My View
Stonewall: we've come far, but there's still work to do

By Tyler Hopson
Reporter Staff

Standing in front of Stonewall the other evening, I couldn’t help but having a bit of a moment. It wasn’t a Kodak moment – that’s too touchy feely – it was more of a recognition.

Thirty-five years ago tomorrow, a group of drag queens, hustlers, students and others changed the course of all things gay for good.

Thrown out of The Stonewall Inn by police, these people threw rocks, hurled bottles and even started a fire. For three days the crowd on Christopher Street chanted “Gay Power!” Their efforts, many say, spawned the gay rights movement.

Without Stonewall, perhaps we wouldn’t be at this conference today. We’ve got a lot to celebrate during this fabulous summer weekend in New York. But let’s not get too carried away.

Queers all over the place – especially in rural areas – continue to live in fear and confusion about their sexual identities.

Same-sex marriage only has been legal in the United States for a month, and that’s only in one state (the month-long marriage spree in San Francisco notwithstanding).

And the police in my native Canada are still raiding gay gathering places such as Goliath’s Sauna in Calgary, Alberta in 2002.

The Sunday pride parade will be an exhilarating celebration of all we have achieved. Let’s not forget to think of all the work there is to do when we wake up Monday morning.