Boston forum: ‘Stonewall 1969 ... LBGT LIBERATION 2009’

Members of the Boston LGBT Community marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion by participating in a vibrant and passionate forum on June 20 with the theme “Stonewall 1969 ... LGBT Liberation 2009: Fighting for our Lives and Liberation in the Global Capitalist Crisis.” Members of the local African-American, youth, transgender and unionized LGBT communities came together to celebrate unity and the many struggles these communities participate in. The event was sponsored by Workers World Party and the Stonewall Warriors.

The forum was opened and chaired by Brian Majka of Stonewall Warriors. He introduced Frank Neisser of Stonewall Warriors and WWP, who gave an account of the Stonewall Rebellion and of the role and contributions of WWP throughout the 40 years of struggle since, including the analysis of the origins of LGBT oppression provided in books and pamphlets by WWP members Bob McCubbin and Leslie Feinberg. Neisser made clear how the struggle against LGBT oppression is part and parcel of the fight against capitalism and for socialism.

Imani Henry, trans playwright, performer and writer for Workers World newspaper, gave an analysis of the impact of the current economic crisis on LGBT communities. His remarks included many heartening notes, stressing that despite the November ballot passage of Proposition 8 in California banning same-sex marriage, our community succeeded in raising to a national level the struggle for marriage equality, against the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act signed in 1996 by President Bill Clinton, as well as the ongoing battle against the vicious “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy against LGBT people in the military, also a legacy of the Clinton administration.

Henry described a massive shift in consciousness that is the direct result of 40 years of mass struggle by the LGBT community.

Henry had just returned from the four-day Peoples Summit and Tent City in Detroit and shared his experiences. Video clips and further impressions of the summit were shared by Jonathan Regis of the youth group Fight Imperialism, Stand Together—FIST.

Members of three different American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees locals, representing Harvard University, Boston Public Library clerical workers, and group home service workers gave firsthand accounts of their unions’ fight-back struggles against layoffs. Tascha Campbell brought greetings from New Era, Boston’s powerful new African-American, HIV activist LGBTQA (lesbian, gay, bi, trans, questioning and allies) youth group.

Many who participated in the forum had also joined with the Stonewall Warriors in Boston LGBT Pride activities the previous week, including the Dyke March on June 19 and the massive annual LGBT Pride march on June 20. Leaflets distributed at both events announced the forum and hailed the 40th anniversary of Stonewall as well as this year’s pride theme, “Trans-forming Our Community.”