workingclasshistory:

On this day, 24 May 2014 the campaigner known as the “Rosa Parks of the gay community”, Stormé DeLarverie, died aged 93 in Brooklyn. Born to an African-American mother and a white father, she is credited by many as sparking the Stonewall riots, as according to some eyewitnesses and her own account she was the “New York butch” who was arrested and attacked by police. Bleeding from a head wound, she began to fight back and called to the crowd “Why don’t you guys do something?” When she was thrown into a police van the crowd erupted and the Stonewall rebellion began. As well as working as an MC, bouncer and bodyguard, she carried a gun and patrolled the streets of the Village, protecting other lesbians from street harassment or assault, and also raised money for survivors of domestic violence.
In our brand-new podcast episodes, former participants tell the story of the Stonewall riots and their aftermath: https://workingclasshistory.com/2019/05/13/e21-22-the-stonewall-riots-and-pride-at-50/ https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1131003267084822/?type=3