The Stonewall Riots: 50 Years On

by Jo Morgan

As the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots is celebrated this weekend (the riots began on 28th June, 1969), it’s worth reflecting on the history of LGBTQ liberation and the significance of this historic event. 

Social acceptance of homosexuality has transformed throughout history, but many scholars cite the end of the 1800s as the time when the homophobia which shaped western attitudes throughout the twentieth century developed. Before the 1870s, although homosexual behaviour was not the norm, it was seen as a temptation to which any one could succumb. However, in 1869, after lengthy debates, Germany introduced laws which heavily discriminated against homosexuals.

Capitalism in the western world also played an important role from this time. It asserted patriarchal values and excluded homosexuals by reinforcing masculine roles in men and feminine roles in women as the ideal. The capitalist powers saw homosexuality as a threat to the nuclear family, upon which capitalism depends. Workers were kept docile and compliant and individuality was discouraged. The coining of the term ‘homosexual’ at the end of the 19^th century also led to the humiliation of many homosexuals who were portrayed as strange perverts by the state, the medical profession and the Church. By then, homosexuality was seen as a disease, crime and sin. It was difficult and dangerous for any gay culture to emerge.

Emphasis changed as people within the medical profession began to assert the notion that homosexuality is an illness. Strangely, this helped as homosexuality could now be seen as part of one’s nature and being, rather than an immoral impulse punishable by law.

With less threat of imprisonment, gay communities began to emerge and the American homophile movement (mainly led by gay men) began to take shape in the 1950s. This liberal movement which sought a place for homosexuals in society further helped gay men and lesbians to realise that they were not alone and gay communities and friendships started forming. Although the gay community now had a voice, it was a quiet one and life for people who did not meet the sexual norm was extremely difficult.

It wasn’t until the Stonewall riots of June 1969 that people of different sexual orientations were truly united as a community against their oppressors. 

  

This turning point in queer liberation marked the moment when the oppressed stood together as a group with a common experience of conflict and fought back. Gay men, butch lesbians and transvestites of different ethnicities united in battle against the police who raided the gay bar that they were frequenting. The riots continued for several days and this unprecedented show of unity and defiance effected LGBTQ people throughout America and Europe. This new united and militant face of homosexuality was the first step in achieving true liberation. This time, the attempts at liberation were coming from the grass roots and whether they liked it or not, people had to listen. The earlier counter culture movements during the 1960s helped to create an atmosphere from which gay liberation could flourish. Because America is so central to the rest of the western world, the gay liberation movement had a rippling effect. Unlike the homophile movement, gay liberationists didn’t just want acceptance for gays and lesbians, it wanted to revolutionise social constructions and values.

For lesbians, experience of conflict was not just as a lesbian, but as a woman. The lesbian movements which arose at this time had their basis more firmly grounded in feminism than gay liberation whose voice was mainly that of gay men who failed to identify with their situation. Further marginalised groups like black and Latina women also began to find their voice against this backdrop of resistance.

  

However, disagreements over a coherent identity led to further divisions between gays, lesbians, transgendered people and bisexuals and separate communities were formed. It was not until the most painful moment in gay history that many of these communities were once again united in the fight against a new type of conflict. The 1980s' AIDS crisis not only brought a horrendous loss of life and security, but also a whole new wave of irrational and fervent homophobia. This fear led to a slow response to the crisis from the government and healthcare profession. The failure of these agencies to react to the crisis led to the gay community seeking help from within. Emphasis changed from the assertion of individual identity through coming out to a community identity through solidarity. The AIDS crisis commanded a total reinterpretation of current gay and lesbian identities. And it was in this new political conjuncture that the word ‘queer’ was been reclaimed to designate new political identities.

The notion of a queer community is one which many gays and lesbians resisted. Their experience of conflict meant that their entire ideologies were focussed on their oppression and assertion of their identity as a people who refused to hide away any longer. Queer proponents suggested that they should let go of this identity that they had fought so hard to establish and adopt a new way of queering the script.

Today the quest for queer continues as do many separate LGBT identities. Clearly so much progress has been made to overcome the oppression of these marginalised groups but there is still so much to do.