Chapter One: Gay Bars and Antigay Policing (1965-1969)

Documents 1-2: Gay Bars

The documents reprinted in The Stonewall Riots are Lily Hansen, “Bridge to Understanding,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, Nov. 1965, 20-22; Clark Polak, “On Gay Bars,” Drum, Feb. 1966, 12-15.

There are countless other sources on gay bars in the pre-Stonewall era; for a selection, see the listings below for Documents 3-67. For more by and about Polak, see Chapters 2-3.

Document 3: Police Raid on New Year’s Ball in San Francisco (1 Jan. 1965)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Kay Tobin, “After the Ball,” The Ladder, Feb. 1965, 4-5.

For related sources, see “Cops Invade Homosexual Benefit Ball,” San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Jan. 1965, 12; Donovan Bess, “Angry Ministers Rip Police,” San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Jan. 1965, 2; “Shelley Asks Cops’ Side of Dance Hassle,” San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Jan. 1965, 22; “ACLU Joins Homosexual Dance Case,” San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Jan. 1965, 7; letters to the editor, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Jan. 1965, 42; Donovan Bess, “A Spirited Seminar on Homosexual Integration,” San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Jan. 1965, 3; “The Ball & After,” Citizens News, 20 Jan. 1965, 1-4; “What Shall We Do Next?” Citizens News, 20 Jan. 1965, 8; Guy Strait, “Those Presumptuous Queers,” Citizens News, 20 Jan. 1965, 12; “Private Benefit Ball Invaded,” Vector, Jan. 1965, 1; “What Really Happened,” Mattachine Review, Jan. 1965, 8-9; “Witness Breaks Up a Courtroom,” San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Feb. 1965, 2; “Call for Help,” Citizens News, 15 Feb. 1965, 1, 2; “Tangents,” ONE, Feb. 1965, 16; “San Francisco,” Atheneum Newsletter, Feb. 1965; “Mardi Gras Ball Attorneys Acquitted,” Vector, Feb. 1965, 1-2; “Questions Unanswered,” Vector, Feb. 1965, 1, 33; “C.R.H. Protests Mardi Gras Police Action,” Vector, Feb. 1965, 3; Kay Tobin, “After the Ball,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, May 1965, 15-17; “Cross-Currents,” The Ladder, June 1965, 16; “Tangents,” ONE, Feb. 1966, 23; “Action in the Courts,” The Ladder, June 1966, 14; “God and the Homosexual,” Newsweek, 13 Feb. 1967, 63.

Document 4: Council on Religion and the Homosexual’s “A Brief of Injustices” in San Francisco (1965)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Council on Religion and the Homosexual, “A Brief of Injustices,” ONE, Oct. 1965, 6-17.

For related sources, see Scott Thurber, “The City’s Homosexuals—And Police,” San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Sep. 1965, 1, 4; “CRH ‘A Brief of Injustices’ Published,” Vector, Sep. 1965, 9; Richard Conger, editorial, ONE, Oct. 1965, 4-5; “A Brief of Injustices,” The Ladder, Nov. 1965, 4-7; “Justice for Homosexuals,” The Nation, 8 Nov. 1965, 318-319; Mr. B, letter to the editor, ONE, Dec. 1965, 31; “The Church and the Homosexual,” San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Apr. 1966, 5.

Document 5: Police Meeting with Homophile Activists in Los Angeles (30 Aug. 1967)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “L.A. Cops, Gay Groups Seek Peace,” Los Angeles Advocate, Oct. 1967, 1, 2, 5.

For a related source, see Hal Waldman, “‘Police Abuse Us’ Homophiles Across Nation Cry,” Los Angeles Free Press, 8 Sep. 1967, 12.

Document 6: Police Raid on Rusty’s Bar in Philadelphia (8 Mar. 1968)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Ada Bello and Carol Friedman, Editorial, Daughters of Bilitis Philadelphia Newsletter, May 1968 (misdated Apr. 1968), 1-2.

For related sources, see Nancy Love, “The Invisible Sorority,” Philadelphia Magazine, Nov. 1967, 66-71, 84-93; “Editorial from Our Philadelphia Chapter Newsletter,” The Ladder, May 1968, 22-23; “Philadelphia Bar Raid,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Aug. 1968, 7.

Document 7: Police Raid on the Yukon in Los Angeles (Mar. 1966)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is David S., “Anatomy of a Raid,” Los Angeles Advocate, July 1968, 6-7; Aug. 1968, 6, 8.

Document 8: Police Raid on the Continental Baths in New York (1969)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “Bathhouse Raided,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Apr. 1969, 1-2.

