The Stonewall riots in New York City in June 1969 are often treated as the start of modern LGBTQ+ rights activism in the United States and much of the West. It is true that Stonewall catalysed a new, organised movement and symbolism that persists today. But the notion that nothing like it happened before is inaccurate. Historians emphasize that Stonewall was one of many clashes in a long arc of resistance to harassment and discrimination faced by LGBTQ people.
What the Myth Leaves Out
Stonewall is central in public memory because it came at a moment when activists were ready to mobilise broadly. Prior to 1969:
- LGBTQ people experienced police harassment, bar raids, arrests and violence routinely; these events were not isolated to Greenwich Village.
- Smaller uprisings and clashes occurred in the 1950s and 1960s in the United States where LGBTQ people fought back against police or unfair treatment.
- Some earlier incidents involved organised confrontations by transgender women, drag performers and gay bar patrons who resisted arrest or abuse.
These earlier clashes were often local and under-documented at the time, but they show that people were resisting oppression long before Stonewall.
Why This Matters
Understanding that Stonewall was not the literal beginning of resistance alters how we view LGBTQ+ history:
- It acknowledges earlier activists and communities whose resistance laid groundwork for later organising.
- It highlights the intersectional nature of resistance, involving not only gay men but trans women, lesbians and others who faced layered oppression.
- It reframes Stonewall as a turning point in visibility and organisation, not an isolated origin.
Below is a table of other known riots or clashes that preceded Stonewall, with location and date.
Key Incidents Before Stonewall
| Incident | Location | Approximate Date |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper Do-nuts Riot (LAPD vs patrons) | Los Angeles, California, US | 1959 (disputed) |
| Compton’s Cafeteria Riot | San Francisco, California, US | August 1966 |
| Black Cat Tavern riot | Los Angeles, California, US | 1967 (police raid and resistance) |
| Hazel’s Inn raid / resistance | Baltimore, Maryland, US | 1955 (actions resisting police) |
| Tay-Bush Inn raid / protest | San Francisco, California, US | 1961 (police suppression resisted) |
| Stonewall Riots | New York City, New York, US | June 28, 1969 |
Closing Thought
Treating Stonewall as the first riot erases a history of resistance. The earlier incidents did not receive the national visibility that Stonewall did, but they reflect ongoing resistance among LGBTQ communities. Recognizing those moments gives a fuller, more accurate account of the struggle for rights.
