The Woman Behind The Stonewall Uprising
Her name has faded into history but her voice is as relevant today as it was in 1969
New York City was not always a safe haven for queer people. In the early to mid-20th century, the laws were strict, and being anything other than straight was illegal. Dressing as a gender other than the one assigned at birth would lead to an arrest or worse. Dancing with a person of the same sex was worthy of arrest and torture for many queer people.
Dressing as a gender other than the one assigned at birth would lead to an arrest or worse. Transgender was not used for people who might now use it to explain their gender; in the 1950s and 1960s, they often said they were gay or transvestite or cross dresser.
It was that group of people that law enforcement targeted more often than not. Police agencies across the country, particularly in the Big Apple, claimed they wanted to clean up the streets.
Many queer people were kicked out of their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs. Some were lucky enough to have a small amount of money to make it to the city.
Others, though, were in a desperate state; they had no home or money.
