Congress Should Support the Stonewall Resolution

As the country prepares for the 40th anniversary of the riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York, several members of Congress have introduced a resolution in the U.S. House to comemmorate Stonewall as an essential piece of American history that catalyzed the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) movement for equal rights.  Three members of the U.S. House's LGBT Equality caucus introduced the measure - Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barney Frank (D-MA) and Jared Polis (D-CO).  Here's what Rep. Nadler had to say about the resolution:

The events at Stonewall 40 years ago had a profound effect on how LGBT Americans came to see their struggle for equality. Stonewall catalyzed gay Americans – and those who support their rights – into putting gay rights on the forefront, out in the open, unafraid and unapologetic. We have come very far in the battle for LGBT rights and acceptance since Stonewall, but we still have a ways to go. Together, we will keep fighting.

Stonewall's importance to U.S. history is significant.  The advances that we're seeing today - marriage equality in five states, civil unions in two others, the likely potential of federal hate crimes legislation, as well as having an LGBT caucus within the U.S. House - have all been made possible because of the movement launched by Stonewall.  Congress should commemorate the day.

And now you can encourage them to do so.  We've created a petition here at change.org for you to send to your Representative in the U.S. House, urging them to support House Resolution (HR) 433.  Congress should recognize events like Stonewall as historically significant.

The full text of the resolution is after the jump.  Check it out, and if you agree, send a note to your Representative.  Also, we should give credit to reader Douglas Gibson Jr. for starting a pledge last week to support the Stonewall Resolution.  Once you take action by sending a note to your Congress person, click on over here to sign Gibson's pledge.

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the 40th anniversary of Stonewall.

Whereas the Stonewall Inn opened on or about March 18, 1967, at 51-53 Christopher Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City, New York;

Whereas the Stonewall Inn was a bar primarily patronized by a diverse cross-section of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and it became a very popular institution;

Whereas at around 1:20 AM on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, closing the bar and forcing patrons outside;

Whereas such raids were among the many ways in which government harassed and discriminated against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community during this period, which included, for example, prohibiting dancing with a person of the same sex or wearing clothing more typical for another gender, terminating one's employment, and using entrapment to arrest people;

Whereas early on the morning of June 28, 1969, after the raid, years of frustration and anger among members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community at being harassed and unfairly targeted by government boiled over into a conflict with police;

Whereas thousands returned to the Stonewall Inn on the night of June 28, 1969, to express their support of basic freedoms, equality, and fair treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, chanting such slogans as “Gay Power”, “We Want Freedom Now”, and “Equality For Homosexuals”;

Whereas protests occurred again around the Stonewall Inn on the night of July 2, 1969;

Whereas the series of protests at the Stonewall Inn, often referred to as “Stonewall”, marked a watershed event in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans dramatically showed a growing determination to publicly resist government discrimination and harassment;

Whereas Stonewall sparked a remarkable increase in activism and action by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans across the country to advocate for equal rights;

Whereas on June 28, 1970, thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans took part in the Christopher Street Liberation Day march from Greenwich Village to Central Park to mark the first anniversary of Stonewall;

Whereas people in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco also marched or gathered on June 27-28, 1970, to remember the first anniversary of Stonewall;

Whereas in 1989, the section of Christopher Street in front of the Stonewall Inn was renamed “Stonewall Place”;

Whereas in 1999, the building at 51-53 Christopher Street that used to be the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the immediately surrounding area were listed on the National Register of Historic Places;

Whereas in 2000, the building at 51-53 Christopher Street that used to be the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the immediately surrounding area were listed as a National Historic Landmark;

Whereas inspired by Stonewall, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride parades and festivals occur in cities across the country and the world every June;

Whereas in recognition of Stonewall, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month is celebrated every June; and

Whereas a great deal of progress has been made in achieving equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans since Stonewall occurred 40 years ago, but much work remains to be done: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives –

( 1 ) recognizes the 40th anniversary of Stonewall;

( 2 ) honors those who participated during Stonewall and since that time in the civil rights struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans; and

( 3 ) recommits itself to protecting and providing equal rights for all Americans, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.