Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Barney Frank (D-MA), and Jared Polis (D-CO), yesterday introduced a resolution recognizing the upcoming 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots late next month.
Wrote Baldwin in a press release: "Stonewall is anessential piece of American history that catalyzed the lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement for equal rights. On June 28,1969, during a climate of fear and terror against the LGBT community inNew York and nationally, the New York Police Department conducted araid of the Stonewall Inn, a bar in New York’s Greenwich Villagefrequented by the LGBT community. Bruised, shocked, angry and fed up,patrons of the bar organized spontaneous demonstrations outside the barand onto the streets of New York City. Protests continued during thenext few days. This watershed moment is the symbolic genesis of the gayrights movement in the U.S."
Read the full text of the resolution, AFTER THE JUMP…
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 40th anniversary of Stonewall.
Whereas the Stonewall Inn opened on or about March 18, 1967, at 51-53Christopher Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New YorkCity, New York;
Whereas the Stonewall Inn was a bar primarily patronized by a diversecross-section of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communityand it became a very popular institution;
Whereas at around 1:20 AM on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, closing the bar and forcing patrons outside;
Whereas such raids were among the many ways in which governmentharassed and discriminated against members of the lesbian, gay,bisexual, and transgender community during this period, which included,for example, prohibiting dancing with a person of the same sex orwearing clothing more typical for another gender, terminating one’semployment, and using entrapment to arrest people;
Whereas early on the morning of June 28, 1969, after the raid, years offrustration and anger among members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, andtransgender community at being harassed and unfairly targeted bygovernment boiled over into a conflict with police;
Whereas thousands returned to the Stonewall Inn on the night of June28, 1969, to express their support of basic freedoms, equality, andfair treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans,chanting such slogans as “Gay Power”, “We Want Freedom Now”, and“Equality For Homosexuals”;
Whereas protests occurred again around the Stonewall Inn on the night of July 2, 1969;
Whereas the series of protests at the Stonewall Inn, often referred toas “Stonewall”, marked a watershed event in which lesbian, gay,bisexual, and transgender Americans dramatically showed a growingdetermination to publicly resist government discrimination andharassment;
Whereas Stonewall sparked a remarkable increase in activism and actionby lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans across the countryto advocate for equal rights;
Whereas on June 28, 1970, thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, andtransgender Americans took part in the Christopher Street LiberationDay march from Greenwich Village to Central Park to mark the firstanniversary of Stonewall;
Whereas people in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco also marchedor gathered on June 27-28, 1970, to remember the first anniversary ofStonewall;
Whereas in 1989, the section of Christopher Street in front of the Stonewall Inn was renamed “Stonewall Place”;
Whereas in 1999, the building at 51-53 Christopher Street that used tobe the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the immediately surroundingarea were listed on the National Register of Historic Places;
Whereas in 2000, the building at 51-53 Christopher Street that used tobe the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the immediately surroundingarea were listed as a National Historic Landmark;
Whereas inspired by Stonewall, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenderpride parades and festivals occur in cities across the country and theworld every June;
Whereas in recognition of Stonewall, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month is celebrated every June; and
Whereas a great deal of progress has been made in achieving equalrights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans sinceStonewall occurred 40 years ago, but much work remains to be done: Now,therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives –
(1) recognizes the 40th anniversary of Stonewall;
(2) honors those who participated during Stonewall and since that timein the civil rights struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenderAmericans; and
(3) recommits itself to protecting and providing equal rights for allAmericans, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, ortransgender.