For a related source, see “D.D.’s New York,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Apr. 1969, 11.

Document 9: Antigay Murders in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco (1969)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “Grim Reapings—Coast to Coast,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, June 1969, 6.

For related sources in March-June 1969, see Dick Leitsch, “Cop Kills Two—May Go Free,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Mar. 1969, 1-2; Hoffman, “Inquest Finds Sadism Excusable,” Los Angeles Free Press, 11 Apr. 1969, 2; Keith Wall, letter to the editor, Los Angeles Free Press, 25 Apr. 1969, 5; Steve Haines, “Homo Death: Killer Cops at Large,” Berkeley Barb, 25 Apr. 1969, 7; “Protest Killing,” Berkeley Barb, 25 Apr. 1969, 7; “Calls Gay Death ‘Official Murder,’” Berkeley Barb, 25 Apr. 1969, 7; Charles Howe, “Berkeley Killing: Police Picketed by Homosexuals,” San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Apr. 1969, 4; “Dock Killings,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Apr. 1969, 5; Martin Hoffman, letter to the editor, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 May 1969, 44; “Homo Murder Complaint Set,” Berkeley Barb, 16 May 1969, 12, 19; D. M., “A Hard Way to Die,” Los Angeles Advocate, May 1969, 1; “Beating Death of Handcuffed Man Ruled ‘Excusable Homicide,’” Los Angeles Advocate, May 1969, 1, 3, 10; Martin Hoffman, letter to the editor, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 May 1969, 44; “Homosexuals Seek to Bar Decoys,” San Francisco Chronicle, 26 June 1969, 6; “Professor’s Wife Vows to Avenge Husband’s Death,” Berkeley Barb, 27 June 1969, 11; “S.I.R. Seeks End to Cops in Toilets,” Berkeley Barb, 27 June 1969, 11; “Case Dismissed Against Figure in Dover Death,” Los Angeles Advocate, June 1969, 1; Ed Jackson, “Berkeley Vice Cops Shoot Man to Death in Park,” Los Angeles Advocate, June 1969, 2; Andrew J. Betancourt, letter to the editor, Los Angeles Advocate, June 1969, 24; “In Memoriam: Frank V. Bartley,” Vector, June 1969, 5.

For related sources after June 1969, see chapter 7.

Document 10: Police Raid on Gay Club in New York (1969)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Dick Leitsch, “Gay Party at Police Station,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, June 1969, 10, 12.

For a related source, see Dick Leitsch, “N.Y. Cops Host Wild Gay Party—But Didn’t Plan on It,” Los Angeles Advocate, Aug. 1969, 2.

For sources on San Francisco police raids similar to those referenced in Documents 3-10, see “Biggest S.F. Raid on Homosexuals,” San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Feb. 1965, 5. For Long Island, see Randolfe Wicker, “The Wicker Report,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, July 1965, 9; “Tangents,” ONE, Aug. 1965, 7-8; Charles Grutzner, “Mafia Increasing Investments in Business on L.I.,” New York Times, 8 Oct. 1967, 1, 85. For Chicago, see “News Briefs,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Apr. 1966, 12; “Tangents,” Tangents, June 1966, 11; “News Releases,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Sep. 1968, 10-11. For New York City, see Charles Grutzner, “Mafia Buys Clubs for Homosexuals,” New York Times, 30 Nov. 1967, 1, 50. For Philadelphia see “Philadelphia Bar Raid,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Aug. 1968, 7.

Document 11: Mattachine Midwest Courtroom Victory in Chicago (1965)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Randolfe Wicker, “The Wicker Report,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, Sep. 1965, 10.

For related sources, see “Operation Dragnet,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Sep. 1965, 1; “They’re At It Again,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Oct. 1967, 1.

Document 12: Citizens Alert in San Francisco (1966)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “Cross-Currents,” The Ladder, Feb. 1966, 17.

For related sources, see “Citizens Alert,” Vector, May 1966, 5; “Cops Again in Middle of a Furor,” San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 1967, 2; Lester Kinsolving, “Church in the Tenderloin,” San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Feb. 1967, 44; “Cross Currents,” The Ladder, Apr. 1967, 20-21.

Document 13: Police Entrapment Policy Change in New York (1965-66)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “Entrapment Attacked,” The Ladder, June 1966, 12.

