Chapter 3: Political Protests before Stonewall (1965-1969)
Chapter Three: Political Protests before Stonewall (1965-1969)
For more recent bibliographies of LGBT direct action, see:
LGBT Direct Action Bibliography, Chronology, and Inventory, 1965-1973, by Marc Stein
Documents 46-47, 50: Homophile Picketing in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. (1965)
The documents reprinted in The Stonewall Riots are “Cross-currents,” The Ladder, May 1965, 22; Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., Committee on Picketing and Lawful Demonstrations, Rules for Picketing, c. May 1965, Mattachine Society Records, Box 3, Folder 21, New York Public Library; Franklin Kameny, “Homosexuals Picket in Washington and Philadelphia,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, Sep. 1965, 19-21.
For related sources, see “Homosexuals Stage Protest in Capital,” New York Times, 30 May 1965, 42; “Pickets Demand Fair Treatment for Homosexuals,” Washington Star, 30 May 1965; “Pickets Call Nation Unfair to Deviates,” New York Daily News, 30 May 1965, 6; “Will You Demonstrate?” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, May 1965, 3; “Mattachine Pickets White House,” Citizens News, May 1965, 16; Warren D. Adkins and Dennis Livingstone, “‘We’re on the Move Now,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, June 1965, 4-7; “Throngs Enjoy Sun, Shore on the Fourth,” Philadelphia Inquirer, 5 July 1965, 1; “Homosexuals Picket Independence Hall, Philadelphia Tribune, 6 July 1965, 4; Jackie Vale, “Homosexuals Picket LBJ for Equal Rights!” National Insider, 18 July 1965, 1; “Tangents,” ONE, July 1965, 13; “White House Picketed Again,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, July 1965, 23; “Homosexuals Picket in Nation’s Capital,” The Ladder, July 1965, 23; The Insider: Newsletter of the Mattachine Society of Washington, July 1965, 1-2; “Homosexuals Picket U.S. Civil Service Commission,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, Aug. 1965, 21-22; Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Aug. 1965, 4; “July 4th: Independence Hall,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, Aug. 1965, 4-5; “Wash. Mattachine Lines Out Picketing Regulations There,” Citizens News, Aug. 1965, 12; Kay Tobin, “Picketing: The Impact & the Issues,” The Ladder, Sep. 1965, 4-8; “Rusk Probed on Picketing,” The Ladder, Oct. 1965, 18; photographs, The Ladder, Oct. 1965, cover and back cover; Oscar Marlowe, “Homos on the March,” Confidential, Oct. 1965, 35, 58-61; “New Picketing of White House,” Cruise News & World Report, Nov. 1965, 19; Franklin Kameny, “State Department Picketed,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Nov. 1965, 20-21; “Washington Protest,” Vector, Dec. 1965, 1; Franklin Kameny, “White House Picketed,” Homosexual Citizen, Jan. 1966, 12-13; Eva Friend, “Yet Another Picket,” Homosexual Citizen, Jan. 1966, 13-14; “Picketing: The Pros and Cons,” The Ladder, May 1966, 14-19; Marty Stephan, “Bitch: Summer’s Not Forever,” Come Out!, 14 Nov. 1969, 12.
Documents 48-49: Dewey’s Sit-In in Philadelphia (1965)
The documents reprinted in The Stonewall Riots are Janus Society Newsletter, May 1965, 1-2; “News: Philadelphia,” Drum, Aug. 1965, 5-6.
For related sources, see letter to the editor, Drum, Nov. 1965, 36.
Document 51: Grace Cathedral Demonstration in San Francisco (1965)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “A Brief of Injustices,” The Ladder, Nov. 1965, 4-5.
For related sources, see “Outspoken Canon Loses a Post,” San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Sep. 1965, 27; “Pickets Besiege Grace Cathedral,” San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Sep. 1965, 1, 7; “People,” San Francisco Examiner, 3 Oct. 1965, 4; “Grace Cathedral Picketed,” The Living Church, 10 Oct. 1965, 1; Robert Warren Cromey, letter to the editor, The Living Church, 31 Oct. 1965, 22; “Grace Cathedral Picketed,” Vector, Oct. 1965, 1, 11; “Pickets,” Cruise News & World Report, Oct. 1965, 6; “Tangents,” Tangents, Nov. 1965, 21.
