Running head: THE STONEWALL RIOTS
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THE STONEWALL RIOTS
The Stonewall Riots
Mayte Santisteban
SNHU
In the preceding years, homosexuality was not allowed, and it was considered illegal in America. In consequence, the members of the LGBTQ community gathered in bars and clubs where they could freely and truly be themselves without judgment. Despite this, the state suspended all places of business that served any member of the LGBTQ community because it was termed disorderly. Still, years later, the state revoked the suspension of licenses. However, the Stonewall riots paved the way for gays and changed their future in the states, and their fighting back against the police was the beginning of the revolution of the LGBTQ community.
The Stonewall riots were a result of the raiding of the Stonewall Inn in 1969. On June 28th, 1969, the police came by surprise and shoved the patrons that were in that bar. They had gone to the Inn for their normal rounds of taking hold of liquor licenses, but the patrons held out against them (Blakemore, 2020); hence a riot began. Officers tried to calm the people down, but their actions became futile when the people started fires in the bar while others threw bottles at the officers (Blakemore, 2020). Moreover, this led the people to take to the streets to fight for the liberation of LGBTQ rights. In 1970, the people celebrated the first anniversary of the gay pride march. To date, gay pride month is commemorated each year around the world, and through this liberation, LGBTQ members can freely be themselves without fear.
The Stonewall riots were a big step to changing the future of the LGBTQ community; with this, the members could comfortably and freely express their true selves. The riots at Stonewall Inn were a revolution to today’s gay community; through this, the members celebrate pride month at the beginning of June every year. Moreover, the riot was a revolution to the world, and gays are now recognized through fighting for their rights in 1969.
References
Blakemore, E. (2021, June 02). How the stonewall uprising ignited the modern LGBTQ Rights Movement. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/stonewall-uprising-ignited-modern-lgbtq-rights-movement