Stonewall: Out of the Closets and Into the Streets

[idontknowlo]

Today is the hard work from ppl. in the past.... I do appreciated..... thanks....

[RayL1983]

We are now realizing that homosexuality is more than a sexual act. It is about a whole different world view in many ways.

[xadam2dudex]

a lot of gay bars years ago were run by the mob all over the country

[ilovesidneypoitier]

Omg, thank you for this educational telling of this historical event when the LBGT community decided we had enough. I wasn't born for another year when it happened but by your way of story telling it I feel as if I was there. God bless you.

[LifterwiII]

Adding my voice to the others who are applauding you!! You did an outstanding job on this video.

[Eltoca21]

Thank you...

[leyubar]

Fabulous story. Brilliant delivery. This is a wonderful video that I have used to teach the history of gay rights with my school children in the UK.

Thank you.

[FantasticBabblings]

@leyubar Thanks so much. And thanks for teaching kids about our history. In some parts of the US teaching gay history could get you tarred and feathered.

[kraigyb]

your an excellent story teller i almost feel like im there awesome thank you so much for this post its more than i could imagine finding xx

[FantasticBabblings]

@kraigyb Thanks so much for watching and your kind comments. It is rewarding to know this video is still reaching people.

[HanKSN101]

Don't The Have A Voice???

[VampGil]

@HanKSN101 unless that is an honest question, you're a douchebag

[HanKSN101]

What About Pedophiles.??

[thepercussionistME]

Wonderful, wonderful video.

You really opened my eyes and gave an incredible, in-depth look at Stonewall, and for these things, I thank you.

[tet43]

Thanks for all the extra info on this event.I'm well aquainted with 70's GVillage gay life.When you were tellling the story,I could actually visualize being there.Thanks for humanizing it for me!

[FantasticBabblings]

@tet43 I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I miss the 70s in the Village. Mostly I miss being in my 20s :) It was so much fun to be in NY then.

[tet43]

@FantasticBabblings Yes, most definitely.I moved to NYC in 76, right before all the gentrification.I feel very grateful to have been a part of that time. So much enthusiasm and creativity.I'm originally from Okla, and consider the gay guys in NY completely responsible for empowering me, and showing me how to stand up for myself.Wonderful time to be a young gay man in NY!

[mrdarcyme]

....beautiful

[Arissa4ever]

i am very grateful for this video as it gives me hope that one day i will fully be able to be myself, even if it means my family will never accept me.

[eviltreemonster]

You want to hear about homophobia?

Look up Jamaica.

[alx2an]

Wow thats quite  enlightening. I i ever meet someone from the riots there getting a hung and a big thankyou for allowing me to be me!

[chucie5]

great video ,,,,,i loved it!!!

[EdElisea]

Sorry, but I'm posting a second comment because I'm currently concerned about the Transgendered community. They seem to be the lost leg of the LGBT movement. I sense that they will be the next issue concerning equal rights. I just hope it doesn't turn out to be ugly.

[EqualAndFree]

So true. They are still not even treated as full members of the LGBT community.

[EdElisea]

From time to time I've heard the term "Stonewall" and never knew what it meant. This is the first description I've ever had. I love to learn new things. By this account I was 13 when it happened. I wasn't very aware of anything, other than school, at that time, though I knew there was a lot going on, such as rioting, demonstrations and such. Woodstock was the biggest thing I knew of. Being raised through the military kept me highly informed of the war though.

[0nyxBlackman]

Bravo! Great video! Thanks for keeping this piece of history alive. I hope that members of other minorities and ethnic groups follow your example and record their experiences in this format.

[comedytracker]

What's your fucking problem with gays?

If you have an issue with anyone being homosexual. YOU CAN FUCKING FIGHT ME PUSSY.

[emwharton]

"Out of the closets and into the streets!" gives me chills when you say it.

I have heard this story many times but never in such detail. Thanks, Phil.

[unraw]

Nicely said!! Thanks for that

[TheReasonWhyGuy]

Wow, I have chills going all over...

Thats an amazing story+I didn't know you were gay.

^-^ But I honestly don't think it maters, hopefully our descendants look back at this time and wonder how we could have been so stupid to not allow equal rights.

[TheReasonWhyGuy]

I hope gay right keep heading the direction they have since the 60's.

