The Stonewall Rebellion in 1969, also known as the Stonewall Riots, is considered one of - if not the event - that started the fight for LGBTQ rights and equality in America. Indeed, Stonewall was a pivotal event. However, it was not a singular event but a culmination of multiple things. A few years prior, another major event happened in New York City that involved one of the United States' earliest gay rights organizations, the Mattachine Society.

On April 21st, 1966, three gay men went out for a drink. Dick Leitsch, Craig Rodwell, and Randy Wicker went to several different bars that day, and the one they ended up at was a bar in Manhattan called Julius'. The three men approached the bartender and stated, loudly, that they were homosexuals and that they would like to order drinks. They were immediately denied service, and the 'sit-in' began.

So what happened? Well, the three men had been going to bars that day and had been trying to get denied service. This is because the New York State Liquor Authority would revoke the liquor licenses of any bar that served 'known or suspected homosexuals'. They got away with these discriminatory practices because 'intimate encounters between men' were considered disorderly conduct, and bars that were known to be LGBTQ+ hangouts were often raided by the police. In fact, Julius' had been raided only a few days before, and the staff were quick to deny the men in order to try and keep their liquor license.

The members of the Mattachine Society refused to leave the bar and employed the kind of non-violent sit-in protests used in the Civil Rights movement to protest racial segregation. With the help of the ACLU, they wanted to challenge these practices as well as the plain-clothes harassment and entrapment set up to trick gay men into illegal activity. The Commission on Human Rights got involved, and the State Liquor Authority had no choice but to remove the view of homosexual behavior as 'disorderly conduct'. While this did not end police raids on LGBTQ establishments and those that served LGBTQ people, the state could no longer close down a place for serving gay people. Three years later, the Stonewall Riots further ignited the spark in the fight for LGBTQ equality in protest of police brutality and harassment.

In 2015, Julius' was listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places. It was also placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016, and in 2022 was officially designated as a New York City Landmark.

Welcome to another issue of Allyship Corner. This month, we will discuss how being an ally is vital in educating and accepting our diversity and showing how to showcase and support the LGBTQIA+ community. Our acceptance of uniqueness and diversity has had a rising societal improvement in recent years. Acknowledging and recognizing our differences and learning about each other's stories have been one of our ways to reach peace. Protecting each other is now our way to show respect and appreciation to others, whether it's someone we know or a stranger.

To be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community is not only a responsibility, but also a privilege. It is an honor to use one's influence to amplify the voices of the voiceless and work toward a world where everyone enjoys fundamental human rights. It is crucial for allies to be aware of their advantage and to utilize it to better serve the LGBTQIA+ community by ensuring their safety, spreading knowledge, and showing acceptance.

If you want to help the LGBTQIA+ community, you need to learn more about who they are and the challenges they encounter. Those who identify as homosexual, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, or asexual are all included in the term. Recognize that the group is not homogenous, but comprises individuals with unique backgrounds and perspectives. It's essential to consider what people say about society, even if your life events have taught you something different.

One of the most essential things allies can do is keep members of the LGBTQIA+ community safe from harm. One way to achieve this goal is to publicly condemn homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and other forms of bigotry. Every privileged person is responsible for using their platform to promote the causes of those without power and to push for expanding civil liberties. Those interested in helping the LGBTQIA+ community can participate in demonstrations and marches, contact their representatives, and donate to LGBTQIA+ rights groups.

Allies should concentrate on more than just defense but also training and development. This necessitates questioning one's preconceived notions and prejudices, and trying to learn more about the lives of LGBTQIA+ people. Learning as much as possible about their background, language, and culture is essential to stop spreading false ideas about a group. Allies need to share what they have learned with others, particularly those who may not have had the same experiences or exposure to LGBTQIA+ problems as they have. This can be accomplished through informal talks with loved ones, formal seminars, and distribution of relevant online materials.

Finally, being accepting is one of the most essential parts of being a friend. This includes taking measures to ensure that people of the LGBTQIA+ community can always go about their daily lives without fear of reprisal. It entails making an effort to use people's preferred names and titles and using terminology that is welcoming to all. Allies should also watch their actions to ensure they don't contribute to negative perceptions or make anyone feel unwanted. One way to do this is to host activities for the LGBTQIA+ community and to support local LGBTQIA+ performers and companies.

If you want to learn more about how to be a friend to the LGBTQIA+ community, there are many tools out there for you to use. Groups like GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Trevor Project are doing great work in educating the public and fighting for equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community. These groups also provide allies with materials, such as how-to manuals on being an influential friend and designing welcoming environments. Friends are encouraged to participate in educational events and seminars to further their understanding of the community and their role as allies.

Our embrace of individuality and variety has represented a growing social betterment in recent years. One of the ways we have found harmony is through accepting and acknowledging our differences and learning about each other's experiences. We now demonstrate our gratitude for one another, known and unknown, by ensuring each other's safety. This camaraderie will continue and improve for future generations. Thank you for tuning in to this month's Allyship Corner issue; we will see you in the next one!