Past

Alekya Somisetty
 Questions
1. What does it mean to say “the first pride is a riot” why does this matter?
I think what it means to say “the first pride is a riot” is since the stonewall uprising was the movement that initiated Pride
and the stonewall was a series of riots it makes the first pride a riot. This matters because the stonewall movement is
what initiated Pride and was a larger call to action for gay liberation and revolution. The movement for Queer freedom
came from the stonewall riot when cops harassed drag queens and other queer patrons of the stonewall inn bar. It also
matters because it showed that change can happen in anything and it’s a movement that is still inspiring people.
2. Who was pride for/Who were the leaders of pride? Why should we care?
Pride is for the LGBTQ+ community who have endured trials and triumphs and the individuals who fought and are still
fighting for equality. The leaders of Pride were Marsha Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. They were queer and genderqueer
sex worker activists of color and are credited with igniting the stonewall riots. They are considered the mothers of
modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. We should care because even though Pride is for LGBTQ+ it’s important for
everyone to support and help the community to bring equality. It’s also important that everyone knows the people who
worked so hard for the LGBTQ+ community and that’s why we should care. They deserve to be remembered for their
efforts.
 Keywords
Stonewall:

1. To engage in obstructive parliamentary

debate or delaying tactics
2. To be uncooperative, obstructively, or evasive

Stonewall Riots: a series of spontaneous

demonstrations by members of the gay community
in response to a police raid that began in the early
morning hours of June 28, 1969 at the stonewall
Inn.

Gay Liberation Front: was the name of a number

of gay liberation groups, the first of which was
formed in New York City in 1969, immediately after
the Stonewall riots.

GLF used Alternate U. which is a counterculture

school and leftist political organizing center in
Greenwich village, for many of its activities through
the 70s.
 Organization
The Marsha P. Johnson Institute
The Marsha P. Johnson Institute is an institution
that protects and defends the human rights of
Black transgender people. They advocate,
organize, and create a community to heal
Marsha P. Johnson was an activist, drag-queen,
performer, and survivor. She was a prominent
figure in the Stonewall riots. The “P” in her
name stands for “pay it no mind”. The
institutions mission is to reclaim Marsha P.
Johnson and their relationship as Black trans
people to her life and legacy.