[Poeboi]

Phil I have loved yer vids but this....this was just amazing! I put it on my facebook because people need to know about this! I've learned so much! Thank you so much!

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks for your kind words. And thanks for helping to spread the word.

[Poeboi]

Yer more then welcome Phil! Even though I wasn't born of the Stonewall Riots people NEED to know their history!!! I never thought I could sit by a 36 min vid but all of your films are so interesting to watch!  Logan

[atree3]

this is a wonderful vid, I learned a lot.

Not the least of which is a better understanding of the concept of "Gay Pride"

Thanks

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks Margaret. I am glad that came across.

[Muzlim4Real]

today it is much more fun being both gay and muslim.

try to go to the mosque and pray while still having your butt plug up your rear..... its not pretty when i have to explain to my muslim brother behind me that i have a toilet problem and that it certainly is no butt plug to increase my chances of having fabolous sex with my hot boyfriend... i love the doubble life ;-)

[abortedsoul]

"It is only after you have lost everything

that you are free to do anything."

[jonsalvator]

pretty much.

[FantasticBabblings]

Like the song says, freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.

[Mastikator]

Very touching. Thanks for the vid, that's 36 well spent minutes of my life.

[FantasticBabblings]

Thank you. That is very gratifying.

[Grandpageech]

Your a wonderful teacher. I love your video's and always learn something from them. Thanks for taking the time to post

[FantasticBabblings]

I am flattered that you take the time to watch. I can go on :)

[Grandpageech]

Please do go on!

[DissentingDogLevi]

You should put a feather in that vlog hat. That would be awesome sauce.

[FantasticBabblings]

Oh yes, a big gay feather! Thanks.

[brilsmurf]

A verry interesting video Phil. I'm sorry that i can give you only 5 stars, a silver star is more the right reward.

[FantasticBabblings]

I am just glad you watched. That is reward enough.

[JimmyHook]

Truly one of your best, Phil! Thanks for taking the time to produce this for all of us. We're not worthy! But keeping doing it anyway! ;)

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks Jimmy. It was a pleasure. But as for taking the time to produce, nothing compares with the work you put into an episode of Jimmy Hook!

[FantasticBabblings]

Oh wow. I never posted it. It took six hours to render and I deleted it after I made this one. Believe me, this one is much better. Thanks for watching.

[autismwithanattitude]

Thank you so much, Phil, for sharing this important part of our history.

Nena

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks Nena. I often find that younger lgbt people know the word Stonewall but don't know what it means. If I illuminated that even in a small way, I am glad.

[StLennyBruce]

This was such a great video! It really gave me a much more clear impression of gay history than what I had. Sounds trite, but that's exactly what your video did.

You're a great speaker.

[FantasticBabblings]

It isn't trite at all. It pleases me that you learned from it. I learned a lot in preparing for it.

[AuntieVeraCharles50]

Just fantastic, Phil. Thank you so much for this powerful and informative video.

Your Peer,

Vera

VeraspeaksDOTcom

[FantasticBabblings]

Thank you Vera, darling. It means a lot to me.

[mamalingerfelt]

i adore your videos. they're so informative. i really do appreciate learning from the past. thank you for your wisdom. you're amazing.

-love

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks for your kind words. I think it is so important that we know our history.

[turkeyjurker]

not to belittle the injuries suffered but the way you tell the story it sounds as if the cops though violent, did exercise some restraint. right or wrong?

i would imagine if this were to happen today there would be some serious power trip beat downs involved. a bunch of real life Cartmans running around yelling "Hey queer, respect mwah authoritaaaaaahhh!"

[FantasticBabblings]

I think there was some restraint, but I don't think it was out of compassion. I think they didn't want the situation to get out of hand. Pine believed if they killed any of the demonstrators the crowd would turn on them and kill them. At that point the police were way outnumbered and they were trapped.

By the time the TPF arrived I am sure Mayor Lindsay was involved. Any deaths would have been politically damaging. He needed the more liberal faction of NYC.

.

[FantasticBabblings]

What restraint there was arose from practical reasons. I am sure many of the cops would have preferred to lay waste to people. And many people were injured, some seriously.

[FantasticBabblings]

I wonder what would have been the aftermath if someone was killed. The tone would have been different. There would have been less joy and more festering anger. There were so many things that happened in just the right way that night to make Stonewall the important event it was. And I think Seymour Pine was very professional.