Documents 52-53: Compton’s Cafeteria Demonstrations and Riot in San Francisco (1966)
The documents reprinted in The Stonewall Riots are “Young Homos Picket Compton’s Restaurant,” Cruise News & World Report, Aug. 1966, 1 and foldback; The Christopher Street West-SF Parade Committee 1972, “History of Christopher Street West-S.F.,” Gay Pride – San Francisco, 25 Jun. 1972, 8-9.
For related sources, see Herb Caen, “Light Summer Reading,” San Francisco Chronicle, 20 July 1966, 21; Laurence Tate, “Exiles of Sin, Incorporated,” Berkeley Barb, 11 Nov. 1966, 5; Herb Caen, “The Herbaceous Boarder,” San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Aug. 1972, 29.
Document 54: Gay Sip-In in New York City (1966)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Lucy Komisar, “Three Homosexuals in Search of a Drink,” Village Voice, 5 May 1966, 15.
For related sources, see “3 Deviates Invite Exclusion by Bars,” New York Times, 22 Apr. 1966, 43; Charles Grutzner, “S.L.A. Won’t Act Against Bars Refusing Service to Deviates,” New York Times, 26 Apr. 1966, 55; Jay Levin and Normand Poirier, “Three Test Law That Bars Drinks for Homosexuals,” New York Post, Apr. 1966; “City May Act on Bars Which Refuse Deviates,” New York Post, May 1966; “New York Sip-In,” Daughters of Bilitis New York Newsletter, May 1966, 3; “Homosexuals in NY Test Law on Assembly,” Cruise News & World Report, June 1966, 11; “Homosexuals Demand to be Served,” Homosexual Citizen, June 1966, 9; Homosexual Citizen, July 1966; Charles Grutzner, “Mafia Buys Clubs for Homosexuals,” New York Times, 30 Nov. 1967, 1, 50; Charles Alverson, “A Minority’s Plea: U.S. Homosexuals Gain in Trying to Persuade Society to Accept Them,” Wall Street Journal, 17 Jul. 1968, 1, 23.
Document 55: Armed Forces Day Demonstrations (1966)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Don Slater, “Protest on Wheels,” Tangents, May 1966, 4-8.
For related sources, see “National Protest Day,” Citizens News, Feb. 1966, 1 and foldback; Clark P. Polak, “Homophile Conference,” Drum, Apr. 1966, 25-26; “U.S. Homophile Movement Gains National Strength,” The Ladder, Apr. 1966, 4-5; “Homosexuals Open Drive to Serve in Armed Forces,” Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, 17 Apr. 1966, 35; Peter Bart, “War Role Sought for Homosexuals,” New York Times, 17 Apr. 1966, 12; “Homosexuals Ask for Military Duty,” San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Apr. 1966, 16; Paul Coates, “Problem for Army,” Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 1966; “Homosexuals to Demand Right to Serve Their Country,” Cruise News & World Report, Apr. 1966, 10; “Homosexuals Rally for Equal Draft,” Berkeley Barb, 20 May 1966, 1, 10; David Sanford, “Boxed In,” New Republic, 21 May 1966, 8-9; “Deviates Demand the Right to Serve,” San Francisco Examiner, 22 May 1966, 3; “Armed Forces Day,” Daughters of Bilitis New York Newsletter, May 1966, 1-2; “Armed Forces Day,” Vector, May 1966, 3; “Homosexuals Protest Draft Exclusion,” Vector, June 1966, 1, 6; “President Speaks,” Vector, June 1966, 2; “News,” Drum (nos. 18-19), c. June 1966, 27-28; John Marshall, “May 21st Nationwide Protest,” Homosexual Citizen, June 1966, 3-4; “Rally to Protest Exclusion of Homosexuals from the Armed Forces,” Cruise News & World Report, June 1966, 5-8; “The Protest: A Qualified Success,” Citizens News, July 1966, 1, 4, 9; “Protests,” Janus Society Newsletter, July 1966, 2; John Marshall, “Nationwide Attack on Draft Injustices,” Homosexual Citizen, July 1966, 5-8; Franklin Kameny, “Marching to the Pentagon,” Homosexual Citizen, July 1966, 8-9; “Philadelphia,” Drum, no. 23, c. Jan. 1967, 25.
