Comments on: Stonewall 1949-1969: The Back Story http://womenborntranssexual.com/2009/06/27/stonewall-1949-1969-the-back-story/ Women born with transsexualism Tue, 29 May 2012 08:55:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Celebrating Pride–a day later « Emily Heroy http://womenborntranssexual.com/2009/06/27/stonewall-1949-1969-the-back-story/#comment-773 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:16:28 +0000 http://womenborntranssexual.com/?p=1018#comment-773 [...] Stonewall 1949-1969: The Back Story by Suzan at womenborntransexual.com [...]

]]> By: tinagrrl http://womenborntranssexual.com/2009/06/27/stonewall-1949-1969-the-back-story/#comment-767 Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:41:32 +0000 http://womenborntranssexual.com/?p=1018#comment-767 I was drinking / drunk in an after hours joint / club nearby the first night of Stonewall. It was a typical non-Mafia (but mob run), not a bartenders / restaurant workers joint (they were some of the best), but a N.Y. after hours place. As I told someone who asked me to describe a N.Y. after hours club of the era — “well, it’s typical N.Y. — all 47 sexes are represented”.

Anyway, I recall saying to someone that “those fools are going to get the hell beat out of them”. No one in the place got up to go join in — it seems “conventional wisdom” / opinion was that anyone with a job was stupid to join in.

As has been said, “freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose”.

The Stonewall was a truly scuzzy place. I’d wandered into the place a couple of times — very closed, people stayed with their group — esp. if they realized there was no profit to be made talking to you.

At the same time, many of the out gay people (and there were quite a few in N.Y.C.) were ready for SOMETHING, and Stonewall provided it. It took a while for the true meaning of the eruption to be understood — it marked a change in how gay and lesbian folks acted, saw themselves. It truly marked a new beginning.

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