Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa
Press Release

Rep. Zamarripa Statement on 50th Anniversary of Stonewall Uprising

The uprising kickstarted LGBTQ activism in the United States.

By - Jun 28th, 2019 09:54 am

MADISON – On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village in New York City, was raided by the police at a time when homosexuality was illegal in most states. The raid sparked outrage among the bar’s patrons and members of the community, who had grown tired of regular police raids of gay bars, resulting in six days of protests and clashes between law enforcement and thousands of LGBTQ individuals. The uprising kickstarted LGBTQ activism in the United States.

50 years later, Representative JoCasta Zamarripa, the first LGBTQ woman of color elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature, released the following statement on the Stonewall Uprising 50th Anniversary:

“I stand today on the shoulders of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, the trans women of color who fought back against injustice and tyranny and began the movement for equality. Half a century after brave LGBTQ men and women rose up against unfair treatment at Stonewall, we thank them for sparking decades of activism and a better future for all people, regardless of who they love.

“Sadly, the fight is not yet won. LGBTQ youth are still more susceptible to bullying, depression and suicide. The harmful and discredited ‘conversion therapy’ is still legal in the state of Wisconsin. So many in the transgender community fear violence and even murder. We will honor the legacy of Stonewall by never giving up in the struggle for justice.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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