107.-militant-flamboyance-clean.pdf
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Wi Mand

e J lamboyance
a brief history of the stonewall riots OD
and other queer happenings

PRIDE is an annual GLBTQ celebration that originated
39 years ago as the Christopher Street Liberation Day
on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. This
pamphlet was produced to be distributed at Chicago
PRIDE 2009, which marks the 40th Anniversary of
Stonewall. There is a rich history to celebrate and take
pride in—this zine is meant to be a reminder of those
moments and individuals that made that history a
reality. There is a lot to celebrate, and there is still a
lot more to struggle for (and against).

Note: throughout this zine we use various terms when discussing the GLBTQ community.
‘We've done our best chaose terms specifically and carefully In choosing difering terminol
‘ogy, we've attempted to re-articulate how specific groups and individuals have chosen to
identify themselves throughout history. All these terms have significant histories and no
single label can adequately define all the identities and communities that have struggled
‘and continue to struggle for sexual and gender freedom.
In the late 1960s and the years prior, say bas
served as one of the very few places that gay, lesbian or trans people could
‘gather with one another. However, even these spaces were often unable to
provide homosexuals and gender-variant individuals with the opportunity to
comfortably and safely gather. Often times, they were owned by straight men
and/or connected to the mob and were looking to make money at the expense of
‘the gay community rather than serve it. Gay bars were also regularly subjected
to police raids as most states had anti-gay laws, including statues regarding
“gender-appropriate” clothing and laws making ita crime to serve alcohol to a
homosexual. Along with these laws that were on the books, police forces would
find additional excuses to take out their anti-gay hostility. These policies reflected
a larger culture of homophobia and anti-gay sentiment. There is along history
of anti-gay laws and repression, and there are multiple stories of gay activists
‘through history, but by and large, there had been little public action defending
the rights of gay, lesbian or trans people. There were some writers and activists
who would speak out in defense of gay issues or publish underground newspa-
pers lke Friendship and Freedom, @ paper printed in 1924 by the Society for Hu-
man Rights herein Chicago, which led to members being arrested and fired from
their jobs or Emma Goldman's adamant defense of Walt Whitman in the 1920s.
But the fact remained that for decades, those who spoke out against
homophobia were faced with being ostracized and jailed








Beginning in 1950, a new wave of activist groups began to
form, and became known as the "homophile” (a pre-
‘Stonewall preferred term) movement.
‘The first group that was formed was

the Mattachine Society, a gay men’s
‘organization that began to work against
the various anti-gay laws along with
‘greater society's anti-gay bias. Taking
‘aim at the law prohibiting the sale of
liquor to homosexuals, in 1966, Matta-
chine organized “sip-ins” in which they
‘would order drinks at “straight” bars and
‘announce they were gay with intention of
‘exposing and suing the discriminate bars
‘as well as the State Liquor Authority

In addition to Mattachine, there were various
‘ther homophile organizations, notably ONE,
Inc. and Daughters of Bilts—perhaps the
first lesbian activist group. While each group,
in their own way, responded to the extreme
homophobia that ran deep in the larger
culture, the prominent strategy within the
homophile movement was an attempt

to be accepted by mainstream society.
‘Women involved would always wear skirts

=
‘stockings and the men would wear sults. Public displays of affection at homophile
actions were typically condemned for “hurting the movement.” This approach to
2 politics of difference often distanced the movement from more radical politics
to avoid being further marginalized by the mainstream. This was the prominent,
though challenged, climate of the pre-Stonewall activist movement.

In discussions of gay history, Stonewall has often been treated as a spontaneous
combustion of frustration, anger, and joy with a particularly rebellious attitude.
While this is all true, the rebellion at Stonewall was also a development of and
reaction to the previous movements for gay rights. Its also important to view
‘Stonewall in the context of the era, as resistance movements were developing
internationally and uprisings, rebellions and riots were occurring with regularity

So, with allthis talk about Stonewall as a rupture that permanently impacted the
struggles around gender and sexual identity, it is important to discuss what actu-
ally took place at Stonewall Inn and how it helped to push a movement forward.


Stonewall Inn was a sleazy and
gritty gay bar on Christopher
Street in Greenwich Village.

It had no running water; they cleaned their glasses by running them through a
vat of “sterilized water” behind the bar and served them up again. The bar was
established and run by Mobsters who would pay off the cops to keep raids to a
minimum, let the management of Stonewall know when they were coming, and
raid early in the night when business was slow.

