What is gay pride, and why is it so F’in important? And, why do we need to throw it in your face?
First of all let me say, I have been out in every way since 1970. That means I got to experience some of the “stuff” the Christopher Street Riots were about! I was living in New Jersey / New York at the time!!!
The VERY first gay pride parade took place in 1969. It was known as the Stonewall march. It was a protest! We, were tired of be hassled! Back then, there were only clandestine ways for the LGBT community members to meet! To be open (or out) was to invite a beating or even death, if not jail time!
It is very true our events are gregarious at best, but it is our way of dealing with the “pain”! It is our one day when we celebrate by wearing outrageous “stuff” or not.
It all started at a popular hangout in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. This night, once again, we would be harassed. The New York City Alcohol and Beverage Control Board agents, along with a group of NYPD officers, raided the bar to enforce a seldom-used law. Back then raids and harassment of gays, was common place. Many times we were beaten raped and arrested just because we were gay! On this night, June 17, this establishment was being raided for the second time in one week!
This night was different then all the other nights because we were finally full; we decided spontaneously and for the very first time to fight the police harassment. An eruption took place both inside and outside of the bar.
We had just had enough. People who identified in different terms, and definitely did not fit under the term heterosexual were just plain over it. It was our time. We would put up with it no longer! Lesbians, Gays, Transgender and Transsexual people, together fought back.
Word of what happened spread very quickly. Gatherings took place to denounce all the mistreatment which spurned the “Stonewall Rebellion” or “March on Stonewall” the precursor to today’s Pride events.
This is why we celebrate GAY Pride, also known as LGBT Pride, and as far as I am concerned it’s QUEER Pride and is the foundation for our quest for acceptance and basic civil rights.
http://www.cochise-pride.net/
GLBT Pride Weekend
You can spend June 16, 17, and 18th 2006 in Bisbee to celebrate Pride! There will be:
• a street fair
• leather and lace ball
• pool party
• music
• dancing
And an array of other activities. For more information call (520) 236-3699 or visit www.bisbeepride.com.
The VERY first gay pride parade took place in 1969. It was known as the Stonewall march. It was a protest! We, were tired of be hassled! Back then, there were only clandestine ways for the LGBT community members to meet! To be open (or out) was to invite a beating or even death, if not jail time!
It is very true our events are gregarious at best, but it is our way of dealing with the “pain”! It is our one day when we celebrate by wearing outrageous “stuff” or not.
It all started at a popular hangout in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. This night, once again, we would be harassed. The New York City Alcohol and Beverage Control Board agents, along with a group of NYPD officers, raided the bar to enforce a seldom-used law. Back then raids and harassment of gays, was common place. Many times we were beaten raped and arrested just because we were gay! On this night, June 17, this establishment was being raided for the second time in one week!
This night was different then all the other nights because we were finally full; we decided spontaneously and for the very first time to fight the police harassment. An eruption took place both inside and outside of the bar.
We had just had enough. People who identified in different terms, and definitely did not fit under the term heterosexual were just plain over it. It was our time. We would put up with it no longer! Lesbians, Gays, Transgender and Transsexual people, together fought back.
Word of what happened spread very quickly. Gatherings took place to denounce all the mistreatment which spurned the “Stonewall Rebellion” or “March on Stonewall” the precursor to today’s Pride events.
This is why we celebrate GAY Pride, also known as LGBT Pride, and as far as I am concerned it’s QUEER Pride and is the foundation for our quest for acceptance and basic civil rights.
http://www.cochise-pride.net/
GLBT Pride Weekend
You can spend June 16, 17, and 18th 2006 in Bisbee to celebrate Pride! There will be:
• a street fair
• leather and lace ball
• pool party
• music
• dancing
And an array of other activities. For more information call (520) 236-3699 or visit www.bisbeepride.com.
posted by Night Hawk at 7:34 PM
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