BOISE, Idaho — The heat didn't stop some people from rallying down Friday morning on the Capitol steps for Christopher Street Day.
Tristan Pinkerton, co-chair of the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) at Boise State and a member of the Boise Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), said Stonewall was about fighting back against the oppression and that much of the history becomes lost because of that.
"What we really want to do is highlight that it's a significant event in queer history," Pinkerton said. "It's a significant event in American history. And we should not forget that what a Pride in September does, it just completely erases the history of everything that has led up to this point. What we want to do is highlight the remembrance ... and we want to return it to actually having meaning instead of just, you know, a bunch of corporate sponsors."
Christopher Street is where the Stonewall Uprising began in New York City in 1969. Where members of the LGBTQ+ community, and allies, protested a police raid on the Stonewall Inn.
Then, on June 28, 1970, the first Pride march was held to honor the one-year anniversary of the uprising. This is why Pride is in June.
"The Stonewall Inn was frequented by gay and trans people in New York," Pinkerton said. "I believe it was actually illegal in New York at the time. So at any point that police could just raid the inn and arrest as many queer people as they wanted. And so June 20, 1969, that night, a brick was thrown through a window and there were a mass arrests of queer people."
The people had enough, said Pinkerton, and they started to fight back.
"Stonewall means fight back. Smash gay oppression," Pinkerton said. "I believe it was a sign at one of the first New York Pride marches. It's just pride in oneself in refusing to be punished for being who you are and for who you love, and what you identify as."
Pinkerton said they will continue celebrating Christopher Street Day next year and hopes to have a larger turnout.
"This is for every queer person who is unable to come out at home for fear of being kicked out of their houses, for every queer person who is unable to get access to the health care products that they need to access hormones and abortion access, it's for everyone who is a working class queer person who feels that they cannot be themselves," Pinkerton said, "I say that a lot but it's true, especially in America, especially in Idaho. Idaho is one of the worst states in terms of anti gay legislation and anti trans legislation, especially if you're a trans minor. I believe next year the day falls on a Saturday. So hopefully, we'll be able to have more people and have bigger turnout next year, but I'm proud of where we are right now."
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