During the early morning on June 28, 1969, the cops again raided Stonewall, this
time with no prior warning. Usually, the only ones arrested were those without
Ds or those dressed in clothes of the “opposite gender” (New York law required
three articles of clothing “appropriate to one's gender.”) Not unlike other clashes
with the police, a crowd began to form around Stonewall, and at the beginning
of the raid, the police began arresting for a variety of usual reasons. When the
‘wagon pulled up, an unexpected rebellious opposition began to form, unlike any
Of the other raids that had happened at the bar. The crowd usually dispersed
‘cooperatively and went along their way with a somewhat typical night of annoy-
ance caused by another police raid on their bar.

‘Some of the arrestees began striking poses as they were being led off by the
police while others arrested or confronted were mouthing off, and some threw
their coins at the police. Stl the cops continued to shove some arrestees into
tthe police wagon. Some consider the most explosive moment to be when a butch
lesbian was arrested and thrown in the wagon and began to rock it. Around this
point in the night, some accounts speak of several spontaneous flashes of anger,
‘a mass opposition, and militant refusal to accept the police harassment. One
queen took off her high heel, smashed a police officer and knocked him down,
(grabbed his handcuff keys and freed herself. She then passed along the keys

to her comrades, while others started to yell "Pigs!" "Faggot Cops!” and "Gay
Power!” All of this led to the crowd transforming and growing into a mob, which
began throwing everything possible at the police; bricks, coins, bottles, garbage
‘ans, even dog shit.

The police, who seriously underestimated a bunch of cowering “queers” and
gays," only sent eight police officers to perform the raid, and when the unex:
pected near rit broke out, the police were ordered by their commander to re-
treat into the bar. They barricaded themselves in, which of course led to attacks
‘on the bar from the resistance in the street, including people using a parking
meter as a battering ram. Eventually the crowd partially breeched the barrier be-
tween them and the police, and one rioter successfully tossed a match and some
lighter fluid into the bar, starting a fire. The cops, with pistols pulled, were ready
for another clash, and one yelled, "We'll shoot the first motherfucker that comes
through the door” Finally the riot poice came, armed with clubs, helmets and
tear gas. Upon their arrival, the crowd scattered, but did
not leave the scene. The mob decentralized, and they
began kicking their high heels in the air Rockettes’
style, shouting:

"We are the Stonewall Girls
We wear our hair in curls
We wear no underwear
We show our pubic hair.
We wear our dungarees
Above our nelly knees!”

Eventually the cops cleared the streets, The night
had resulted in several rioters beaten and injured,
four cops injured, and thirteen arrested. The night
was violent and surprising and shifted the perspec-
tive of possible queer resistance.

‘The following day, word began to spread. Some
mainstream media covered the event, but mostly the
news spread through word-of-mouth. All day, people
‘were going past the bar to see the damage done,
and as night came, the crowds grew. There were
people who were there the night before, radicals
‘who were hoping for another confrontation, and
onlookers who were curious to see what would hap-
pen. The riot police also showed up, determined not
to have a repeat of the night before.

‘The police began using clubs to push people back, but the crowd continued

to resist. Some of those present were experienced activists (both in gay and
straight movements) who came prepared for a clash with the police and began
throwing bottles and bricks at officers and marbles under the feet of the police
horses. The crowd blocked Christopher Street and refused to allow any traffic
through while some militant and flamboyant queens jumped on top of vehicles
attempting to drive through the crowd. Meanwhile, other radical queer rioters
dropped something onto a police cruiser, smashing its windshield. The skirmishes
went until 4 am.



‘The third night a smaller crowd still showed up, as did the police. Tensions were
high, and there were some exchanges between radicals and the police, but
‘compared to the two nights prior the situation was subdued. Though the rioting
had ended, it was clear that something had changed and that the gay struggle
had achieved a new energy and intensity. What happened at Stonewall would ap-
pear to be just what activists needed to take their activism in a more militant and
radical direction. It was a turning point and a new day in queer activism, visibility
‘and persona.


‘Almost immediately following the Stonewall rebellion, organizations began to
develop to fight for gay liberation. Just weeks after the riots, in July 1969, queer
activists met in New York City and formed the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), 2
radical organization that connected the struggle against gay oppression to other
social movements active at the time. They identified the movement as connected
to the women's liberation movement, the anti-war movement, Black Power
{groups and stood in solidarity with international resistance movements.

