LGBT+ History Month: How the Press Reported the Stonewall Riots in 1969

In the early morning hours of June 28th 1969, LGBT+ New Yorkers took a sporadic stand against police officers following a raid that took place earlier that evening. The spontaneous raid – to ensure the three piece clothing law was being adhered to – buckled the New York City queer community following years of violence and discrimination.

Today we regard the happenings as revolutionary, brave and necessary, and champion the LGBT+ people who took a stand against lawful discrimination for living as their true selves. But this wasn’t always the case. As part of LGBT History Month 2017, we’ve delved into the archives to discover how American press covered the Stonewall Riots in the Summer of 1969.

New York’s Sunday News describe the Stonewall Inn as a place to drink and dance “and do whatever little girls do when they get together,” with every attempt to emasculate gay men and deny LGBT+ people of their identity, masc or femme. The headline itself – “Homo Nest Raided, Queen Bees Are Stinging Mad” – attacks gay, lesbian and trans people simply for standing up for their rights.

Sensationalism runs wild in the article, focusing not on the movement that was about to begin, but focusing on the fact that drag queens, do in fact, exist. “She sat there with her legs crossed, the lashes of her mascara-coated eyes beating like the wings of a hummingbird. She was angry,” the article begins. “She was so upset she hadn’t bothered to shave. A day old stubble was beginning to push through the pancake makeup. She was a he. A queen of Christopher Street.

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GAY RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!