On Wednesday, Feb. 26, I attended the GSA presentation Stonewall: The riots that inspired a revolution, led by sophomore Leo Servetar. Throughout history, the LGBTQ+ community has been persecuted, as many cultures viewed it as exemplary of a sinful lifestyle. Before the Stonewall riots, people were expected to wear clothes that matched their sex at birth, love letters between couples of the same sex were secretly exchanged and the LGBTQ+ community was forced to find safe spaces where they could truly be themselves. Although the murder of gay people wasn’t explicitly legal, the law would turn a blind eye and allow violent hate crimes to occur. 

Through the presentation, I  learned that since the 1930s, the mafia has been providing safe havens for  LGBTQ+ people. However, this doesn’t mean that the mafia supports the community. The members of the LGBTQ+ community would receive watered-down drinks and face police raids from members who played double agent for the police force. History’s article “How the Mob Helped Establish NYC’s Gay Bar Scene’ started when “a member of the Genovese family, Tony Lauria, a.k.a “Fat Tony” had purchased the Stonewall Inn in 1966 and transformed the inn into a nightclub. Although Stonewall was extremely dirty with no running water and overflowing toilets, it was a popular hub for the community. Fat Tony paid “New York’s 6th Precinct approximately $1,200 a week” and in exchange, the police would turn a blind eye to the “indecent conduct” occurring within the establishment – for both the possession of illegal alcohol and protecting the gay community. 

On the night of the Stonewall riot, cops had shown up to ID those in the bar, but the situation had escalated. As police forced the clientele out and rounded up the employees for identification, the tension burst. Soon, a large crowd was standing in front of the bar, throwing bricks, bottles and trash—striking officers and their cars. When the officers began pushing and shoving the crowd, they were met with complete resistance. At some point during the night, a fire was lit. 

The Stonewall uprising impact would ripple throughout the United States. The day after the riot the first pride parade was held, led by the influential drag queen Marsha P Johnson and trans activist Sylvia Rivera. While the crowd was met with backlash, Americans were forced for the first time to recognize the existence of the LGBTQ+ community.

Today, all Americans can thank these brave rioters for helping push for equal rights for everyone. In 2015, the Marriage Equality Act was passed, allowing same-sex married couples to have the same access to all federal benefits that heterosexual couples have. In 2019, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforced federal laws making it illegal to discriminate against an employee or job applicant because of one’s race, color, religion, national origin, age, sexual identity and sexual orientation. 

While Boulder is known for its openness and acceptance, students should always remain aware of how we address one another and remember to use the correct pronouns. Senior Sophie Rubin, one of the co-presidents of the GSA club said “We promote education about the LGBT community and we welcome everyone. If you are just an ally or a part of the community, you are more than welcome to join.” 

Students with any level of self-respect or dignity should keep in mind that using someone’s sexual orientation or identity in a derogatory manner is beyond disgusting. Let us respect one another. If you or someone you know is being bullied, for whatever reason, go to StopBullying.gov, where you can be directed to an appropriate resource. You can also reach out to Safe2Tell anonymously, or go to a trusted adult or faculty member in the building.