‘A few months later, a group of activists spit off from GLF to form the Gay Activ-
ists Alliance (GAA), which was more of a single-issue organization focused on
‘gay and lesbian rights. Although GAA didn’t associate themselves with the radical
Politics of the other social movements of the time, they did incorporate many of
the direct-action and civil disobedience tactics. They often utilized sit-ins as part
Of their campaigns to end anti-gay policies of politicians, government institutions
‘and media outlets.

Unfortunately, many of the gay organizations falled to adequately deal with
‘gender issues and individuals founded their own groups to address their specific
needs. Radicalesbians was a lesbian caucus of GLF that split off and became

its own organization and similarly, female activists left GAA to found Lesbian
Feminist Liberation. There was also a group named Street Transvestite Action
Revolutionaries (STAR) that was founded to provide necessary services (like
clothing, food and housing) to homeless trans and gender-variant young people
living on the street, many of whom were involved in sex work. STAR also pushed
‘existing gay groups to include transvestite and drag issues in their campaigns,
{as the gay organizations would often exclude them to appeal to politicians and
straight citizens.
There were a number of groups active in the 1980's and 1990's that embraced the
radical politics and direct action tactics ofthe early gay liberation movement.

In 1980, activists founded AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT-UP), an or-
ganization that used civil disobedience and large spectacles to fight on behatf of
those with AIDS, most of whom were gay men. A few years later, Queer Nation
developed which included some former members of ACT-UP and continued ACT-
UP legacy of radical street actions. In 1992, the Lesbian Avengers were formed,
vith chapters starting across the country. This direct action group dealt with issues
specifically of interest to lesbians, while developing a strong analysis of gender,
race and class issues.

Stonewall Matin Duberman
Queer Theory An introduction ~ Anamare Jagose
(ut ofthe Cases: Voices of Gay Liberation - Karla lay and Alen Young

“Stonewal Was A Rot fom Guide Magazine by Michael Bronsk
is oline—jst google it

“Out of the Gosets and Into the Libraries” - ne compiled by bangarang collective
ne downloadable at: mu geocties comhebangarangcllectve projects htm


1860

1895
1897

1902
1920

1925
1927

1950

1965

Inthe late 1860s, Prussia dats new penal codes civinaizing homosenuaty
(later accepted by Germany) known as Paragraph 175. KARL-MARIA BENKERT,
Hungarian doctor, dats statement to govertment stating that paragraph 175
olates the “rights of man" and cling upon authors to eect the proposal
‘The codes insted, instigating a new wave of homasevual repression Para

‘gap 175s later adopted by Hitler's Germany and ubized inthe execution of
thousands ypon thousands of homosexu.

(OSCAR WILDE is ried for his homeseaual tes, or more specifically “acs of
(F055 indecency wih men’, Fercing many people to confront wth same-sex
Felatios forthe fist time

MAGNUS HIRSCHFIELD, a German radical sexlogt stars the SCIENTIFIC
HUMANITARIAN CONMITTEE with goals to "win legislation tothe postion of abol-
‘Shing the antigay paragraph 175; enlightening pubic oprion on homosensay
and intresting the homosexual hinsel in the struggle for his rights." The

SHC becomes most active gay advocate organization in Europe, enduring unt
around 1923,

JOHN WILLIAM LLOYD pubshes the st issue of The Free Comrade, a pot
‘aly and serualy radical joural dedicated o "creating a word where Sens
versity was valued,

Inthe ear 1920s, MAGNUS HIRSCHFIELD goes on speaking tour, andthe action
‘committee ofthe SHC issues an appeal tothe homosexuals of Germany "Homo:
sevuals, you [| must cary onthe ight yourselves. [..] Juste for you wal be
inthe Fut onl of your efforts, Te iberation of homeseuals can enly be the
work on homasexalsthemsehes,”

Moved after the Hirschfil’s SHC in Germany, acts in Chicago form the
‘SOGETY FOR HUMAN FIGHTS. They would go on to publish to issues of
FRIENDSHIP FOR FREEDOM and despite ther defense of “lw and order” and
their pledge not o threaten the “pulc welfare.” their identities were exposed
bythe media—lading to several arrests and lasses of jobs for members.

EMMA GOLDMAN publi defends WALT WHITMAN, Ina eter, she stats: "The
foals donot seem to realize that Wa Whitman's greatness asa rebel and poet
‘may have been conditioned in his sexual dferenation, and that he could nat be
ctheruise than what he was” and states publicly that T regard it asa tragedy
that people af diferng sexual erientaton find themselves poscibed in a world
that has so litle understanding of homosexual.”



