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STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association

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Mission Statement~~~~~~~~



In 1969, it was very, very different for Gay people!  That's what we were known as then, within, Gay people -- one name, one commUNITY, one UNITY!!!  
 
The unexpected and unplanned Stonewall Rebellion of late June 1969 on a hot, very late Summer night began when the New York City police and other "authorities", once again, raided The STONEWALL Bar & Dance Club (no one called it an 'inn'), a Mafia-owned, two-part drinking and dance bar on Christopher Street near Seventh Avenue South in New York City's Greenwich Village, New York.  Unfortunately for the police, they thoughtlessly and disrespectfully chose the night of international Gay icon Judy Garland's funeral that afternoon -- in the very same town:  Manhattan, NY!  "Judy" was the number one topic not only at The STONEWALL Club and every other Gay bar but virtually at all places throughout the World!  Miss Garland was the top news story and on the front page of all newspapers all week!  Judy was the number one story on litearlly every television and radio station!  At the original STONEWALL Club, it was extra poignant.  Judy had literally previously been there!  On Friday, June 27th, 1969, what began simply for The STONEWALL's Gay patrons and their straight friends by the local police department as another routine "fag-bar" raid, later involving other law enforcement agencies such as the New York City Police Department ("NYCPD"), the First Division Detectives ("FDD")  and the Tactical Police Force ("TPF"), quickly escalated into five, inconsecutive nights and early morning hours!  Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender ("G.L.B.T.") people and their non-Gay supporters and straight friends decided to stand-up and fight back!  As an assembled group we finally, bravely proudly, harmoniously and Supremes-ly sang out loud and clear:  "Stop!"  
   
 
Why did this Gay civil rights rebellion finally happen?
 
Over the decades, continuing to the present time, there have been many instances of the New York City Police Department ("NYCPD") and even elected legislators abusing the rights of G.L.B.T. people and their friends and supporters.  These abuses continue -- though far less frequently -- not only in New York but... throughout the U.S.A. and the entire World at large!
 
Back in 1969, "WE", as an inconsequential, unorganized and disrespected people, had absolutely no rights as Gay people.  The lack of G.L.B.T. rights spanned not being able to congregate together in a Gay club to not having the basic civilized right to marry -- someone of the same gender!  The government should not have been telling US who to love!  And, policies were inconsistent.  While it was 'illegal' for boys to dance with boys or men to dance with men, in contrast, girls could dance with girls and women could dance with women!?  Thus, there was a double, illogical, discriminatory standard against all Gay males even within the imaginary walls of the G.L.B.T. communities and far beyond!  WE as a people survived by gathering at diverse and mixed places like The STONEWALL Bar & Dance Club which, to many of the teenagers then, was the first place where we truly felt free.  Free to be who we were!  Free to dance with whomever we chose.  Free to hear the special music we wanted.  Others better felt the weight of the invisible shackles that tied us to clandestine, Mafia-owned and operated Gay bars where the threat of abuse and possible violence was often present.
 
But, in the wanning hours of Friday night, June 27th, 1969, it took away whatever security we thought we had solidified.  It was seemingly time for us to move on once again... to another Gay bar or Gay dance club or another dark street consciously hiding from the society that gladly took and absorbed from our culture whatever it could.  Only beginning then, WE, as a Gay people, refused to take it anymore and spontaneously WE fought back!  The signs -- subsequent to the first ambush night of the Stonewall Rebellion -- read:   "Gay People", "Gay Power", "Gay Unity",  "Gay Rights" and "Gay Marriage".   Clearly, the only operative word was what it was: "Gay"!

"STONEWALL" was a catalytic event for the G.L.B.T. Communities!
 
"STONEWALL", as it has condensedly come to be known, was ultimately a catalytic event for the G.L.B.T. community and eventually the World!  This was the historical turning point for ALL of us who were leading suppressed lives (to one degree or another) in 1969 and for future generations of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders ("G.L.B.T.").  We were tired of and angry at being 'victims' and no one was going to succeed in abusing US as a group or a people ever again!  At last, we demanded our independence and freedom!  As of June 27th, 1969, our G.L.B.T. independence ignited and after the last night of the Stonewall Rebellion on Thursday, July 3rd, 1969, the following day became known as "Gay Independence Day"!  The clever term was creatively coined by the SVA's founder, director and wordsmith, Willson Lee Henderson.  As a minority group, WE, as a community immediately achieved the former!
 
