Existing comment:
The Stonewall Inn
In 1969, the Stonewall Inn was one of the most popular gay bars in New York City. It was illegal to serve alcohol to a gay person in New York until 1966, and by 1969, the majority of gay establishments were still operating without a liquor license, providing an open door for raids and police brutality. The police raids on gay bars and spaces was not isolated to the East and West coasts; it was a phenomenon happening across the U.S. during this time. Early homophile activism, in part, focused on how LGBTQ+ people should interact with law enforcement to avoid harassment of arrest. |