During the rise of Nazism and between the two World Wars, same-sex rights
‘organization begin o fold under political repression and pressure, especially
in Europe. Herein the US polis aso shit, stifing most attempts at continuing
‘a movement, This largely due tothe Red Scarehich results in a larger
Intolerance fo ference of lfestyle and opinion,

The frst re-emergence ofa gay rights group ater the war, MATTACHINE forms
ln 1950 a gay men's group, begining what becomes known asthe “homophe”
‘movement. Tey publish the Matahine Review-—a poltcally moderate gay
‘men’s publication.

Spltring trom Mattachine, ONE, Inc formed, accepting both women and
‘men an the frst lesbian rights group the DAUGHTERS OF BLITS is formed,

In 1965, "Miss Shearer,” a member ofthe Chicago Chapter of DAUGHTERS
(OF BILITS, appears ona two-hour teeised debate about homosexuality on
(Chicago's WEKB. The program sone ofthe rst times sl identfed homosexu-
‘as appear on television, and "Miss Shearer” sth ony woman featured
1969

1970

1971
1973
1977

1987
1989
1993

In uly 1963, folowing STONEWALL, the GAY LIBERATION FRONT (GLE) is
founded. For the fst tine, GLF connects the GLBTQ struggle wih other radical
‘ommuntes,includng the Black Power ovement and connects the struggle
to the feminist movement by begining to discuss how sex and homophobia
are overlapping forms of oppression. In December 1969, GLF sper, and GAY
[ACTIISTS ALLIANCE (GAA) formed.

the STREET TRANSVESTITE ACTION REVOLUTIONARIES (STAR is founded in
NYC by SYLVA RIVERA and MARSHA P.IOHNSON. They make connections with
other radical groups, notably the Young Lords a revotutonary Puerto ican
exganzaton wich era (iho sof Pert can 2d Venezia esc) is
active wit

‘To commemorate the one-year aniversary ofthe Stonewal rebelin, gay activ
'sts organize CHRISTOPHER STREET LIBERATION DAY ota place on lune 28,
1970 in NIC Events also take place in LA, San Francisco and herein Chicago,
where about 200 people march through downtown Crcago.

Starting in 1970, gay ibertion acts bein protesting the American Psy
<hiatc Associaton (APA) becuse it considers homosexual tobe a metal
<dsorder. For years, they protest psychiatsts promoting and pactong electro-
shock treatment and aversion therapy to “cure” homosenuals and demand that
the practices end

GAA begins weekiy dances atthe Firehouse, their NYC headquarters. Dances
become fundraiser for as well asa recruiting too

‘The work f gay acts pays off and the APA removes homesemvalty rom its
Ist of mental disorders

‘ats across the county take action against pop singer and former beauty
‘queen ANITA BRYANT wo rons "Save Our Chen,” arelious group cam
paiging agaist egal protections of gays and lesbians. Some ofthese actions
‘nce thousands of demonstrators in Houston chanting so loudly outside a
venue that her performance is disrupted, At a press conference in Des Mone,
Towa, a gay acts throws apie inher ace, at which pit she prays fr hin 10
be “devered from his deviant ifesye” and bursts into tears. Actions ike these
‘permanently damage her public inage and career, while gavaniing gay acivst
‘movements.

ACT.UP stages a demonstration agains the lack of access to overpriced ADS
‘mediation by having 300 actnsts it down to block afc on Wal Street while
hhangng an efgy ofthe FDA conmssiones. The FDA then agrees to shorten the
approval process forthe drugs.

(On September 14, 1989, ACE-UP members enter the New York Stock Exchange
and chain themselves to'& VIP balcony to demand thatthe cost of experimental
[NDS medication AZT be more afordabl. (cost each patient $10,000 a year
a tha poi)

LESBIAN AVENGERS and ACT-P Women’s Network create the fist DYKE MARCH,
‘a grassrocs march through New York Gtyt ighight the fsuesspectc to
lesbians and create araical alternative tothe mainstream, male focused Pride
event takes place onthe Saturday before the ride Parade and the event
continues to happen each year in ces across the cour. inclading Chicago

The last decade has seen tremendous strides in GLBTQ movements, wth countess organizations, indidue
saris and groups taking action to successfull oppose homophobia and gender injustice. However,
the same period as seen significant attacks agaist individuals who identity as gay, queer and gender-var
ant. These attacks have been physcal, legal. poltical and socal and have occured on many levels around
the word. The struggle continues The futures unuriten,
the struggle continues.
the future is unwritten.



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