On June 28, 1969, a group of gay men and lesbians decided that enough was enough, and struck back against the authorities after a series of police raids at the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in New York City’s Greenwich Village. During the following days and nights, they marched and rioted, making headlines and sparking the modern gay-rights movement.
Now some Asheville-area LGBTQ people and their supporters are poised to mark the 40th anniversary of Stonewall with a series of rallies and commemorative events.
The Stonewall celebration starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, in Pritchard Park, with speakers and music. At 6 p.m., a permitted sidewalk march will make its way through downtown, followed by a 7 p.m. ice-cream social back at Pritchard Park.
After outside events, an after-party gets cooking at Hookah Joes at 9 p.m. Performers will including a Blondie cover band from Durham, local rockers Sparkle Rainbow Ponies of Death, burlesque and drag from the Tranzmission Drag Troup and dancing by Talon Dance Troup, followed by a DJ’ed dance tunes.
“This year’s theme is Super Queeros!” reads a press release from event organizers. “We will be honoring our community’s very own super hero legends of the past!”
— — Jon Elliston, managing editor
oh my …. don’t tell Nesbitt