For several decades since, it has been an uphill struggle spiritually, politically, economically, legally and in every other sense.  Our lives are still very much in danger and whatever liberty and freedom we have achieved is somehow still at risk.  Before the Stonewall Uprising, there were other concerned G.L.B.T. folks who attempted to fight the system making minor in-roads, here and there.  However, the across-the-board, effective 1969 Stonewall Rebellion made the public, the media and, most importantly, "US", realize that:  We are a people and we demand our full rights generally as human beings and, particularly, as American citizens!  In fact, at long last -- and only through the revolutionizing Stonewall Rebellion -- we symbolically achieved "minority" status.
 
   


"The STONEWALL Inn" bar and dance club depicted in 1969
Question:  Do you know what the top word in the STONEWALL sign says?  
We do!  You may email your guess to the S.V.A. at:
SVA@StonewallVets.org

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Purposes of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association

Even though the Stonewall Rebellion took place in 1969 -- not 1869 -- the rebellion was not photographed or filmed by the media because they deemed it "unimportant".  Likewise, they were not allowed (as in 'keep away')!  Picture-taking was forbidden!  Unless a treasure trove of forgotten images is one day unearthed, there will be endless speculation of what exactly occurred during those five, inconsecutive, steamy nights and early morning hours.  We must preserve the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender ("G.L.B.T.") heritage we have before it is significantly and irrevocably lost!

The National STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association ("S.V.A.") positively and proudly represents Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender ("G.L.B.T.") history, education and culture.  The Executive Committee of the S.V.A. consists exclusively of real patrons of the ~original~ STONEWALL Club police raids from 1966 through 1969 and/or participants in the five-night, historic 1969 Stonewall Rebellion on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York.  The S.V.A. focuses our multi-dimensional and diverse organization as a viable group of Gay men, Lesbian women, Bisexual folks and Transgender people!  We strive for the facts and challenge the inaccuracies.  The S.V.A. delivers the following:  (1) education, (2) community-building, (3) support, (4) communication and (5) outreach as our primary purposes.  Therefore, to educate, for example, we provide, on a regular and reliable basis, unquestionably unique, invaluable and factual information to individuals, groups, public officials, organizations and institutions via various means including mailings, phone calls, promotions and guest speakers.  An expanded purpose under our rainbow umbrella of support consisits of homecare assistance, legal advice and financial support to help keep all of the actual Stonewall veterans active, healthy and united.

 

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STONEWALL Veterans' Association's Goals Include:
The STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association ("S.V.A.") is a not-for-profit, volunteer membership organization primarily for G.L.B.T. people and their non-G.L.B.T. friends, colleagues, relatives and supporters.  The S.V.A. is registered with the New York State Charities Bureau since the Summer of 1969.  Said registration is renewed annually with the Charities Bureau.  The S.V.A. regularly publishes a newsletter entitled "STONEWALL Newzletta".  The on-line edition is updated daily.  There is an expanded print edition which is published quarterly.  Press releases and other media communications by the S.V.A. are generated as warranted.  The S.V.A. focuses on the continuing struggles of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenderists.  The S.V.A. is a historical, cultural, educational, advocacy and politically-aware group with a long reach, great visibility and tremendous staying power.
 
   


                                                                                                                    "No two eyewitnesses ever agree on every detail!"
                                                                                                                  (Line from the movie "Courage Under Fire" (1996)  
      investigating whether they should give the Medal
    of Honor to a fallen, female, wartime officer
    

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The STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association presents the history
of the word "Stonewall", the Stonewall Era (1966 to 1969), the G.L.B.T.

Stonewallpeople, the original STONEWALL Club, the 1969 Stonewall
Uprising, and photographs of many Stonewall veterans over the decades!


www.StonewallVets.org/Stonewall_Era People_Club_Rebellion.htm

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The S.V.A. is registered with the State of New York Charities Bureau.

www.CharitiesNYS.com
"Search" enter:  STONEWALL Veterans' Association or S.V.A.

Most recent N.Y.S. Charities Bureau renewal:  August 2021

  The S.V.A. is registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

The S.V.A. is a non-profit, historical, educational, civil rights
and community organization since 1969 in its proud 52nd year!

It is now the 52nd anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, the 52nd
year of the famous convertible 1969 "Stonewall Car" (which the S.V.A. 
owns), and the 52nd year of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association!

The S.V.A. may be referred to in its expanded name version as the
National STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association.

                                       *                                                                                                                                

     
5th August  

2021
  

52nd Anniversary of the S.R.V.A.  

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=====2021:  52nd Anniversary of G.L.B.T. Stonewall Rebellion=====
[Friday night, June 27 ~through~ Thursday evening, July 3, 1969, Manhattan, New York City]

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