Gay history

[Aquilla]

STONEWALL - Part One - My perception...

Gay history goes back as far as history itself..

I thought that it would be interesting to start with the recent history of the gay movement, as that movement has impacted on modern society to an astonishing degree, depending on your view point.

I do not intend to argue that at all, I will accept your perceptions, as this is not a debate.

Comments of course will be appreciated.

The following cannot be a short snap view of history, I will have done as much as I can to condense information, for those that do not like reading long posts etc.

For gay peeps and all interested others, both here in our beloved forums, and those that will read as guests or from the Google links, If you are gay this is the start of our modern history – enjoy and I hope this story will motivate you aswell as giving you strength, and encourage you in your pride to be gay.

The beginning of Stonewall

The name Stonewall was taken from the name of the Stonewall Inn, an illicit unlicensed drinking house that had no drinks license.
This house was frequented by the oft times persecuted, outlawed at that time gay fraternity. Cliental mostly was made up of drag queens, and openly gay men.

The area was frequently raided by police, and even without raid, the gay fraternity at that time were an easy police target, you have to remember that at this time being gay was illegal.

On a Saturday Morning the 28th June 1969 at about 01:20 the police decided to raid the Stonewall Inn, at that point history was made.

Of on a tangent for a moment….
Also at this point (1965) in history a new political ethos was in the making, a reformist politician had been elected as New York Mayor his name was John Lyndsey he was a liberal activist that promoted the idea of direct action, to effect change.

Also in 1966, Howard Leary, Police Commissioner , alarmed at complaints about police entrapment policies regarding gay men, instructed that a stop be put to this illegal activity, alas all had gone to far.

Back to the story ……
The Stonewall Inn was frequented by mostly Hispanics, many were illegal aliens, for want of a better term.


Stonewall Inn - Pic taken 1969


I have been unable to verify how the riot started, as there are so many versions, but start it did, and the riots lasted for three days. The police were shocked, as hundreds from the local community joined the rioting drag queens and, as described by the press at that time “ openly effeminate men”

One story goes, that the management of the Stonewall Inn, failed to pay the police their retainer hence the raid.


After the riots

It became clear to the local authorities, that the riot was a result of simmering local hostility, it was also clear that nothing would ever be the same again….

To be continued,,

( I have written, a great deal more, I intend to post the rest of this story at intervals, depending on the thread activity or if I am allowed to double post! )

I hope you have enjoyed this the first episode….

Please try to read it all..

Thank you
LURV YA!
andy

[Who]

i think matthew shepard should be mentioned. he was a college student in whyoming who was fatally attacked by his peers and left to die tied to a fence, because he was gay.

his death was not only tragic but a revolution. his death caused dramatic changes to be made to 'hate crime' legislation and since that day hate crimes against homosexuals have been treated as an extreme crime with very harsh punishments.

also civil unions and gay marriage are fairly new to gay history.

Andorra, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. They are also available in some parts of Argentina, Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), Mexico, the U.S. states of California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire (effective January 1, 2008), New Jersey, Oregon (effective January 1, 2008), Vermont, Washington state, and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.); Uruguay (effective November 1, 2007). all now accept civil unions.

my state (connecticut) was the first in america to vote for civil unions as one, none of our state officials disagreed.

[Aquilla]

Originally Posted by Who

i think matthew shepard should be mentioned. he was a college student in whyoming who was fatally attacked by his peers and left to die tied to a fence, because he was gay.

his death was not only tragic but a revolution. his death caused dramatic changes to be made to 'hate crime' legislation and since that day hate crimes against homosexuals have been treated as an extreme crime with very harsh punishments.

also civil unions and gay marriage are fairly new to gay history.

Andorra, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. They are also available in some parts of Argentina, Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), Mexico, the U.S. states of California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire (effective January 1, 2008), New Jersey, Oregon (effective January 1, 2008), Vermont, Washington state, and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.); Uruguay (effective November 1, 2007). all now accept civil unions.

my state (connecticut) was the first in america to vote for civil unions as one, none of our state officials disagreed.

Matthew is a way down the line in Gay History... his Story Is one I have investigated for a well deserved thread of its own.

[Who]

Originally Posted by aquilla

Matthew is a way down the line in Gay History... his Story Is one I have investigated for a well deserved thread of its own.

its all part of gay history, it doesnt have to be in order. ive just posted the gay history i know from my own lifetime.

[Aquilla]

Originally Posted by Who

its all part of gay history, it doesnt have to be in order. ive just posted the gay history i know from my own lifetime.

I did not set this thread up, I appreciate the fact it has been set up though - Thanks..

Who - feck orf and do whats yer wants with your thread on Gay History..

I will add to my Stonewall Thread TM...


Thank you Jenna..

[Who]

i just found out some very interesting facts, doing a little research on my own.

1920 - The word Gay is used for the first time in reference to homosexual in the Underground.

1923-The word fag is first used in print in reference to gays in Nels Anderson's The Hobo: "Fairies or Fags are men or boys who exploit sex for profit."

1937 - The first use of the pink triangle for gay men in Nazi concentration camps.

1941 - Transsexuality was first used in reference to homosexuality and bisexuality.

[Cat]

Originally Posted by aquilla

Thank you Jenna..

Was Starfire set it up not Jenna, so maybe you should thank her.

[Aquilla]

Originally Posted by ΩcatΩ;2849***

Was Starfire set it up not Jenna, so maybe you should thank her.

Point taken, Thanks Starfire...

I am re-writing the stonewall pt 2, have found some new info, will post laters.

Thanks again

[Aquilla]

GREEN

Was used in Edwardian times especially, but has long been ackowledged as a colour of communication between gays.

Purple

In Victiorian times this was the colour, worn as a hankie especially to denote you may be gay.

Hankies (Colored) in the later 20th and 21st Century

Used in the back pocket of 501 Jeans to this day to signal your gay sexual preferences, or the simple fact you are just gay. Hankie in right or left pocket, indicates diifferent things, depending on your location.

Rainbow Flag

The Rainbow Flag, was put together by a certain person in San Franscico in the sixties, no credit acknowledged to him, the flag had been used before for very many civil rights activities.

The Flag is today a symbol, that is seen as gay, however it is also a symbol of the world wide civil rights movement.

Zillions of other Rainbow type flags now exist, for your Country, State or simply your sexual preference.


Ta! for the PM, will look that up - seems I have written on this a few years back, and it is archived on Google, I will look that up ...Thanks - andy