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Audrianna (Audi) Ellis

Ms. Libby Ince

Individuals and Societies Block 7

January 22, 2022

The Fight To Love: How was the LGBTQ+ movement impacted by the Stonewall Riots?

Although the LGBTQ+ movement is currently one of the most well-known in the

twenty-first century, it wasn't always. It began on June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New

York's Greenwich Village. NYPD raids on homosexual establishments were prevalent at this

time. This NYPD raid, however, became an iconic milestone in the LGBTQ+ movement. On that

particular night, members of the city’s LGBTQ+ community decided to fight back, sparking an

uprising that would launch a new era of resistance and revolution. It didn't end that night though,

members of the LGBTQ+ community took part in a series of demonstrations that lasted until

July 3, 1969. Due to the Stonewall Riots, there was more attention brought to the LGBTQ+

movement which inspired change for years to come.

The LGBTQ+ movement continued to advance ever since the incident at Stonewall Inn. There

were protests, rallies, and even human rights activist groups formed to take a stand for the

community. Over time June became a symbolic month for the members of the LGBTQ+

community. Many would gather together and celebrate every June, in honor of the Stonewall

Riots. This continued for years as a way to honor those who started the fight for the rights of the

LGBTQ+ community. In honor of their celebrations, President William J. Clinton did something

that had never been done before. On June 11, 1999, he stated,
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Figure 1: “Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United States of America, by

virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do thereby

proclaim June 1999 as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.” (“Proclamation 7203—Gay and Lesbian

Pride Month, 1999 June 11, 1999”)

This became a moment many will not forget because for the first time the president

proclaimed June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. Due to this statement, June becoming Pride

Month was a moment that will resonate within the LGBQ+ community for years to come. After

President Clinton declared June 1999 as Pride Month only two more presents declared June as

Pride Month. Although it was only a slim number of presidents that proclaimed June as Pride

Month, it still became one of the most influential things to happen because of the Stonewall

Riots. Due to what happened at Stonewall, people saw that fighting for the right to love was ok

and June will always be a remembrance of that.

The legacy left behind by the Stonewall Uprising will resonate with many for a lifetime.

After Stonewall, the formation of human rights groups became increasingly common. However,

the LGBTQ+ community in the United States was not unrepresented before the Stonewall Riots.

In Chicago during the year 1924, the Society for Human Rights was founded as a homosexual

rights group. German scientist Magnus Hirschfeld and his work with the Scientific Humanitarian

Committee in Germany prompted the Society's founder Henry Gerber to establish it. It was the

first homosexual rights group in the United States, receiving a formal charter from the state of

Illinois and publishing Friendship and Freedom, the first gay literature magazine. The
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organization, however, ceased to exist just a few months after it was formed. Unfortunately, this

was due to the arrest of several of the group's leading members on allegations of sodomy and

immoral behavior. Despite the short-lived reality of the SHR, after Stonewall, groups of people

came together and created their societies to fight for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Many groups published books, magazines, and other material to promote the acceptance of the

LGBTQ+ community.

Figure 2: an excerpt from the first

publication of “The Empty Closet” A

newspaper founded by Bob Osborn and

Larry Fine of the University of

Rochester Gay Liberation Front. The

newspaper was later renamed the Gay

Alliance of the Genesee Valley

(GAGV). (“The Empty Closet -

January 1971”)

Figure 2 represents the beginning of LGBTQ+ media representation. This issue was published in

January 1971, their first official Magazine. This was only 13 years after Stonewall, however, this

Magazine was loved by all and It lasted from 1971 to 2015. This magazine was one of the first of

its time to connect the idea of coming out of the closet to LGBTQ+. Over time, the GAGV

magazine became an iconic symbol of LGBTQ+ representation in literature and media. Even
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though this magazine is no longer around in today's day and age, it will continue to be one of the

most influential LGBTQ+ magazines.

One thing that the LGBTQ+ community members have continuously fought for is the

ability to get married. Same-sex marriage has been illegal for hundreds of years. However, a

moment that will never be forgotten was when the Netherlands became the first country to ever

legalize same-sex marriage. What is quite shocking was that it was only legalized in 2001 which

is only 21 years ago.

Figure 3: This photo shows Gert

Kasteel, left, and Dolf Pasker kissing

after exchanging their vows.

(“PHOTOS: Dutch couples mark

20th anniversary of world's first

same-sex marriages”)

The photograph captures their delight at being able to marry like everyone else for the first time.

When same-sex marriage was first recognized in the Netherlands, three gay and one lesbian

couple turned up in the early hours of Sunday, April 1, 2001, to tie the knot. This was a

watershed event in history because the world was finally beginning to recognize the LGBTQ+

community members. Although this was a defining moment, only 29 of the world's 195 countries

have legalized same-sex marriage as of today. Getting married is an iconic sign of love, and

everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy it. The LGBTQ+ movement has had a significant
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influence on the legalization of same-sex marriage, but despite the progress, there is still a long

way to go before same-sex marriage is legalized in every country.

The Stonewall Riots will go down in history as one of the most significant episodes in the

LGBTQ+ movement. The LGBTQ+ community's rights have vastly improved since the

Stonewall event, but more work has to be done to ensure that members of the LGBTQ+

community have the same rights as everyone else. From the beginning, the LGBTQ+ movement

has been based on community, family, and remaining true to oneself no matter what. If society

continues to work for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community, the treatment, representation,

and stigma that surrounds the LGBTQ+ movement will undoubtedly improve.

Word Count: 1070

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