Returning to Stonewall
The trailblazers behind the new Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center ref lect on the riot that started a revolution BY ELLA GAUCI
Mark Segal had only been living in New York for six weeks when the raid happened. At 18, he had moved from Philadelphia in the hopes of discovering a queer community. Quickly he found himself directed to Christopher Street, where illegal bars offered havens for LGBTQIA people to meet, dance, kiss and chat. Police raids were part of everyday life, but usually were squashed with some cash from the Mafia. This raid, however, was different.
As the lights flickered on and chairs, bottles and people were thrown around the room, Mark was frozen in fear. “My first reaction was ‘Someone should call the police.’ But what do you do when it’s the police doing this?” he explains as we start our call.