Book Review | Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

While the book is not without issues, some of which it acknowledges head-on, this is still a good introduction to the Stonewall Inn aimed at teens, and what the riots meant and continue to mean for the LBGTQIA+ community specifically, and society in general.

While we are not nearly as far along as we should be in the acceptance of the community, it was an entirely different world in the summer of 1969. Then, it was still a criminal offense to be gay. A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. You could be fired from your job, go to jail, be diagnosed with a mental illness, and don't forget being disowned by your family (which sadly still happens often today).

As you might imagine, that meant there was relatively little safety for these men and women at the time, many of whom were forced to stay closeted in order to survive. One such place that offered a sense of safety was The Stonewall Inn, though even that was not guaranteed because police raids were common. It would be one such raid in June of 1969 that ignited a revolution that would demand gay rights. This revolution is not over even in 2020, as we face the uncertainty of future Supreme Court appointments which could lead to the overturning of Windsor v. United States - something we can not let happen. It is so important that younger generations understand the battle it has been to come this far to ensure equal rights for all, and something we can not let slip away.

That night, a community decided it had had enough. Enough harassment, enough persecution, enough. The air was thick with tension and the crowd refused to disperse. There would be no fading quietly into the night this time.

This book is by no means an exhaustive history, nor is that its intention. Instead, it serves as a well-written and concise introduction to one of the most important events in the last six decades in the United States. It is easy to read while still be thorough in explaining how and why the riots started. A movement existed at the time, pressing for more rights for the LGBTQIA+ community, but this really kicked things into high gear and forced the nation to look at what was going on, how our own citizens were being hounded and demoralized and ridiculed, beaten, and murdered - all for something they literally had no control over.

The major issue I take with this book, and hence only four stars, is that it largely omits the usual crowd that is forgotten/left behind - the cis women, transgender men and women, and all people of color no matter where they fall on the spectrum. There are so many people who contributed to this fight, and I highly recommend checking out The Book of Pride: LGBTQ Heroes Who Changed the World by Mason Funk. It is a must-read and would greatly fill in the gaps in this book about Stonewall.

(link goes to Goodreads)

The book was incredibly off-balance in this regard and silencing voices within the community does a disservice to everyone. I don't think it was intentional, but it is something we need to be aware of. It may also be that gay white men were the most vocal and visible in that particular moment, I do not know. I need to read more about Stonewall to find out. Even if that is the case, then we must work doubly hard to locate those marginalized within the larger group already marginalized in order to make sure all experiences are seen and heard.

While the main focus of the beginning chapters is Stonewall and its aftermath, the book then moves further along, describing how the activism that came from Stonewall grew into the movement to defeat AIDS, up to where we are today. Even though we as a nation are farther along than some countries in terms of laws and protections, the fight is not over, and likely never will be. But we can continue to push back when we see hate and prejudice rear its ugly head. We do not need to tolerate intolerance, don't let anyone make you think otherwise.

While I would not recommend that this be the only book one reads about Stonewall, I definitely think it is a good place to start, especially for YA readers. There are several books on my TBR geared toward adults that will flesh out and dig deeper on the many complexities of that night, and the following years.

Recommended.