[turkeyjurker]

also my friend wrote me those other day. an exchange student in florida at the moment. there was a pride parade, i wonder if it was to mark the anniversary of the riot?

[FantasticBabblings]

The first pride parade of any kind was held in NYC one year after Stonewall. It's purpose was to co commemorate the uprising. In a sense, all pride parades have been for the same reason. It is also the reason that June is pride month.

[turkeyjurker]

ok, i wasn't aware of that. she said everyone looked very happy. it was the first one she had ever seen. here in tokyo, you could go to roppongi ni-cho-me, no need for a parade. every day is pride day ;)

[turkeyjurker]

didn't mean to imply they were being compassionate. people in power never do anything out of compassion. just that they seemed to be aware a line was not meant to be crossed. like you said in your third comment there were so many ways things could have gone really bad. cops today don't seem to have any sense of restraint. very much an Us vs.Them attitude. i swear some of them think police work is a sport, "Gyoo gyoo gyoo! C'mon on flash, let's see how many we can bag today!" bagging humans.

[jonsalvator]

Check out what just happened in Fort Worth, Texas. I favorited a few. What BS.

[Castaa]

I enjoyed the history and story. The Castro streets were packed on Saturday night. The diversity was encouraging. The mood was joyous.

[FantasticBabblings]

Since Stonewall most gay gatherings have been joyous. I think that is what drove the uprising more than politics. People were holding in all that joy in being gay and needed to let it out.

[LeSaMilano]

I can't watch this all in one take due to crap broadband... so I'm letting it load and coming back. Don't want to miss. xx

[FantasticBabblings]

I hate crap broadband.

[ravensmomscorp76]

Great job!

I love watching your videos, especially the ones that have something to teach me!

:)

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks so much.

[jonsalvator]

You certainly gave back to that moment in '69. I don't know what I would've done if you weren't there. I = eternally grateful.

Btw, the judge at the summons hearing didn't even look at me. Made a vid about it, but to save time, I was told by a legal rep that as long as I didn't get another summons in 6 months... I was free to go.

*featured*

[MadBadVoodo]

Five Stars!

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks for always being there MBV.

[FantasticBabblings]

Thank you, and happy pride to you.

[Zipster08]

If you would have told me that I'd be transfixed to a 36 minute video, I'd have told you "you're crazy". Phil this was so well don! Oh yeah, Brandy was before my time. By the time I did Club 82 it was all just glam/drag rock and roll. Love you, buddy!

[FantasticBabblings]

I am touched that you took the time to watch this. I have read so much about it, sometimes I feel like I was there. I wish I had been. But you were living here only a few years later. I visited then, and finally moved here just short of 10 years after Stonewall. What a fabulous time the 70s-80s were in NY!

[jonsalvator]

That's about when I was born - Feb. 9, 1978 - We came to NY about the same time. :D

[jonsalvator]

I hope I wasn't a bit much (for you) in your vid about Madonna. I know your point was about singing and all that, but what Stonewall represented to Phil is what Madonna represented to me above all else - almost as if she used media to get a message out. But she knows she's not a "singer." She said so herself in '90. :)

[TandEeesDad]

Well said Phil...you're commentary and insight are as always, a pleasure to listen to.

Thanks.

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks. It's always a pleasure to do when I know that I have such warmth and support from people like you.

[Fightdog]

Thanks for this. I learned so much

[FantasticBabblings]

My pleasure. I am so grateful you took the time to listen.

[antonyneal]

one of your best vids

[FantasticBabblings]

Thank you so much. I'm glad you watched.

[OneoftheImmortals]

Excellent. I enjoyed reading the posts as much as watching the Vlog. Kudos to the commentators!

I do hope TLRoth does Part ll ASAP.

[FantasticBabblings]

Terry says he didn't know Brandy, but he has already told some great stories about Club 82 in his older vlogs.

I added a new link recommended by ProfMTH in the sidebar for a video of Stonewall vets. I think you might like it.

[Dimbnd]

Great story! Keep it up!

[FantasticBabblings]

Thank you for listening.

[wildheart5]

Wow, that was just wonderful! You are such a good speaker and I learned a lot! Very interesting!! I am so glad it gave you a glimmer of hope. xo

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks so much.

