Today I’m going to be out celebrating LGBT Pride in New York with some friends. If it weren’t for the people who stood up for themselves 40 years ago today at Stonewall Inn, I likely wouldn’t have much to celebrate. To all the Stonewall Veterans and anyone who fought for our rights before me…thank you.
Raymond Castro, one of the people arrested at Stonewall, told MSNBC his story from that night. (via Towleroad)
And here and here are two IFD stories that involve Pride and its meaning. Have a safe, fun and happy Pride, everyone.
I am so glad that Castro told his story. I use to do presentations at high schools about what it was like growing up gay and was always the only minority and sometimes got the impression that some of the minority kids thought all gay people were white.
I was sixteen when Stonewall happened. I remember thinking it was odd that The Arizona Republic, a local paper, mentioned the riots without ever saying who was rioting -and- that was true of the local TV stations as well. My family became concerned that the Puerto Ricans were rioting - we’re Puerto Ricans. It wasn’t until years later that I heard the name Stonewall and learned what had happened.