Document 56: Tenderloin “Sweep-In” in San Francisco (1966)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “Sweep-In,” Vanguard, Oct. 1966, 4-5.
For related sources, see Norman Melnick, “Gripes and Boquets: Everybody Speaks Out at SPUR Rally,” San Francisco Examiner, 11 Sep. 1966, 6.
Document 57: Annual Reminder Demonstration in Philadelphia (1966)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Denny, “Homophile Freedom Song,” Homosexual Citizen, Sep. 1966, 14-15.
For related sources, see “July 4th Demonstration,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, June 1966, 2; “July 4th Demonstration,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, July 1966, 3; Janus Society Newsletter, July 1966, 2; “Philadelphia Here We Come,” Cruise News & World Report, July 1966, 1; “Reminder Demonstration Success,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Aug. 1966, 9.
Document 58: Chicago Newspaper Demonstrations (1966)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Mattachine Midwest, “Why Are Homosexuals Demonstrating,” 1 Oct. 1966, Craig Rodwell Papers, Box 2, New York Public Library.
For related sources, see Irv Kupcinet, “Kup’s Column,” Chicago Sun-Times, 29 Sep. 1966, 106; Bill Kelley, “Radio, Leaflets, Ads Mark Oct. 1,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Oct. 1966, 7.
For documents related to a 2 July 1966 demonstration at the Brooklyn Heights Press, see “Leitsch Visits Brooklyn,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Sep. 1968, 8.
For documents related to a homophile movement demonstration at the California State Fair in Sacramento on 1 and 4 Sep. 1966, see “Homosexual Group Fights Ban at Fair,” San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Aug. 1966, 1, 8; “State Fair Homosexual Ban Upheld,” San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Aug. 1966, 2; “Homosexual Ban Will Go to Court,” San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Aug. 1966, 9; Jackson Doyle, “Hearing Set on Homosexual Information Booth at Fair,” San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Aug. 1966, 24; “The Week’s News in Review,” San Francisco Examiner, 28 Aug. 1966, 148; “Homosexual Booth at State Fair,” Vector, Aug. 1966, 1; Jackson Doyle, “Homosexual Dispute: Leaflet Flurry at Fair Gates,” San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Sep. 1966, 3; “State Fair Booth Cancelled,” Vector, Sep. 1966, 1, 9; “Every Tenth Person Is A Homosexual!” The Ladder, Oct. 1966, 21-22; “The Picture Story at the State Fair,” Cruise News & World Report, Oct. 1966, 12.
Document 59: Los Angeles Demonstrations against Police Abuses (1967)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Jim Highland, “Raid!” Tangents, Jan. 1967, 4-7.
For related sources, see “Editorial,” Tangents, Jan. 1967, 2; “Harassment,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Jan. 1967, 9; “Monster of a Protest Set for Saturday,” Los Angeles Free Press, 10 Feb. 1967, 1, 5; Herb Donaldson, “L.A. Gay Bar Harassment,” Vector, Feb. 1967, 1, 6; Larry Powell, “Cops Start Bar Brawl,” PRIDE Newsletter, Feb. 1967, 1, 5. 6; “PRIDE Demonstration,” PRIDE Newsletter, Feb. 1967, 1; John Bryan, “Police Outrages Help Create Los Angeles Homosexual Rights Drive,” Los Angeles Free Press, 10 Mar. 1967, 5; Franklin Kameny, “Sad Celebration in L.A. Gay Bars,” Homosexual Citizen, Mar. 1967, 3-6; P. Lane, “Los Angeles Police Win First Round in Brutality Cases,” Vector, Mar. 1967, 3, 22; P. Lane, “Pickets Protest Police Sadists,” Vector, Mar. 1967, 20; “Judge Acquits Beating Victim in ‘New Faces’ Raid,” PRIDE Newsletter, July 1967, 1, 4; “Court Affirms Black Cat Convictions; Higher Appeal Set,” Los Angeles Advocate, Sep. 1967, 2; Webster Schott, “Civil Rights and the Homosexual: A 4-Million Minority Asks for Equal Rights,” New York Times Magazine, 12 Nov. 1967, 44-45, 49-54, 59; “Year-Old Black Cat Case Still Has Three Lives,” Los Angeles Advocate, Jan. 1968, 1, 4; “Black Cat Case: A Good Sign,” Los Angeles Advocate, May 1968, 2; “Supreme Court Turns Down Black Cat Case,” Los Angeles Advocate, Nov. 1968, 3; Mel Holt, “‘Black Cat’ Revisited,” Los Angeles Advocate, Jan. 1969, 17; Jeff Buckley, “Los Angeles ’69,” Vector, July 1969, 10-11; Steve Ginsburg, letter to the editor, San Francisco Free Press, Apr. 1970, 6; Jim Kepner, “When Did Gay Militancy Begin,” The Advocate, 23 Dec. 1971, 2, 10.
