The Stonewall Riots: A Turning Point for LGBTQ+ Rights

The Stonewall Riots were a series of protests and clashes that erupted in June 1969, after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village. The raid sparked a violent resistance from the patrons and the neighbourhood, who had faced constant harassment and discrimination from the authorities. The riots lasted for six days and drew thousands of supporters, marking a watershed moment in the history of the LGBTQ+ movement.

The Stonewall Inn was one of the few places where LGBTQ+ people could socialise and express themselves freely, especially those who were marginalised by mainstream society, such as drag queens, transgender people, and people of colour. The bar was also a target for police raids, which were common and brutal at the time. The police would arrest anyone who violated the laws that criminalised homosexuality, cross-dressing, and gender nonconformity. The raids were often accompanied by violence, humiliation, and extortion.


On June 28, 1969, around 1:20 a.m., the police raided the Stonewall Inn again, but this time they met with unexpected resistance. The patrons refused to cooperate with the police, who had no warrant and were violating their rights. Some of them fought back physically, while others threw bottles, coins, and bricks at the police. A crowd gathered outside the bar and joined the uprising, chanting "Gay Power" and "We Want Freedom". The riot spread to neighbouring streets and lasted until dawn.


The next night, the protests resumed with even more intensity and numbers. The police tried to disperse the crowd with tear gas and batons, but they were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the protesters. The clashes continued for several nights, attracting media attention and public sympathy. The riots inspired LGBTQ+ people across the country and the world to organise and demand their rights. They also led to the formation of activist groups such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance, which advocated for political and social change.


Although the myth is that transgender people didn’t exist until recently, trans people were there at the Stonewall Riots. In fact, 3 out of the 4 leaders of Stonewall Riots were trans women. Notably Martha P Johnson, a black transgender woman, Sylvia Rivera, a latino transgender woman, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, another black transgender woman. They, along with Stormé DeLarverie, a butch lesbian woman, were instrumental in the riots.


The Stonewall Riots are widely considered as the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ movement. They are commemorated every year with pride parades and events around the world. They are also recognized as a significant historical event by various institutions and governments. In 2016, President Barack Obama designated the Stonewall National Monument as the first national park site dedicated to LGBTQ+ history. The Stonewall Inn is still operating today as a symbol of pride and resistance.