Comments on: 40 YEARS ON: REMEMBERING STONEWALL

By: Nev

Nev — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Lessons. Well written. Pity the gays in Pretoria (and elsewhere) didn’t stand up to the Brooklyn police when Camp David was raided.. Can anyone tell me what the final outcome ofthat nasty business was. Last I heard the owners ‘won’ a case and were suing the police and were to use the funds for a new venue of sorts..

Have also heard that police have been paid to keep away form Camp David / Factory and other sites. Any truth in this rumour?

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Stonewall. I pay homage to the thousands of men and women, gay or straight who had fought for equal rights for "our" people. I recall the name of our own HERO, Simon Nkoli, who as an ANC activist took on the brutal Apartheid regime and persuaded the ANC,together with my late friend, Dr Ivan Thom in safegaurding gay rights in our Constitution. Today, as South Africans, as Africans and indeed gay South Africans we are embraced by a Constitution that protect us, but we should not be quiet, as there are still widespread homophobia and related attacks facing our people.

Today, I urge all gay South Africans, to break the shackles that still binds them to racism and related prejudices in this country.

I salute the Stonewall Drag Queens, who took on the police and challenged "conventional" misconceptions. These so called straight acting and straight looking fags should always remember that it WAS and Will always be the Queens, that will stand up and fight for their rights....

By: Chocolate

Chocolate — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Camp David. I was told this weekend that with following on from the whole Camp David incident that there was to be an amendment to South African Law to make sex between MEN who are not married "legal" as sex between Hetrosexual people who are not married is still regarded as "illegal" by law, even though it is consenting. How much of it true, I'm not sure. maybe somebody can shed some light?

With regards to Stonewall, I'd like to remind people that this why we have Pride Marches around the world and as much as Pride has become about everything else but Gay rights to the masses that gather, this is the fundamental thread that had brought thousands together year in and year out to stand up and let those in the know take note that we are here and that we are queer!

The freedom that we so openly enjoy today, should in no way be taken for granted as many had stand up and be heard for this freedom to be granted and for us and our rights to recognised.

Thank you to every proud gay man and woman out there who still is or isn't today, for having stood up and made a difference. To the queens, you're beautiful and to the straight acting and looking, don't be afraid to be still be proud of your right to be gay and not be judged for it.

So people, walk tall with your heads up high in pride for the sacrifice made by those before us to allow us to have this freedom.

In PRIDE,

A GAY MAN...