Today marks the fortieth anniversary of the spontaneous uprising by street punk gays during a raid by the NYPD Public Morals Squad on the Stonewall Inn, a Mafia-owned gay bar on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. From the Stonewall Inn, enough-is-enough gay fury spread to the surrounding streets, sparking days of rioting during which gay men, lesbians, and drag queens fought the New York cops to a standstill, and brought the world to an understanding that homophobia would would never again go unchallenged. And if you’re not up to speed, click here to learn some history.
“When did you ever see a fag fight back?... Now, times were a-changin'. Tuesday night was the last night for bullshit.... Predominantly, the theme (w)as, "this shit has got to stop!" – anonymous Stonewall riots participant
“You know, the guys there were so beautiful—they've lost that wounded look that fags all had 10 years ago.” – Allen Ginsberg
"We are the Stonewall girls/ We wear our hair in curls/ We don't wear underwear/ We show our pubic hairs” – A chant from the nights of rage
"Do You Think Homosexuals Are Revolting? You Bet Your Sweet Ass We Are!" – Heading on a flier distributed by the newly formed Gay Liberation Front
The secret word is Dolores
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If this post looks amazingly messed up, I apologise, I'm trying to copy & paste with a PS3 for fear of waking an ill woman asleep near my computer.
"Shin Inouye, a White House spokesman, said, “Next Monday’s event is a chance for the White House to recognize the accomplishments of LGBT Americans. Invited guests include families, volunteers and activists, and community leaders. This event was long planned as a way to applaud these individuals during Pride month.”
From an op-ed in the New York times by Frank Rich, "The White House has also asserted that its Stonewall ceremony was “long planned” — even though it sure looks like damage control. News of the event trickled out publicly only last Monday, after dozens of aggrieved, heavy-hitting gay donors dropped out of a Democratic National Committee fund-raiser with a top ticket of $30,400."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/opinion/28rich.html?_r=1
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