Historical spots of gay pride
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to turn out Sunday for the Gay Pride March in celebration of a community that over the decades had to overcome harassment and discrimination. New York City is home to several critical historical spots in the fight for gay and lesbian rights. Some of them are highlighted here:
Stonewall Bar, 53 Christopher St.
In 1969, the Stonewall Inn played host to a police raid and riot, which fueled the modern gay rights movement. Police raids of gay and lesbian establishments were common in those days, but the Stonewall crowd fought back in the early hours of June 28, throwing objects at police officers as employees and patrons were arrested. Chants of "Gay Pride" rang out, and for the next several days protests ensued. Recently renovated, the site is now called Stonewall Bar and is open seven nights a week. The location, grouped with nearby Christopher Park and several surrounding streets, was made a national landmark in 1999.
Julius', 159 W.10th St.
This former gay speakeasy was once frequented by Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams. Back in 1969, when it was against State Liquor Authority law to serve alcohol to homosexuals, members of the gay activist group, the Mattachine Society, staged a "sip-in" and were refused service. With the help of the city's Commission on Human Rights, the group took their case to the state court, which later ruled in their favor.
Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, 15 Christopher St.
In 1967, gay activist Craig Rodwell opened this shop, which bills itself as the world's oldest gay and lesbian bookstore, at its original location at 291 Mercer St. Rodwell was notoriously selective about the material he sold in his store, refusing to stock pornography or anything he thought poorly characterized the LGBT community.
It moved to its current Christopher Street location in 1973.
Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center, 208 W.13th St.
A community stronghold, the center opened in 1983 and provides meeting space for more 300 activist groups. National organizations, like Gay Nation, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and Lesbian Avengers, got their start at this location. The center also runs its own social and medical programs, including ones centered on voter registration, HIV/AIDS support and combating anti-gay and anti-lesbian violence.
Webster Hall, 125 E.11th St.
This performance venue was given landmark status by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission in March. In the 1920s, Webster Hall hosted many drag queen masquerade balls and gay- and lesbian-organized parties. Today, it's still a popular music venue and operates as a nightclub on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Gay rights advances over the past year:
August 2007: Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama took part in the first-ever presidential debate solely about gay and lesbian rights.
February 2008: Oregon's domestic partnership law went into effect. Oregon is the seventh state to offer protection under state law to same-sex couples.
May 2008: California voted to allow same-sex marriage. The first marriages took place on June 16.
May 2008: New York Gov. David Paterson ordered that gay marriages performed in other states and countries be recognized in New York.
June 2008 The first-ever gay rights organization, the Dutch organization Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie van Homoseksualiteit, was accepted onto the United Nations' Human Rights Council.
- Julie Gerstein
comments