• Rss Feed
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Search
Skip to content
Visit Sponsor
Seattle Gay Scene
  • Home
  • News
  • Arts &
    Entertainment
  • Nightlife
  •  Living
  • Geek
  • Calendar
Home *Resist. Protest. Obstruct. Inform., Advocacy, Community, Equality, Gay 101, In Memoriam, Legends, Memory Lane, National News, News, Obituary, Pride, Queer History, Queer News, Seattle Lesbian Scene, Seattle Pride 2018, Seattle Transgender SceneStonewall Turns 49…And, Honoring A Queer Pioneer We Just Lost: Dick Leitsch

Stonewall Turns 49…And, Honoring A Queer Pioneer We Just Lost: Dick Leitsch

June 28, 2018• byMichael Strangeways

StonewallInnNeon

 

Today, June 28th, is the actual anniversary date of the Stonewall Uprising the 1969 New York City bar raid turned riot that sparked the LGBTQ Civil Rights Movement. On a hot summer night in Greenwich Village, New York City police raided The Stonewall Inn one of a few public gathering places in the city that featured a gay clientele and one of the most popular despite the fact the venue was owned by NYC gangsters who overcharged customers; served watered down drinks in dirty glasses; frequently blackmailed closeted gay men for large sums of money and generally disrespected and abused the queer people who earned them huge sums of money. 

The NYC police weren’t any better in their treatment of LGBTQ people and the local police precincts were paid off by the Mob to ignore many illegal acts committed by bar owners. But, not all cops were bought off and some still would raid queer bars where all employees were arrested with money and booze confiscated, but also arresting queer people who weren’t “correctly dressed” in the clothing matching their physical gender…cops would actually force people to expose their genitals to verify “things matched up”. Those not in compliance would be arrested.

Despite the threats posed by corrupt cops, vicious gangsters, the fear of getting hepatitis from dirty glasses, and the high prices ($3 cover on weekends equivalent today to about $30) the Stonewall was still the most popular gay club in NYC largely due to the fact it was a large (by NYC standards) venue with two big rooms that both included jukeboxes and dance floors, a rarity in gay clubs of the period where it was illegal for same sex couples to dance. Largely a club for men, some women did show up on occasion including lesbians and straight women attending with gay male friends. The front bar/dance area skewed older and more traditional; largely men in their 30s from a variety of backgrounds but the back bar was smaller, darker, cozier and featured a jukebox that was grittier and more soulful than the more traditional pop music featured up front. Here, you were more likely to find a younger crowd as well as more likely to find “queens” and people of color. The young street kids and hustlers of the Village would congregate here, when they could come up with the cover and convince the door man to let them in.

Police raids were not uncommon; in fact the Stonewall had been raided earlier that week. And, that might have been a contributing factor as to why LGBTQ fought back on June 28, 1969…enough was enough. The Civil Rights Riots and anti-Vietnam War Riots of the 60s also played a part; revolution was in the air. While homophile organizations like Mattachine and the Daughters of Bilitis had paved the way for progress for gay rights in the 50s and early 60s, their conservative approach of polite demonstrations and gentle pushing of politicians to make changes, while major steps, was overly cautious and timid to younger gays and lesbians eager to make bolder strides. The leaders of the early gay power movement had been men and women in their 30s and 40s pre-Stonewall. Younger people pushed for more active resistance and the events of Stonewall were largely carried out by people in their teens and 20s…including liberal straight people in the neighborhood who joined the fray.

The 1966 "Sip In" where gay activists challenged NYC laws that refused service to gay bar patrons. Photo by Fred McDarrah/Village Voice

The 1966 “Sip In” where gay activists challenged NYC laws that refused service to gay bar patrons. Photo by Fred McDarrah/Village Voice

One community leader had his feet on both sides of that divide. Dick Leitsch was 34 years old at the time of the Stonewall Riots and already a seasoned veteran of the LGBTQ Civil Rights Movement as president of the New York chapter of Mattachine and an instigator of the “Sip-In” in 1966 where 3 gay male activists, including Leitsch’s former lover Craig Rodwell, eventual owner of the landmark Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop a short distance away from the Stonewall Bar and a founder of the first Stonewall Pride event, challenged a NYC law that forbid serving alcohol to gay men. The men declared themselves as gay at a bar named Julius and were denied service which led to considerable news coverage (and this famous photo by Fred McDarrah also known as the ‘Stonewall photographer’ for the iconic images he took during the 2nd night of riots) and eventual rulings that took down the anti-gay serving law.

Dick Leitsch was also a journalist whose reportage of the Stonewall Riots, (he was a Village resident and present for all the riots) was instrumental in the growth of the Gay Civil Rights movement in the days and weeks post-Stonewall especially with his report titled, “The Hairpin Drop Heard Round The World”. Though frequently frustrated by the more conservative actions of older gay activists, Leitsch also had trouble at times adapting to the more radical ways of younger activists more versed in more physical demonstrations and protests. He also faced charges of being sexist towards lesbians in the movement (not an uncommon occurrence in a time where women were also fighting for respect and equality). Leitsch was part of the process that led to the creation of the Gay Liberation Front, the first major post-Stonewall advocacy group that eventually replaced the outdated Mattachine.

