The Stonewall Riot

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the Stonewall Riot soon became a landmark in the Civil Rights struggle because the riot reflected the social climate that people in authority---in this case, the New York City Police---were taking too many liberties with their power and needed to be prevented from abusing that power. The author points out that the riot sent a strong message that the homosexual community would no longer tolerate unfair and unequal treatment in society and demanded equal rights and recognition. The paper relates that the dichotomy between the acceptance of homosexuals by society and the attainment of legal rights for homosexuals is a strange irony, which was one of the underpinnings of the Stonewall Riot and of much of the turmoil for this particular civil rights struggle throughout history.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Timing of The Stonewall Riot
Stonewall Riot as a Landmark in the Civil Rights Struggle
Exceptions to the Rule
Summary

From the Paper:

"Research also reveals that there were some exceptions to the social and legal exclusion of homosexuals from the mainstream of early America; these specific examples can be seen in a study of the city of Boston in the early days of the American colonies. Ironically enough, Boston, which in itself would eventually come to stand as an icon in the fight for liberty and justice, valued homosexuals not en masse, but rather welcomed worthy people into society without judging them based on sexual orientation, which is the personification of the rights that would be fought for centuries later at an inn in New York on a summer night in 1969."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bull, Chris (2001). Come Out Fighting. New York: Thunder's Mouth/Nation Books.
• Frank, Barney, & The History Project (1999). Improper Bostonians. New York: Harper Collins.
• Marcus, Eric (2002). Making Gay History. New York: Harper Collins.
• Rupp, Leila J. (2002). Desired Past. New York: Houghton Mifflin Press.

More papers on The Stonewall Riot:

• Book Review # 51312 : "Stonewall"
• Essay # 12398 : "The Lesbian/Gay Political Movement"
• Essay # 29908 : "The Gay Rights Movement"

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