For related sources, see Joseph Kahn, “Police Department Rules Out Entrapment by the Vice Squad,” New York Post, 1 Feb. 1966, 57; “NYC Police ‘Will Not Tolerate’ Entrapment of Homosexuals,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, Feb. 1966, 1, 3; Eric Pace, “Garelik Urges Public to Report Police Trapping of Homosexuals,” New York Times, 2 Apr. 1966, 1, 60; “Public Meeting on MacD.: Pirandello Writes Script,” Village Voice, 7 Apr. 1966, 1, 24, 25; “Tangents,” Tangents, Apr. 1966, 15; “NY to End Entrapment,” Cruise News & World Report, Apr. 1966, 10; “Meeting on Village Cleanup,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Apr. 1966, 1-2; “N.Y. Mayor Lindsay Against Entrapment,” Daughters of Bilitis Chicago Newsletter, May 1966, 1; Sidney E. Zion, “Lindsay Placates Coffeehouse Set,” New York Times, 3 May 1966, 49; Eric Pace, “Policemen Forbidden to Entrap Homosexuals to Make Arrests,” New York Times, 11 May 1966, 36; “Tangents,” Tangents, June 1966, 10; David Slighton, “Police Stop Entrapment,” Homosexual Citizen, June 1966, 8; “The Law: A Discussion of Entrapment,” ONE, Sep. 1966, 8-9; “No Public Complaints Reported Since NY Gay Harassment Ended,” Los Angeles Advocate, July 1968, 2.

For related developments in Chicago, see “Entrapment, Harassment, Enticement Faces the Homosexual,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Aug. 1966, 3; “Beware: Enticement,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Feb. 1969, 4; Jim Bradford, “President’s Corner,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Feb. 1969, 7. For related developments in San Francisco, see “San Francisco on the Spot,” The Ladder, Sep. 1966, 4-7. For related developments in Tallahassee, see “Use of Students to Trap Homosexuals Is Scored,” New York Times, 29 Dec. 1965, 12. For related developments in Los Angeles, see Gene Blake, “Easing of Law against Homosexual Act Urged,” Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 1966, 21.

Document 14: Tavern Guild in San Francisco (1968)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “Mafia Control of Gay Bars,” Hymnal, Mar. 1968, 1-2.

For related sources, see “No Halloween Rock in the Palace of Fine Arts,” San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Oct. 1967, 2; W. E. B., “TGSF Meets ABC,” Vector, Dec. 1968, 31.

Document 15: Gay Consumer Power in Los Angeles (1968)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is “Editorial: You’re An Accomplice!” Los Angeles Advocate, June 1968, 8.

For sources on gay support for police review boards, which relate to Documents 11-15, see “Civilian Review Board,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, Nov. 1965, 8-11; Don Slater, “Editorial,” Tangents, Nov. 1965, 2.

Document 16: Court Ruling on Gay Bars in Florida (1967)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Inman v. Miami, 197 So. 2d 50 (Florida District Court of Appeal, 4 April 1967).

Document 17: Court Rulings on Gay Bars in New Jersey (1967)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is One Eleven Wines & Liquors v. Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 50 N.J. 329 (Supreme Court of New Jersey, 6 November 1967).

For related sources, see “Gay-Bar Closing Challenged,” Eastern Mattachine Magazine, Jan. 1966, 1-2; “The Issue,” Drum, Feb. 1966, 4; “Action in the Courts,” The Ladder, June 1966, 14, 20; “Tangents,” Tangents, Aug. 1966, 17; “News,” Drum, Mar. 1967, 6; “Homosexuals’ Right to Be in Bars Upheld,” Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 1967, 10; “Total Victory in New Jersey Bar Cases,” Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter, Dec. 1967, 1-5; “News,” Drum, Jan. 1968, 23; “N.J. High Court Upholds Gay Bars,” Los Angeles Advocate, Jan. 1969, 1, 14.

Document 18: Court Ruling on Gay Bars in New York (1967)

The document reprinted in The Stonewall Riots is Matter of Kerma Restaurant Corporation v. Liquor Authority, 21 N.Y.2d 111 (New York Court of Appeals, 7 December 1967).

For related sources, see “Liquor License Is Revoked at Tony Pastor’s Night Spot, New York Times, 18 Mar. 1967, 15; “2 Clubs Catering to Homosexuals Closed by Police,” New York Times, 26 Nov. 1967, 69; Charles Grutzner, “Mafia Buys Clubs for Homosexuals,” New York Times, 30 Nov. 1967, 1, 50; “Tangents,” Tangents, May 1968, 11.

