Thursday, June 27, 2013

44 Years From Stonewall

A  L  O  H  A !

Back in the day,
 there was no rainbow flag,
 no signs, no hoopla. 







Gay bars were hidden away from view,
dingy dives (often) operated by criminals
 and regularly raided by the vice squad.
Patrons were arrested, roughed up,
 had their names and sometimes faces,
 published in the local papers.
Then they lost their jobs,
 family support, apartments.










The only place the GLBT people could gather 
and be themselves
 in lives that consisted of prudent hiding
of  the most fundamental personal things,
was the bar.

Being gay was a crime,
 a sin, a moral weakness.

44 years ago this month
 the Stonewall Inn,
a gay bar in New York City 
was raided around 3am.


This time, the patrons had enough! 
Office workers,
shopkeepers, and drag queens
 in full regalia 
battled the cops
for several days.







Yesterday, the US Supreme Court 
declared that
if you are a gay couple, 
legally married by the laws
of the US State you live in,
then the federal government
 will NO LONGER
discriminate against you.







Social Security benefits, survivorship,
 federal taxes,
military benefits,
all will acknowledge
 same sex couples
along with opposite sex couples.








I was 16, and 90 miles away
 when Stonewall happened.
I marched in the first
Gay Liberation March
in Philadelphia
in the early 70's.

Today, I rallied 
with about a 1000 Hawaii friends
at the state capitol,
to celebrate this day. 

The fight for marriage equality
 is not over
in Hawaii, 
or perhaps your state or province.

But determined people,
despised, powerless, abused,
discriminated against,
summarily fired,
beaten and killed,
called mentally ill,
can change all that.

I played a part,

I've seen it happen.

So speak up for what you believe.

I helped to change the world,
You do too, every day.
Make it count!

YOU can read more about 
Stonewall  HERE
 > < } } (°>

' Take Peace & Smiles - Leave Your Comment '
Thanks for visiting!
                       Warmly, cloudia

25 comments:

eViL pOp TaRt said...

Things sometimes do improve for the better.

Elephant's Child said...

Heartwarming. I hope that our country comes to its senses soon. I have marched, I will march - and I continue to hope...

Akelamalu said...

It's always good to stand up for what you believe, it can and does change things, thank goodness. x

Anonymous said...

Hooray! (I was a bit worried after the court ditched parts of the voting act.)
Mahalo for your part to help the country turn towards some sanity and equality. With even younger kids these days determining their outward gender, I think the schools need more "Cloudia Counselors" types to help. Hope the social changes can filter down to hospice, as the prejudice permeates the lifespan. It will take a few more years to realign some folks' attitudes.
Onward for more hope! Aloha, DrumMajor

Anonymous said...

Somebody's been pullin' on that cat's tail; it's as long as it's body! DrumMajor

rupam sarma said...

Greetings from Assam, India

Bob Bushell said...

Freedom at last, long live a Stonewall free.

Brian Miller said...

smiles. i was happy to see the decision yesterday...and appreciate all that stand up for what is right not just for themselves but their fellow humans....smiles

aloha from va

21 Wits said...

Aloha Cloudia, Every single day we can move closer, with the help of one another. Anything and everything that is worth fighting for, or having is just a step away. We need less walls being built and few more handshakes and hugs across the world, NOW!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Yay people power!..can work miracles !!

TexWisGirl said...

bless you.

Charles Gramlich said...

Definitely things have come a long way. It's good to remember that.

Anonymous said...

Lovely post and well done you!

Such a great step was taken yesterday. Hurray - and finally!

Myrna R. said...

Yes. This is something to celebrate. It's progress for all of us. Nice that you marched .

LOLfromPasa said...

I love your spirit here. Proof that we can make a difference. Wonderful!

Cloudia said...

Each of you brings me joy!


Thanks very much for being here :-)

Low Tide High Style said...

When we learn to love and accept ALL people equally, that is when I feel like we truly are living in divine light. Hopefully the court's ruling will light the way for love, acceptance, and equality for all! I'm proud to say that I live in a state where gay marriage is legal! Go you, and thank you for your contributions!

Kat

LONDONLULU said...

Yes, there is still more to be done, but what great progress! Did you see Frank Bruni's op-ed in the NYTimes today? It was a nice comment on this landmark .

Giga said...

W moim kraju długo tak nie będzie niestety. Pozdrawiam.
In my country, so there will be a long time unfortunately. Yours.

magiceye said...

Sanity prevails. Peace.

Namaste /\ from Mumbai
Aloha

TALON said...

It's about time people can be who they are and celebrate who they are and love each other without recrimination. YAY!

HappySurfer said...

A long way to go in my country. Aloha! Thanks for the info.

Adam said...

I do consider this nation lucky that Republican's attempts to ban gay marriage only occurred after the Supreme Court invalidated any state or fed laws on sodomy in the early 2000s with Lawrence v Texas.

Conservatives only pretended to care about "traditional marriage" when they couldn't punish gay people for being gay anymore.

George W. Bush tried to ban gay marriage via a Constitutional amendment and failed big time in 2006. Now in 2013 support has grown more than ten-fold.

Imagine what would of happened if they tried to create such an amendment in more homophobic times.

And yet the GOP calls itself the party of "freedom".

Kay said...

Yae, Cloudia! Good for you!!! I have several friends with children who are gay. I've supported their efforts to love their partners and have it acknowledged.

Jenn Jilks said...

Good for you! We've had gay marriage for 10 years in Canada. I'm surprised how some can drag this down in the US.