Ann Bausum
A Room of One's Own 2717 Atwood Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53704
BOOK LAUNCH for Ann Bausum, author of Stonewall
Thursday, May 7th at 6:00pm
Ann Bausum, author of Stonewall
A Room of One's Own is excited and honored to host Ann Bausum for the launch of her new book for young adults and up detailing the history of Stonewall and its impact on the gay rights movement in America.
Please consider purchasing an extra copy of the book for Room to donate to local schools, to help get this important history into the hands of young people in our community!
In 1969 being gay in the United States was a criminal offense. It meant living a closeted life or surviving on the fringes of society. People went to jail, lost jobs, and were disowned by their families for being gay. Most doctors considered homosexuality a mental illness. There were few safe havens, few places to go where it was okay to be gay. The Stonewall Inn, a Mafia-run, filthy, overpriced bar in New York City's Greenwich Village, was one of them.
Police raids on gay bars happened regularly in this era. But one hot June night, when cops pounded on the door of the Stonewall, almost nothing went as planned. Tensions were high. The crowd refused to go away. Anger and frustration boiled over.
The raid became a riot.
The riot became a catalyst.
The catalyst triggered an explosive demand for gay rights.
Ann Bausum's riveting exploration of the Stonewall Riots and the national gay rights movement that followed is eye-opening, unflinching, and inspiring.