of fighting between New York City police and patrons of the Stonewall Inn. The Stonewall was a gay bar, and in 1969 gay bars were illegal. In fact, it was illegal for bartenders to serve any gay men gathered in a group, no matter what king of bar they were in. Raids were commonplace and arrests and beatings were standard - it was dangerous to be gay. This time was different - the patrons fought back, and fought for five days.

What happened on June 28, 1969 that was different? There's an urban legend that the death of Judy Garland several days earlier sparked the riot, but the truth seems to be much more complex than mourning Dorothy. Read some of the original documents and decide for yourself here. I tend to think the gay community of 1969 NYC had reached a Tipping Point, a moment in time where they just literally were not going to take it anymore, and in the grand American tradition of the Boston Tea Party, had a good old fashioned freak out. I might also point out the counter-cultural movement of the late sixties, encompassing the Vietnam war protestors, civil rights workers, and women's liberation movement, no doubt had some impact on the Stonewall patrons. In any event, what happened that day was remembered one year later in a march to the door of Stonewall - what was essentially the first gay pride parade. Today, most American cities hold their GLBT pride parades in late June to commemorate the anniversary. Chicago's parade is Sunday June 29th at noon, starting at the corner of Halsted and Belmont.

In recognition of the men and women of Stonewall, and in celebration of GLBT folks everywhere, we at the Women On Women Music Program wish you a very happy pride weekend. Though the battles are far from done, as Amy Ray illustrates in this song below, its nice to take an afternoon and celebrate how far the GLBT movement has come!