For documents related to the 1967 Annual Reminder in Philadelphia, see “An Uneventful Demonstration,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, July 1967, 1-2; “Pickets Aid Homosexuals,” New York Times, 5 July 1967, 5; Rose DeWolf, “Another Minority Bids for Equality,” Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 July 1967, 3; “July 4th: 3rd Annual Reminder Picket,” The Insider: Newsletter of the Mattachine Society of Washington, Aug. 1967, 1; “News,” Drum, Sep. 1967, 7; Webster Schott, “Civil Rights and the Homosexual: A 4-Million Minority Asks for Equal Rights,” New York Times, 12 Nov. 1967, 44-45, 49-54, 59.
Document 60: Sir Lady Java Demonstration in Los Angeles (1967)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “Sir Lady Java Fights Fuzz-y Rule Nine,” Los Angeles Advocate, Nov. 1967, 1, 2.
For related sources, see “That’s Life,” Jet, 16 Nov. 1967, 37; “While Lady Java Is Stymied,” Los Angeles Advocate, Feb. 1968, 3; Jack Foster, “Police OK Full Drag,” Los Angeles Advocate, Feb. 1969, 1.
Document 61: Columbia University Demonstration in New York City (1968)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Columbia University Student Homophile League, “We Protest the Kolb Panel,” 23 Apr. 1968, Phyllis Lyon, Del Martin, and DOB Collection, Box 21, Folder 1, GLBT Historical Society (San Francisco).
For a related source, see “Campus Liberation,” Gay Activist, June 1971, 11.
Document 62: American Medical Association Convention Protest in San Francisco (1968)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “Cross Currents,” The Ladder, Sep. 1968, 29-30.
For related sources, see David Perlman, “A Medical View of the Homosexual,” San Francisco Chronicle, 19 June 1968, 1, 28; David Perlman, “The Homosexuals Reply to Doctor,” San Francisco Chronicle, 21 June 1968, 1, 22; W. E. Beardemphl, “A.M.A. Attacks Homosexuals as Psychopathological,” Vector, July 1968, 5-6.
Document 63: July Third Demonstration in San Francisco (1968)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is W. E. B. [William E. Beardemphl], “Homosexuals Call for Completion of the American Revolution,” Vector, Aug. 1968, 5.
For related sources on this demonstration and the Annual Reminder in Philadelphia, see “Fourth Annual Reminder,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Mar. 1968, 7; “July Fourth Demonstration,” Daughters of Bilitis Philadelphia Newsletter, July 1968, 4; William Cooney, “Homosexual Rally on ‘Bill of Rights,’” San Francisco Chronicle, 4 July 1968, 2; “July 4th Picket Great Success Despite Slight Site Changes,” The Insider: Newsletter of the Mattachine Society of Washington, Aug. 1968, 1; “San Francisco Gays Picket, Demand Rights,” Los Angeles Advocate, Aug. 1968, 2.
Document 64: Los Angeles Police Protest (1968)
The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Dick Michaels [Richard Mitch], “‘Patch’ Raids Police Station,” The Los Angeles Advocate, Sep. 1968, 5-6.
For related sources, see “‘Patch’ Fights Three-Way Battle,” Los Angeles Advocate, Aug. 1968, 2, 25; Lee Glaze, letter to the editor, Los Angeles Advocate, Oct. 1968, 19, 20; Dick Michaels [Richard Mitch], “Landlord Lowers Boom, Closes Patch as ‘Nuisance,’” Los Angeles Advocate, Jan. 1969, 1.
Documents 65-67: San Francisco Demonstrations (Apr.-June 1969)
The documents reprinted in The Stonewall Riots are “Homo Revolt Blasting Off on Two Fronts,” Berkeley Barb, 11 Apr. 1969. 11; “Homo Death: Group Will Act,” Berkeley Barb, 2 May 1969, 11; Leo E. Laurence, “Gays Get Tougher,” Berkeley Barb, 23 May 1969, 31.
