GAY PRIDE

You may have noticed either last weekend, or will notice this weekend, strange goings-on in your city. You know, like this:



Yes, that's right; it's time for Gay Pride again. As I've said before here at Real Art, not only do I consider myself to be in solidarity with the gay rights movement, I also see the movement as the guardian of everyone's sexual freedoms--after all, the pornographers and media moguls of the world are only interested in exploiting sexuality. The movement pretty much stands alone today as a symbol of sexual freedom, celebration, and safety.

Not to mention how amusing such celebrations can be. It is easily forgotten amid all the camp and circumstance, however, that gay rights were not simply granted by the political powers on high because of some quirk of the sexual revolution. Gay men and lesbians had to fight for their freedom and recognition. That fight began thirty six years ago yesterday.

From OUTreach:

The Stonewall Riots - 1969

Duberman describes the scene as the two dozen "massively proportioned" TPF riot police advanced down Christopher Street, arms linked in Roman Legion-style wedge formation: "In their path, the rioters slowly retreated, but - contrary to police expectations - did not break and run ... hundreds ... scattered to avoid the billy clubs but then raced around the block, doubled back behind the troopers, and pelted them with debris. When the cops realized that a considerable crowd had simply re-formed to their rear, they flailed out angrily at anyone who came within striking distance.

"But the protestors would not be cowed. The pattern repeated itself several times: The TPF would disperse the jeering mob only to have it re-form behind them, yelling taunts, tossing bottles and bricks, setting fires in trash cans. When the police whirled around to reverse direction at one point, they found themselves face-to-face with their worst nightmare: a chorus line of mocking queens, their arms clasped around each other, kicking their heels in the air Rockettes-style and singing at the tops of their sardonic voices:

'We are the Stonewall girls
We wear our hair in curls
We wear no underwear
We show our pubic hair...
We wear our dungarees
Above our nelly knees!'

"It was a deliciously witty, contemptuous counterpoint to the TPF's brute force." (Stonewall, Duberman, 1993) The following evening, the demonstrators returned, their numbers now swelled to thousands. Leaflets were handed out, titled "Get the Mafia and cops out of gay bars!" Altogether, the protests and disturbances continued with varying intensity for five days.

Click here for the rest.

This is my favorite revolution story: hundreds of pissed off drag queens in Greenwich Village facing down the riot squads. It must have been glorious.

So if you see a bunch of flamboyant men running around with big rainbow flags and banners, do enjoy the spectacle and show your support. But don't forget this image, either:



Because in many ways, that's what gay pride celebrations are about. Fighting the man.

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