History Blog

June 28

Happy Birthday RIP Gilda Radner(1946–1989) Carleton “Tony” Young(1937–2002) Noriyuki “Pat” Morita(1932–2005) ; Melvin Kaminsky(“Mel Brooks”)–93 John Biener–81 Bruce Davison–73 Kathleen “Kathy” Bates–71 Alice Krige–65 John Cusack–53 Mary Stuart Masterson–53 Danielle Brisebois–50 Michael “Mike” White–49 Jack “Steve” Burton–49 ; 1969 – Stonewall Riots begin in New York City marking the start of the Gay Rights Movement at the Greenwich village bar “Stonewall Inn”. 1970 – marked the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots with an assembly on Christopher Street in NYC with simultaneous Gay Pride marches in Los Angeles and Chicago, these were the first Gay Pride marches in U.S. history.

Note that in May 1959 Cooper’s donuts in DTLA had a small riot where several blocks on main street were barricaded after gay men and trans people rioted over harassment by police (five were arrested for sexual misconduct). Many establishments like this one known to be hangouts for gay men and transgender women had raids and entrapment during that time frame. Reportedly at Cooper’s they threw paper cups and plates and food at the officers.