It was 25 years since the Stonewall Riots of 1969. In those days, gay bars were regularly raided by the police. But on June 27, 1969, the patrons of The Stonewall Inn had had enough. As the police raided the bar, a crowd of four hundred patrons gathered on the street outside and watched the officers arrest the bartender, the doorman, and a few drag queens.
The crowd, which eventually grew to an estimated 2000 strong, was fed up. Something about that night ignited years of anger at the way police treated gay people. Chants of “Gay Power!” echoed in the streets. Soon, beer bottles and trash cans were flying. Police reinforcements arrived and attempted to beat the crowd away, but the angry protesters fought back.
Ira and Michael were proud to do their part in the fight against discrimination, especially honoring the memory of Stonewall, which turned out to be a pivotal moment in the Gay Rights Movement. They volunteered every year for the Gay Freedom Day Parade, But in 1994 there was a change, and more than just the new name of Gay Pride Day Parade.
Watching the parade from the bleechers, when Rebecca passed Ira and Michael as she and the rest of the even PFLAG group marched by, her boys ran up and joined her arm in arm. "Does Dad know your here?" "I'm sure he does now," as she pointed to the news camera crew.
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