Happy birthday!
Today I am 41 years old. I share a birthday with Paul Laurence Dunbar, an African American poet, and friend of the Wright brothers, and Helen Keller, an author, lecturer, and activist who was deaf-blind. Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve, retired on this day in 1991.
On June 27, 1969, while I was busy turning 4, a revolution was being born. The police in New York City raided a Gay bar called the Stonewall. This wasn’t the first time that the bar had been raided, and the patrons decided that they wouldn’t take it any more. They fought back against the cops, and a riot lasting 3 days began.
This event caused the Gay community to realize that they must fight against discrimination and injustice. It was time to “get out of the bars and into the streets”, and the community rose to the challenge. The fight continues to this day, and while there have been some victories, Gays and Lesbians still do not have the right to marry, to serve openly in the military, or a host of other rights that non-gays enjoy. The community is still plagued by stereotypes, and hate, and that is reprehensible because all people deserve the right to dignity and equal rights.
So, all in all, June 27th is a pretty good day to come into the Universe. In addition to the above, I share a birthday with a former classmate, two ADAPT members, and best of all, a twin sister! Talk about a cool day!