For sources on court rulings related to those referenced in Documents 16-18, see (for Los Angeles) “Appellate Court Strikes Down L.A. Police Practice,” PRIDE Newsletter, May 1967, 5; (for Chicago) “William B. Kelley, “The Trip Wins License Case; City Plans to Appeal,” Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, Apr. 1969, 11.

For mainstream media stories related to Documents 1-18 in 1965, see Jean White, “Those Others: A Report on Homosexuality,” Washington Post, 31 Jan. 1965, E1, E3; Jean White, “Scientists Disagree on Basic Nature of Homosexuality,” Washington Post, 1 Feb. 1965, A1, A16; Jean White, “Homosexuals are in All Kinds of Jobs,” Washington Post, 2 Feb. 1965, A1, A12; Jean White, “49 States and the District Punish Overt Homosexual Acts as Crimes,” Washington Post, 3 Feb. 1965, A1, A19; Jean White, “Homosexuals’ Militancy Reflected in Attacks on Ouster from U.S. Jobs,” Washington Post, 4 Feb. 1965, A1, A22; “Homosexuals Can Be Cured,” TIME, 12 Feb. 1965, 44; Robert Brustein, “Two Revolutions,” New Republic, 27 Mar. 1965, 26-27; “The Law and the Homosexual Problem,” LIFE, 11 Jun. 1965, 4; Robert K. Woetzel, “Do Our Homosexuality Laws Make Sense,” Saturday Review, 9 Oct. 1965, 23-25; “Lesbians Try to Peddle Each Other,” LIFE, 3 Dec. 1965, 98-99; Joseph Kahn, “Our Penal Code,” New York Post, 27 Dec. 1965, 27; 28 Dec. 1965, 25; 29 Dec. 1965, 31; 30 Dec. 1965, 21; 31 Dec. 1965, 19.

For mainstream media stories related to Documents 1-18 in 1966, see “The Homosexual in America,” TIME, 21 Jan. 1966, 40-41; David Sanford, “Boxed In,” New Republic, 21 May 1966, 8-9; Lois Wille, “The Homosexuals—A Growing Problem,” Chicago Daily News, 20 Jun. 1966, 1, 4; Lois Wille, “Homosexual Clergymen Tells of His Bizarre Double Life,” Chicago Daily News, 21 June 1966, 1, 4; Lois Wille, “Police Watch Homosexuals’ Hangouts Here,” Chicago Daily News, 22 June 1966, 1, 4; Lois Wille, “Is Homosexuality A Sickness? The Deviates Maintain It Isn’t,” Chicago Daily News, 23 June 1966, 1, 4; “A Woman’s Work,” Newsweek, 11 July 1966, 82; “The Case of the Elusive Euphemism,” TIME, 22 July 1966, 45-46; “The Iniquitous Depths,” TIME, 26 Aug. 1966, 14; Thomas O’Toole, “Success Reported in Sex Changes,” Boston Globe, 23 Nov. 1966, 2; “Surgery: A Body to Match the Mind,” TIME, 2 Dec. 1966, 52.

For mainstream media stories related to Documents 1-18 in 1967, see “Homosexual Acts,” Newsweek, 2 Jan. 1967, 28-29; Jack Star, “The Sad ‘Gay’ Life,” Look, 10 Jan. 1967, 30-33; Keith Power, “S.F.’s Transsexuals: The ‘Girls’ Who Live A Masquerade,” San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Mar. 1967, 1, 12; Samuel Hadden, “A Way Out for Homosexuals,” Harper’s, Mar. 1967, 107-108, 114-120; Tom Buckley, “The Transsexual Operation,” Esquire, Apr. 1967, 111-115, 205-208; “Homosexual Wedding,” Newsweek, 17 July 1967, 59; Nancy Love, “The Invisible Sorority,” Philadelphia Magazine, Nov. 1967, 66-71, 84-93; Webster Schott, “Civil Rights and the Homosexual: A 4-Million Minority Asks for Equal Rights,” New York Times Magazine, 12 Nov. 1967, 44-45, 49-54, 59; “Transvestite,” New Yorker, 30 Dec. 1967, 61.

For mainstream media stories related to Documents 1-18 in 1968, see “Transsexual Tragedy,” Newsweek, 22 Apr. 1968, 64; David Perlman, “A Medical View of the Homosexual,” San Francisco Chronicle, 19 June 1968, 1, 28; David Perlman, “The Homosexuals Reply to Doctor,” San Francisco Chronicle, 21 June 1968, 1, 22; “Where the Boys Are,” TIME, 28 June 1968, 80; Charles Alverson, “A Minority’s Plea: U.S. Homosexuals Gain in Trying to Persuade Society to Accept Them,” Wall Street Journal, 17 Jul. 1968, 1, 23; Richard Schickel, “Shock of a Hidden World,” LIFE, 1 Nov. 1968, 34-38; “A Gay Place,” Newsweek, 23 Dec. 1968, 38.

