“Many of the men and women who marched that day would forever remember that moment on top of the bluff. Before them lay a field of uncut grass, a blizzard of banners, dancing, pot-smoking, singing and music, a huge American flag, ‘gay pride’ signs decorated with the Day-Glo hippie flower stickers, and men and women applauding each new arrival over the hill. And behind them—stretching out as far as they could see—was line after line after line of homosexuals and their supporters, at least fifteen blocks worth, by the count of the New York Times, which found the turnout notable enough to report it on the front page of the next day’s paper. No one had ever seen so many homosexuals in one place before. On top of the bluff, many of these men and women, who had grown up isolated and alone, stood in silence and cried.”
Item Identification:
- This item is an excerpt from Out for Good: The Struggle to Build a Gay Rights Movement in America specifically about Christopher Street Liberation Day.
- Written by Dudley Clendinen and Adam Nagourney
- Published on June 24, 1999
- This excerpt is historically significant because it’s a writing of someone’s first-hand experience of this celebration in great detail.
Item Annotation:
I think this extract is a great addition to my archive because it’s more of a story-telling style than the other items in my archive. I wasn’t able to find a lot of good pieces of writing that gave much detail about this day until I came across this one. I have, however, included a video with narration similar to this style. What makes this writing unique is its description and vivid illustration. Through the authors’ words, you can almost perfectly envision what this celebration may have looked like in his eyes. Not only did the authors’ include great detail about the setting and surroundings, but also phrases such as, “No one had ever seen so many homosexuals in one place before.” This sentence, in particular, helped me visualize just how monumental and great this event was. The mix of emotions written about also struck me. From signs decorated with “Day-Glo hippie flower stickers” to people standing in silence and crying, the authors did an amazing job portraying all the feelings experienced in this celebration, and that is why I felt it was a great compliment to the other items in this archive.
