🌈 The History of Pride: The story of Stonewall Inn 1969 🌈

Holly_Scope

Prior to the actions of Stonewall Inn on the 4th July between 1965 and 1969 (before any marches) Pride Day Pickets took place. These were held by a collective of activist groups from east coast US known as the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations (ERCHO). Where, to remind people of the continued civil rights denial of the LGBTQ+ community, they picketed Independence Hall in Philadelphia on Independence Day.

On the 28th June 1969, people attending Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street were joined by undercover police officers. Records of the evening are varied, but it’s largely agreed that Stonewall Inn was typically a members club, however non-members were able to enter upon paying a fee, and whom staff believed to be LGBTQ+.

At just after midnight, 5 police officers entered the bar with a search warrant and began gathering evidence of illegal alcohol sales; Stonewall Inn was technically a “bottle only” club meaning attendees would supply their own drinks and pay for service. Since the 60’s there had been an increasing number of raids on the LGBTQ+ bars and clubs in New York. A clear pattern of police focus. Stonewall Inn was raided once a month on average leading up to this night.

At approximately 1.20am, two of the officers left the bar and proceeded to enrol further colleagues from the “public morals division” of the New York Police Department. They re-entered the bar and demanded to see all IDs. Attempts were made to arrest staff and patrons without ID. All other people were ordered to leave.

And then something happened…

It is said, that Stormé DeLarverie, a female performer dressed in traditionally masculine clothing was the first to physically resist arrest. Patrons shouted and fought with the police. During this uprising, some of those people earlier arrested were able to escape from police vans. Bottles and coins were thrown at the wall and a parking meter uprooted and used as a battering ram upon the door.

During that evening and over the next few days thousands joined the protests.

Stormé DeLarverie (pictured) has since said: “It was a rebellion, it was an uprising. It wasn’t no damn riot”.

On the 50th anniversary of the events in 2019 an apologise was issued by New York Police Commissioner James O’Neill who stated “The actions taken by the NYPD were wrong, plain and simple. The actions and the laws were discriminatory and oppressive, and for that, I apologise”.

After the events at Stonewall Inn, the ERCHO adopted the following resolution: “We propose that a demonstration be held annually on the last Saturday in June in New York City to commemorate the 1969 spontaneous demonstrations on Christopher Street and this demonstration be called Christopher Street Liberation Day.”

ERCHO also vowed to make contact nationwide with organisations to create a “a nationwide show of support”. The first pride marches were held on 28th June 1970 in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago and were attended by thousands.

The first UK pride march was held on the 1st July 1972 in London. The date was selected as the closest to the uprising of Stonewall Inn in 1969.

UK pride history will be covered in more detail in another post this month. 🌈

Steve_in_The_City

I went on the 2nd Pride March in London when I was 16, more police than marchers! We met on Clapham Common. A guy came over and kissed me. I thought I am going to be arrested, but there is safety in numbers and the police turned a blind eye!

With reference to Police raids on bars: It wasn't very common but it did happen. I was caught-up in a few raids. They would switch the lights off so that people were plunged into darkness and people became disoriented. The lights would go back on and there would be police everywhere. However, it was a warning to gay people not to congregate. No one to my knowledge got arrested. I was at an arrestable age but iot did not happen.

Meanwhile, there were small gay bars all over the West End. They all had their own opening and closing times but it didn't matter what the time was, you could find an open bar.

I got involved in The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) and have been openly gay ever since. I have met with very little homophobia, too little to be worth mentioning. I don't bother with Pride. I think I have done that, led the way, let other people celebrate.