[oneiblind30]

Ditto.

[FantasticBabblings]

I miss you Huey.

[piebird042]

Thank you

What more can I say?

Thank you

[FantasticBabblings]

You're very welcome. And thanks for watching.

[qiranger]

It really bothers me to no end that in 2009 there are still groups trying to stop people from getting the same rights that everyone else has.

[FantasticBabblings]

It is frustrating. You would think by now all of this would be over.

[1938superman]

A perfect rallying cry. It is amazing how big an impact things like this have. I saw this same concept illustrated recently when I found out about the movie "Milk" just before it was released and started learning more about Harvey Milk and the gay rights movement in those days. The impact of an openly gay person being elected to public office. Events like this sent out the sometimes quiet but vital message, "YOU ARE NOT ALONE!" to those who feel that they are. Thank you for the video, Phil. :-)

[FantasticBabblings]

Harvey Milk was in NY during the Stonewall uprising, but he was not part of it. During that time he was a stockbroker and actually quite conservative (and Republican). Things certainly did change when he got to SF.

[1938superman]

Quite the 180. There was hope for him yet.

[terry585]

I wish that I could give you six stars.

[FantasticBabblings]

You're very kind. Thank you.

[jonsalvator]

You can send that 6th star to that EVIL 666th Precinct. lol

[FantasticBabblings]

They have a lot to atone for.

[jbre5]

I wish I had teachers as well spoken as you. We learn more from your short posts than any longer tv shows . Are their any groups straight people can join to help the Gay cause , me and the wife would to join

[FantasticBabblings]

Most of the gay organizations welcome straight people in them. I think local groups are the best way to help. There should be an lgbt community center near you that knows where the need is.

[1938superman]

Oh lengthly FantasticBabblings video, how I have missed you. I know what I'm doing for the next 36 minutes and 4 seconds. :-)

[FantasticBabblings]

I hope you had a cup of coffee nearby.

[LordLargo37]

I'd like to echo what BoomerChick says. I could listen to you talk for hours, and have. Thank you so much for taking your time to talk about things FB, Phil. You've been a great influence on me in my academic career, and my life in general.

Love and Respect.

Carlos

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks. Love and respect back, Carlos.

[Bikermom69]

Aweseom vid Phil. I always learn so much from them.

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks so much. It's my pleasure.

[BoomerChick55]

As usual, no problem listening to you for 30

minutes!

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks, Boomer. When I recorded it it flew by so quick. It's something I feel passionately about.

[angryislander56]

This is an awesome bit of oral history Phil.

I did not know about the drag laws.

It is utterly beyond me why some people fail to see

the struggle for basic human rights then , and now

with the fight for gay marriage.Well done sir!

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks. The drag laws came in after WWII. In the early part of the century there were famous drag queens in vaudeville. One, Julian Eltinge, actually had a theatre named for him. The facade of the Eltinge (later renamed Empire) is in the lobby of the Empire 25 Movieplex on 42nd St.

[Killersepp]

Great video, and very touching. You're a wonderfull storryteller.

Also:

"Gay pride is the opposite of shame"

Thank you for stating this so clearly! It always pisses me of tremendously when my fellow white, heterosexual males complain about things like "black pride" or "gay pride". Those people fail to understand that a generation ago, being black or being gay meant to be being ashamed of yourself. And even today being a white, heterosexual male is still the assumed normality.

[FantasticBabblings]

It is sad that some people can only feel power when others are oppressed. It doesn't have to be that way.

[CCF01]

What a fascinating video... and a really touching end. =) Thanks Phil.

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks so much for taking the time to watch it.

[OhCurt]

Good point about the term "uprising" being more accurate.

The Stonewall movie from 95 or 96 focused on some of these things, but I did NOT know about the SF uprising - or at least I'd forgotten about it (have seen a couple of the documentaries you linked in the description).

I really need to read more about all this.

Nice way to define this type of pride, and the personal story at the end really brings your point home.

So glad I watched this.

[FantasticBabblings]

The books that I linked to are great. I mean the kind of books you can't wait to get back into and you're sad when they're over. All three of them are fascinating.

[ProfMTH]

Ourscenetv(dot)com has some excellent video on the events of 40 years ago, FB, some of which has been featured in the windows at Bloomingdales for the Pride celebration. Good stuff. You might want to include it in your sidebar if you like it.

