Exhibit description:

The context, scene, and significance of the June 1969 riots that sparked modern pride

The popular conception of queer people as ineffectual, passive victims of history is overturned by the story of the people who were present at the Stonewall Inn the night of June 28, 1969. They were fed up with mistreatment by police, organized crime, and public indifference. The annual celebration that stepped off the following year jumpstarted the modern Pride movement.

In our present-day reality we can scarcely imagine the content and context of those three nights from the perspective of the people who were there and lived it. Direct quotations illustrate what it was like for who were really there. The exhibit illustrates that movements belong to their particular time and place by other providing other examples of demonstrations and civil disobedience as well as organizations pursuing gay rights during that period.

Occasions for display:

June 28
Stonewall Riots anniversary

October
LGBT History Month

Number of pieces:

7 banners

Est space:

16 linear feet

94 sq ft

Debut:

2019

Testimonials

As part of our community outreach and education efforts, Port Washington Pride partnered with Vince and our local library to showcase history exhibits focusing on the Stonewall Uprising and LGBT History Month.

The exhibits were beautiful and thorough, but most importantly they were informative. Library staff shared that multiple visitors commented on how much they learned about the beginnings of the modern Pride movement, and were appreciative of being able to access these exhibits in their own community. The feedback was so positive that the display’s stay was extended by two weeks.

Vince’s work on this mobile exhibit allowed PW Pride to take a major step forward in realizing our goal of spreading awareness of queer history in a community that had previously seen very little of it.

Kevin Mussatti
Chairperson, PW Pride

Further reading:

Collins, Cory. “Teaching Stonewall.” Teaching Tolerance, Summer 2019, https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/summer-2019/teaching-stonewall.

David, Carter. Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution. St. Martin’s Press, 2010.

Davis, Kate and David Heilbroner, directors. Stonewall Uprising. First Run Features, 2010.

Springate, Megan E., editor. LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History. National Park Foundation, 2016.

Lesson Plans:

“Stonewall Riots,” Stanford History Education Group