In 1969 every state except Illinois had laws on the books that allowed police to raid gay bars and haul suspected gays and lesbians off to jail. Even in New York's liberal Greenwich Village, raids and arrests were commonplace. But when the Stonewall Inn was hit in 1969, the lesbians and gays in attendance did something they had not done before: they fought back.
Next Monday PBS' American Experience series airs an outstanding documentary about the event called Stonewall Uprising. Filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbroner (Adolescent Addict, Jockey) interview some of the people who were actually inside the bar and on the streets, giving an up close and enlightening view of the event.
From drag queens and street hustlers to police detectives, journalists and a former New York mayor, and featuring a rich trove of archival footage, numerous perspectives are presented about that night. You'll hear from police, reporters, and patrons who were trapped inside the Stonewall Inn, activists outside who felt the tide turning that night, and better understand why Gay Pride events were born.
Watch the trailer below.
Watch it on PBS next Monday, April 25th, 9:00 - 10:30 PM ET.
Check PBS.com for more fantastic information as well as times in your area.
To see the Stonewall-themed portion of our 2010 Out 100 portfolio, shot by Roger Erickson, click here.
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