Stonewall Revisited

Stonewall Uprising                                                  

2010

If you were born after 1980, the events of the 60’s and 70’s may seem like a page out of your history books. If you were born before 1980, the “happenings” of that period may be replayed in your memory as troubling times. There were protests about the U.S. involvement in the Viet Nam war, political upheaval at the Democratic convention, and the Charles Manson murders - all events that dominated the headlines.

The newspapers virtually buried the riots in Greenwich Village that occurred over several days in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn and yet, America’s social dynamics changed forever that September. 

“Stonewall Uprising” is a well-crafted and informative documentary directed by Kate Davis (who also directed “Jockey”, previously reviewed here). Cracking down, on primarily homosexual establishments, was a tactic being used as leverage in the elections by New York City politicians. Prior to the raid on the Stonewall Inn, men and women kept a low profile to avoid legal prosecution and illegal physical attacks.

Director Davis interviewed men and women (now middle-aged and beyond) including a police officer in attendance, who all described the turn of the tide from that moment on. The crowd, to paraphrase the famous line from Paddy Chayefsky’s “Network” “…was mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!”

The outgrowth of the Stonewall riots is still being felt across the nation. Gays and lesbians are no longer restricted to meet in underground/Mafia run establishments (like the Stonewall), but continue to fight for fairness and acceptance in the work place and the military. Gays and lesbians have equal rights in some states, but are still used by politicians who mislead the public with falsehoods to scare the uniformed.

“Stonewall Uprising” is a history lesson that offers the opportunity to educate and understand times gone by no matter when you were born.   

Rebecca Redshaw is an author and playwright who worked for 25 years in the film industry in Los Angeles. Copies of her book, SOFA CINEMA: An Easy Guide to DVDs may be purchased at Amazon.com or by going to her website @ www.rebeccaredshaw.com.