The police were also corrupt. Many bars and business that conducted illegal activity would “pay off” the police in order to continue operating. If they failed to make their payment, the police would raid the establishment and arrest the patrons. On June 28, 1969, the owners of the Stonewall Inn, Mafia members themselves, failed to make their payment and they were raided by the NYPD.
1. What were the Stonewall Riots?
2. What did Claire Potter mean that “the police did not get their payoff”?
3. Can you draw any parallels between the Stonewall Riots as a movement and the protests that are
occurring today?
4. How is the Stonewall Riots a marker for the Gay Rights period?
5. What were the challenges of “coming out”?
6. What is the significance of the Stonewall Inn today?
8. What is outhistory.org?
9. Consider the arc of gay history over the last fifty years. List two changes that Claire Potter mentioned
about that arc of history.
10. How would you compare the relationship of the LGBT community during the Stonewall era with the
relationship of today?
