It’s hard to believe that fifty years ago this June, a group of queers – trans folks, lesbians, gay men, probably a few drag queens – fought back against a common police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village. With high heels and bricks, a riot in the name of LGBTQIA rights began. Of course, the “LGBTQIA” acronym didn’t exist back then and the movement, like many, has been marked by its flaws. It also wasn’t the first queer rights riot – at least a few broke out in San Francisco and L.A. in the decade leading up to Stonewall. But whatever happened that night lit a spark that lasted for several days and propelled America’s gay rights – the Gay Liberation Movement – forward. As a qmmunity, we’ve made great strides, and we’ve suffered great losses. From AIDS, conversion therapy, the appalling rates of trans murders in the U.S. (and abroad), and a new wave of legislation gunning for the rights we’ve fought so hard for, we’ve learned to love hard and hold each other close. This summer, we – the Austin Chronicle Qmmunity and the greater qmmunity – unite to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall: There will be parties, Prides, dances, art – the epitome of queer magic. But there will also be marches, panels, rallies, calls to the qmmunity to continue stepping up, fighting back, speaking out. The two, like the history and wonder of Pride itself, cannot be separated. We honor, celebrate, and truly live for it all. Join us for 2019’s Summer of Pride.
This article appears in May 24 • 2019.