Dick Leitsch died last week in a NYC hospice, on June 22, 2018 after a long battle with liver cancer. He was 83 years old and an instrumental part of the LGBTQ Civil Rights Movement. His last major public appearance was May 9th when he attended the Broadway revival of “The Boys in the Band” and met the stars, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer and Andrew Rannells .

A toast to a gay pioneer, Dick Leitsch. 

 

Gay activist Dick visits the cast of "The Boys in the Band".

Gay activist Dick Leitsch visits 3 of the stars of the Broadway revival of “The Boys in the Band”, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer and Andrew Rannels, weeks before he passed away on June 22, 2018.

 

 

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.

Related Posts

*Resist. Protest. Obstruct. Inform. • *Seattle Cinemaland • Arts & Entertainment • Coming Attractions • Community • Community Events • Film • Film Events • Gay 101 • Hollywood Gay Scene • LaLa Land • Legends • Mark Your Calendars • Queer Film • Queer History • Seattle Lesbian Scene • Seattle Queer Film • Stuff to Do • Three Dollar Bill Cinema • Weekend Calendar

“L.A. A Queer History” Makes Its Pacific NW Debut On July 30th

There’s a must see film making its Pacific Northwest debut

...

*Resist. Protest. Obstruct. Inform. • *SGS Recommends • All Ages Events • Arts & Entertainment • Arts News • Family Friendly • Gay 101 • Historical/Cultural • MoPOP • Museums • Pride • Queer History • Queer News • Seattle Pride 2021 • Seattle Queer History

Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement Opens At MoPop On June 26

Here’s a museum exhibit you won’t want to miss. The

...

*Resist. Protest. Obstruct. Inform. • *The Strangeways Report • Editorials • Gay 101 • My Soapbox • Pride • Protests & Rallies • Queer History • Seattle Lesbian Scene • Seattle Pride 2019 • Seattle Transgender Scene • Stonewall 50

Stonewall at 50 History Lesson: The Power of the Magic Brick and The Power of People

Can we just stop with the whole fake “Stonewall Magic

...

*Resist. Protest. Obstruct. Inform. • *SGS Recommends • *The Strangeways Report • Advocacy • Coming Out • Community • Community Events • Community News • Equality • Forums and Conversations • Gay 101 • Legends • Memory Lane • News • Pride • Queer History

Forum To Discuss Stonewall National Monument Happening April 5th!

    Well, you have your chance with a community

...

*The Strangeways Report • National News • News • Queer News

Stonewall Declared National Monument

Today, June 24, 2016, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation

...

*The Strangeways Report • Arts & Entertainment • Film • Reviews

Review: 12 Things To Love/Hate About Stonewall: The Motion Picture

Yesterday, I saw “Stonewall” the controversial new film about the

...

Previous: The Tuck Tapes – Drag Race Season 10 Review Podcast Episode 13
Next: Check Out Our Gorgy 2018 Seattle Pride Parade Photos!!!

Comments are closed.

Upcoming Events

Thu 30

Taco Tuesdays…And, Thursdays @ The Cuff Complex

March 30 @ 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Seattle WA
United States
Thu 30

Texas’ Big Bang Bingo! @ Queer Bar

March 30 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Seattle
United States
Thu 30

Decadent @ Cuff Complex

March 30 @ 8:00 pm - 2:00 am
Seattle WA
United States
Thu 30

Bearback Thursdays @ The Seattle Eagle

March 30 @ 9:00 pm - 2:00 am
Seattle
United States
Thu 30

Mothership w/Arrietty @ queer bar

March 30 @ 10:00 pm - 12:00 am
Seattle WA
United States

View More…

  • Rss Feed
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Search

Seattle Gay Scene

SEATTLE GAY SCENE is Seattle’s Leading LGBT community website, and most visited calendar in the region.

We also proudly serve as media sponsors for a number of amazing local organizations, including: Gay City Health Project, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, SIFF, Three Dollar Bill Cinema, Qulture Qreative & Hard Times Press, NARK Magazine and Bacon Strip to help bring some of the most exciting live events and entertainment in the city.

Top Categories

  • Music
  • Community
  • Drag O’Tainment
  • Seattle Lesbian Scene
  • Stuff to Do

Recent Comments

  1. Noah Nguyen on Runway Drag Brunch @ Taqueria Cantina (Downtown)
  2. Michael Strangeways on Review: Seattle Rep’s “Mr. Dickens and His Carol” Is A Christmas Dirge
  3. A L Darling on Review: Seattle Rep’s “Mr. Dickens and His Carol” Is A Christmas Dirge

About Us

  • Our Team
  • Advertise on SGS!
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 | Seattle Gay Scene
  • Our Team
  • Advertise on SGS!
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Close Search Window
↑