For mainstream media stories related to Documents 1-18 in 1969 (before the Stonewall Riots), see Ronald Forsythe [Donn Teal], “Why Can’t ‘We’ Live Happily Ever After, Too?” New York Times, 23 Feb.  1969, II-1, 17; Donn Teal, “How Anguished Are Homosexuals?” New York Times, 1 Jun. 1969, 23; H. Frankel, “On the Fringe,” Saturday Review, 14 June 1969, 30; Dick Halgren, “A Bay Area Study of Homosexuality,” San Francisco Chronicle, 20 June 1969, A3.

For African American media stories in 1965, see “10 Oppose Gov’t on Homosexuals,” Washington Afro-American, 20 Apr. 1965, 18; “ACLU Favors Sexual Behavior Law Reform,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 30 Dec. 1965, B8.

For African American media stories in 1966, see Arletta Claire, “Arletta’s Advice,” Chicago Defender, 11 July 1966, 19; Doug Akins, “The Club Set,” Chicago Defender, 8 Oct. 1966, 21; Arletta Claire, “Arletta’s Advice,” Chicago Defender, 27 Oct. 1966, 32.

For African American media stories in 1967, see Ele and Walt Dulaney, “Hearbreak Ahead for the Homosexual,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 12 Jan. 1967, D1, D6; “Wants Sex Change,” Jet, 16 Mar. 1967, 59; “Man Kills Woman in Bed with Wife,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 4 May 1967, A1, B9; Joe Bingham, “‘Lesbian Limbo’ Told in Pasadena,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 25 May 1967, A1, D5; “Woman Hates Sex; Kills Man for It,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 1 June 1967, A1, A3; “Jackie Robinson’s Family Blasts D.A.,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 8 June 1967, A1; “Court Sets Rare Murder Case Rule,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 15 June 1967, A2; “Tangled Lesbian’s Life in Jeopardy,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 15 June 1967, A4; “Pasadena Killer Sent to Hospital,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 22 June 1967, A3; “Male Dancer Sex Changed, Marries Musician,” Jet, 13 July 1967, 58; “Lesbian Slayer Convicted on His Wife’s Testimony,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 17 Au7g. 1967, D4; Charles Sanders, “Homosexuals Become ‘Man’ and ‘Wife” in Unusual Wedding,” Jet, 21 Sep. 1967, 24-27; Doug Akins, “Club Set,” Chicago Defender, 30 Sep. 1967, 18; “Finnie’s Ball Is Slated for Halloween,” Chicago Defender, 28 Oct. 1967, 20; “Lesbian Killer Jailed,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 9 Nov. 1967, A1, A8; “Homosexual Acts May Be Beneficial, Priests Agree,” Jet, 28 Dec. 1967, 26.

For African American media stories in 1968 and 1969, see “The Homosexual Fights Back,” Sepia, Sep. 1968, 14; Doug Akins, “The Club Set,” Chicago Defender, 21 Sep. 1968, 33; “Tells of Sexual, Other Abuses in U.S. Prisons,” Jet, 20 Mar. 1969, 31; Kenneth M. Robinson’s Slayer Caught in Ariz.,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 24 Apr. 1969, A1, A11; “Jackie Robinson’s Nephew’s Slayer Convicted of Arson,” Los Angeles Sentinel, 7 Aug. 1969, A1, A14; Doug Akins, “The Club Set,” Chicago Defender, 27 Sep. 1969, 22; “Finnie’s Ball Slated for Halloween,” Chicago Defender, 25 Oct. 1969, 25.

For Christian and religious media stories, see “Heterosexual Backlash,” Commonweal, 21 May 1965, 289; “Homosexual Law Reform,” America, 26 Feb. 1966, 278; “Equality for Homosexuals?” Christian Century, 13 Dec. 1967, 1587; “Bible and the Homosexual,” Christianity Today, 19 Jan. 1968, 24-25; “Equality for Homosexuals?” Christian Century, 24 Jan. 1968, 111-112; “Helping the Homosexual,” Christianity Today, 16 Feb. 1968, 29-30; “Religious Group Urges Recognition of Homosexuals’ Rights,” Christian Century, 5 June 1968, 744-745; P. T. Hartung, “Homosexual Movie,” Commonweal, 17 Jan. 1969, 502-503.