For related sources in April, see “Gay Rebel Gets Shafted by Uptight Boss,” Berkeley Barb, 4 Apr. 1969, 11; “Militant March by S.F. Homosexuals,” San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Apr. 1969, 3; Hoffman, “Inquest Finds Sadism Excusable,” Los Angeles Free Press, 11 Apr. 1969, 2; Keith Wall, letter to the editor, Los Angeles Free Press, 25 Apr. 1969, 5; “Pink Panthers Gay Revolution Toughening Up,” Berkeley Barb, 18 Apr. 1969, 11; Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 22 Apr. 1969, 1-2; Steve Haines, “Homo Death: Killer Cops at Large,” Berkeley Barb, 25 Apr. 1969, 7; “Gay Strike Turns Grim,” Berkeley Barb, 25 Apr. 1969, 7; “Protest Killing,” Berkeley Barb, 25 Apr. 1969, 7; “How U.S. Homos Are Hassled,” Berkeley Barb, 25 Apr. 1969, 7; “Calls Gay Death ‘Official Murder,’” Berkeley Barb, 25 Apr. 1969, 7; Charles Howe, “Berkeley Killing: Police Picketed by Homosexuals,” San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Apr. 1969, 4; Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 29 Apr. 1969, 1-2; Jerry Weiss, “What Are We Rocking the Boat?” Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 29 Apr. 1969, 2; Leo E. Laurence, “Total Commitment To Be Gay,” Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 29 Apr. 1969, 2.
For related sources in May, see “Gay Strike Hits Southern Front,” Berkeley Barb, 2 May 1969, 11; Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 6 May 1969; “Gays to Sit,” Berkeley Barb, 9 May 1969, 12, 15; “Gay Split,” Berkeley Barb, 9 May 1969, 13; Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 13 May 1969; Leo E. Laurence, “An Historic Battle,” Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 13 May 1969, 1; Ramon Contreras, “A Meaning of the States Lines Confrontation,” Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 13 May 1969, 1-2; “Gays Join Boycott,” Berkeley Barb, 16 May 1969, 9; “Homo Murder Complaint Set,” Berkeley Barb, 16 May 1969, 12, 19; Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 20 May 1969; Morgan Pinney, “Do Your Possessions Own You,” Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 20 May 1969, 1; Leo E. Laurence, “Gays Hold Tight As Hoods Attack,” Berkeley Barb, 30 May 1969, 13; “Homo Memorial,” Berkeley Barb, 30 May 1969, 13; “S.F. Firm Fires Gay, Stirs Protest,” Los Angeles Advocate, May 1969, 3; “SIR Dumps Vector Editor,” Los Angeles Advocate, May 1969, 3.
For related sources in June, see “V-T Day: Victory Scored at Tower Records,” Committee for Homosexual Freedom Newsletter, 5 June 1969, 1-2; “Gays Win: Record Dealer Bows to Gays, Rehires Clerk,” Berkeley Barb, 6 June 1969, 11; Leo E. Laurence, “S.I.R. Secretary Quits in Disgust,” Berkeley Barb, 6 June 1969, 11; “Homosexuals Seek to Bar Decoys,” San Francisco Chronicle, 26 June 1969, 6; Leo E. Laurence, “Gays Still After State,” Berkeley Barb, 27 June 1969, 11; “Professor’s Wife Vows to Avenge Husband’s Death,” Berkeley Barb, 27 June 1969, 11; “S.I.R. Seeks End to Cops in Toilets,” Berkeley Barb, 27 June 1969, 11; “Laurence Recall Fails at SIR,” Los Angeles Advocate, June 1969, 8; Dal McIntire and Ed Jackson, “States Lines Picketing Spreads to Los Angeles,” Los Angeles Advocate, June 1969, 1, 11, 12; Ed Jackson, “Berkeley Vice Cops Shoot Man to Death in Park,” Los Angeles Advocate, June 1969, 2; Andrew J. Betancourt, letter to the editor, Los Angeles Advocate, June 1969, 24; “In Memoriam: Frank V. Bartley,” Vector, June 1969, 5.
For related sources on pre-Stonewall police killings, see chapter 1. For related sources after Stonewall, see chapter 7.