We are witnessing the Second Stonewall Rebellion

[nostamj]

The Second Stonewall Rebellion

We are witnessing the Second Stonewall.

For those of you who won’t know the history of the Gay Movement in America, in 1969, patrons of the Stonewall Bar were harassed by the police (again). But this was the day of Judy Garland’s death and emotions were high. A group of drag queens fought back. The “Stonewall Riots” followed and the gay rights movement moved to a new level.

Bush* made a desperate move using the “threat” of gay marriage as a wedge issue. And he’s failed yet again.

The majority of Americans are not threatened by any couple making a loving commitment.

They are threatened by the loss of jobs.
They are threatened by the loss or reduction of Social Security benefits.
They are threatened by the mindless warmongering that is killing and maiming their children for empty or discredited motivations.

The extreme ‘religious’ right is being marginalized by their hysterical rhetoric. Their blind, un-Christian hatred exposes their ugly ignorance and weakens Bush* by association.

To those who fear that “gay marriage” will sink the Dem candidate, I say: Get over it/

No one but the most fearful and desperate will cling to this failed theme. And they will cling at their peril.

You ARE witnessing the Second Stonewall Rebellion.

And it is utterly non-partisan. And absolutely right.

[arcos]

1. You are absolutely right...

and it is just wonderful!

:toast: :toast: :toast:

[mike1963]

2. I was thinking about that last night, but somehow "Stonehenge" kept

jumping into my mind, I couldn't think of the right name. :eyes:
;-)

[bahrbearian]

5. You have a big mind , I mean stonehedge is Large.

[Dookus]

3. small correction

Judy Garland died on June 22nd. The first riot was on June 27th, the day of her funeral.

everything else is spot on :)

[nostamj]

4. you're right!

but it is a grace note on the overall theme!

;-)

[rwheeler31]

8. The First I have head about this

was when my son mentiond it this afternoon. I am so glad that gays wed and look the world did not end. I did not know the history.

[Isome]

6. Absolutely!

e o m

[Andy_Stephenson]

7. God your eloquent!

Well said...AMEN!

[nostamj]

10. aw shucks!

i really should have waited until tomorrow morning and REALLY have written an ESSAY but....

i'm SO on EDGE writing this show and all...

p.s. forgive my 'internal proofreader' but...

your (possessive) "is that your opinion"

you're (contraction for 'you are') "god, you are so....."

big ;-) (i'm just in general crabby tonight)

[Andy_Stephenson]

21. I always do that....

sheez...you'd think I'd learn.
:evilgrin:

[Mikimouse]

9. On another positive note...

Some of you may have seen my post a few weeks ago, announcing my invitation as a guest speaker at a local demonstration for marriage rights. The great part is that there were about 50 or so of us advocating equal rights, and only one (fairly lame) anti-gay demonstrator. Much to his chagrin, I invited him to join me when I was speaking, and asked him to present his views. He did not participate, but it showed just how much those people do not respond well to being spotlighted in a positive way. They are too narrow minded to expect it. On another note, I have received no death threats this time, as I did in times past, and not a single one of my students has approached me about my participation in the event, though it was well publicized by all forms of media in the area. It seems that the times are changing, especially considering where I live. Stonewall Revolution II? Count me in!

[megatherium]

11. Yes indeed!

The first Stonewall was about pride and liberation. The second Stonewall is about love, caring and responsibility. Come what may, fear or repression, we will take care of each other.

[nostamj]

12. BANG on! mega

just perfect! (belated welcome to DU :hi:

[Stephanie]

13. There should be some weddings at the Stonewall Bistro

Bloomberg should get over there and marry some people.

I think mayors all over the country are going to join this movement. They already are!

[foreigncorrespondent]

14. Very well said, my friend.

I was just thinking about the Stonewall riots a few nights back, and I had absolutely no idea that it happened so close to Judy's (God I love that woman) death.

Thank YOU!

[nostamj]

17. OMG.... high praise indeed

i have the greatest respect for your posts!

and yes, dookus was right, I merged the death with the funeral date. but there is no doubt that "JUDY" was part of the synergy that night.

since the SF action, there is NO turning back now.

[foreigncorrespondent]

18. I have the greatest...

...respect for you posts as well, my friend. :) When ever I see your name, I know to read the thread. :)

Yeah, it never clicked to me of the dates about the riots and Judy's funeral. The cops picked on us queers at the wrong time. You would think Bush* would learn. ;)

No, there is NO turning back now. I was reading this morning that they are going to try and introduce several different versions of the FMA in order to have SS marriage stopped (link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/03/03/national1735EST0817.DTL), but to me, if they are spouting that they need to protect the sanctity of marriage, yet willing to get marriages annulled, isn't that a case of the pot calling the kettle black?

[nostamj]

20. they've lost

utterly lost.

the visibility of loving couples juxtaposed to fearmongering fools is failing.

only the most ignorant 'base' finds anything to embrace.

[Cleita]

15. Hehe, I never knew Judy Garland was the reason.

I remember the incident and my gay cousin and his friends being very elated, but he never told me it was because of Judy Garland.

[nostamj]

19. oh, JUDY was part of the mix that night

synergy.

[tedzbear]

27. Judy spoke to them from the great beyond...

..."Kick ass!" she said. "Don't let MGM, er, the fuzz harass you anymore!"

I'm sure those high heels made effective weapons. I am going to get that book, "Stonewall," and read it because it is supposed to be exzzzzzzzzellent.

:bounce:

[nostamj]

28. there's a indy movie about that night too

worth looking for!

[orwell]

16. Right Makes Might

Nice post.

In the end it is not might makes right, but the converse.

Right makes might!

O

[southerngirlwriter]

22. Fuckin' A!!

From a straight ally, :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

A good friend of mine here in town told me about Stonewall when I was 15 or so. She said she qualified as "an old dyke," because she came out before Stonewall. She had friends who were there in person, and I got to talk to some of them one night at a party. :bounce: A great moment in American history! :D

Here's to full equality for everyone!! :toast:

:loveya: Love who you love and don't be afraid! :loveya:

[nostamj]

23. stonewall was a milestone

this is even bigger because of the changes in media

:yourock: too! :bounce:

[nostamj]

24. once in the daylight n/t

[nostamj]

25. AG Spitzer on gay marriage in NY

New York State law requires same-sex marriages that are legally performed in other states to be recognized as lawful in New York, but does not now permit such marriages to be performed in the state, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said on Wednesday in a legal opinion.

Mr. Spitzer said the state's marriage laws, recognizing only unions between a man and a woman, raised "serious constitutional concerns" that would ultimately have to be resolved by the courts. Until the courts ruled, he said, same-sex couples could not be legally married here.

He said his opinion that the state was legally sound in withholding marriage licenses was intended to try to halt the growing push by those who are seeking to change the law by performing same-sex marriages. "One of the messages I was trying to send was: Don't do it," said Mr. Spitzer, a Democrat who is widely discussed as a possible candidate for governor in 2006.

The overall legal opinion was nonetheless hailed by gay-rights groups as "monumental," and it set the stage for gay couples in New York who have been married elsewhere to begin challenging the state to grant them the privileges of marriage.


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/04/nyregion/04GAY.html

[Stephanie]

26. Spitzer is a great guy.

So the Defense of Marriage Act doesn't matter in NY because we don't have a law that we refuse to recognize other states' SS marriages? So any NY couple that got married in SF would be legally entitled to have their marriage recognized in NY? I think that is a big step.