Happy Pride! :-)

[FantasticBabblings]

The veteran's video is fabulous. I have linked to that page in the sidebar. Thanks for the tip.

Bloomingdales owes us. Without gay people, where would they be?

[ProfMTH]

"Bloomingdales owes us. Without gay people, where would they be?"

Walmart. ;-)

[FantasticBabblings]

Indeed!!!

[Dadalama]

it warms my heart to hear of people standing up to authority.

[FantasticBabblings]

Me too. Especially when authority is so corrupt. But when isn't it?

[Dadalama]

Personally, I think authority is a corruption in a way.

[strangeparty]

Castration, as a "cure" for homosexuality, was only made illegal in 1951. :-o

[FantasticBabblings]

And we're still not equal. Progress is slow. But, it certainly is better.

[longhairred]

Absolutely fascinating! Thank you so much for sharing! Times have changed, but not enough.

[FantasticBabblings]

You're welcome. And you're right. It amazes me that we still have to fight for equality in 2009!

[PrincessDiana161]

I wonder if Terry did know Brandy. I always learn so much from your videos.

Forces that met in a perfect storm... well said.

Love you Phil!

[FantasticBabblings]

Well, Terry didn't know Brandy. She was a few years before him at Club 82.

Thanks Diana. I love you.

[tyendanega]

Thank you for this, Phil.

[FantasticBabblings]

You're very welcome.

[moomay11649]

I used to work for The Gay and Lesbian Task Force

in Philadelphia from 1979 to 1990.

I know of the injustices,

Thanks for bringing this to light FB.

Mooz

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks Mooz. And thank you for your work. It's a good thing.

[LilCav68]

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

[PrincessDiana161]

wow Maria... that's like friggin poetic! :)

[LilCav68]

I borrowed it from Martin Luther King. It's one of my favs.

[FantasticBabblings]

He had a way with words.

[Largo64]

I had no idea, Phil. I had always known that certain groups of "straights" would seek out gays and rough them up, and in some cases even kill them. But I had no idea that the persecution was actually written into the law and carried out by law enforcement. I grew up in Southern California. Until I was in junior college I don't think I knew that I knew anybody who was gay. "Queer" was the ugly, snickering term that was used back then. In recent years I'm acquainted with quite a few.

[FantasticBabblings]

It is amazing how strict some of the laws were. Not many were imprisoned in the US, but many were committed and subjected to cruel treatment. The police used the more severe laws as a pretext to harrass. You know sodomy laws weren't ruled unconstitutional until 2003!

[hartnell114]

lol,oh that park, illegal to be the same gender and dance with ecahother? wow they didnt have that for a few hundered years previous did they lol, silly people.

did they persecute the women as much as the men?

terry! woo, you have known him all that time and hadnt asked if he knew brandy alexander? woaw

the way you tell the story was as if you was there in person, were you?

so how did your friend react when you told him you was gay,considering all this?

[FantasticBabblings]

Yes, they persecuted lesbians, gays, transgendered all equally.

I never told him I was gay. I don't know if he knows now. I haven't seen him since high school.

[hartnell114]

i dont think he would mind,from what you said of him,he sounds understanding :)

well, at least they were equal in some way...not good though.

i realise i asked you fi you was there,i did watch the whole 36 minutes, i just forget to delete that part out as i wa styping while you talked,sorry

[TheNakedAtheist]

Great story. The ending nearly brought tears to my eyes. I'm almost embarrassed to say I was completely ignorant of Stonewall. Thanks a lot for sharing. :-)

[TheNakedAtheist]

on a side note:

In 1971 I was 12, and my father was the campaign manager for George McGovern in our city. We had a basket of buttons that people could take, or make donations for, "Stop the War", "McGovern for President" etc.

(cont)

[TheNakedAtheist]

(cont)

One button said "Gay Liberation", and it was a really cool looking button, and I assumed it meant something like we should be free to be happy, or something, so I put it on. A short time after my mother saw me with it on, and explained to me what it meant. That was the first time I discovered homosexuality even existed. :p

[FantasticBabblings]

Well I found out homosexuality existed another way ... ;-)

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks for watching. I know it's very long. This was my second take. The first one was 45 minutes!