“We were fighting and it was for our lives.” LGBT activists remember Stonewall riots 50 years later.
In 1969, Mark Segal was just 18 years old. He was at the Stonewall Inn on June 28 when riots at the New York City gay bar changed the course of LGBTQ+ rights in America forever.
Very few businesses welcomed openly gay people at the time, and overall society and laws were extremely hostile to LGBTQ-identifying people. “No one expected anything special to happen,” Segal remembered. “I remember being at the bar when the lights flickered and I said, ‘Why are the lights flickering?’”
“I thought, what’s going on here? There’s maybe 30 or 40 people gathered in the street,” Fouratt said. “What happened that night that made it different than any other night, is that we had been witnessing for months the counterculture of the 1960s coming to a head,” he said. “The antiwar movement was very violent and angry. We were joyous. We were so happy that night! Because we were fighting back! And we have never done so before.”
Though gay rights activism existed in various pockets prior to 1969, the incident at Stonewall galvanized and mobilized the LGBTQ community towards increased organizing. One year after the riots, activists in the community organized the “Christopher Street Liberation March” on June 28, 1970. They aimed to march through Manhattan to Central Park without a permit.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Democrats Passed A Historic LGBT Rights Bill. Conservatives Say It’s An Attack On Women.Conservatives Are Freaking Out Over An LGBT Bill That Passed The House
Read more »
Pete Buttigieg says Donald Trump 'paying lip service' to LGBT rightsGet breaking national and world news, broadcast video coverage, and exclusive interviews. Find the top news online at ABC news.
Read more »
There’s A Growing Rift On The Religious Right About How To Deal With LGBT PeopleThey’re planning a compromise bill in Congress that would offer some LGBT rights and religious exemptions.
Read more »
Polish towns go 'LGBT free' ahead of bitter European election campaignTeresa Drzewiecka grew up during World War Two, when German and Soviet troops ba...
Read more »
House Democrats pass sweeping LGBT rights billHouse Democrats just passed sweeping legislation that would extend civil rights protections to the LGBT community. The Equality Act, would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protections to employment, housing, and other areas.
Read more »
Traveling while gay: Six essential LGBT travel tipsIn many parts of the world, LGBT travelers face unique concerns. Here are the best ways to ensure a hassle-free vacation.
Read more »
Seven in 10 LGBT employees are harassed at work in BritainAlmost seven in 10 LGBT people have suffered some form of sexual harassment at work, according to an alarming study highlighting a 'hidden problem' in British workplaces.
Read more »
North Carolina ‘bathroom bill’ sponsor wins GOP redo of tainted electionBishop’s role as sponsor of a headline-grabbing “bathroom bill” that voided anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people is likely to be a focal point in this repeat race.
Read more »
Analysis | Advocates hope Taiwan’s same-sex marriage decision will spark ‘ripple effect’ across AsiaHuman rights advocates hope Japan will further protections for the LGBT community ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Read more »