Watch This: Madonna Makes A Speech At Stonewall Inn
Image credit: David Artavia’s Youtube channel (David Artavia)
Queen of Pop Madonna made a surprise appearance at the Stonewall Inn’s New Year’s Eve celebrations and delivered a speech that moved the crowd to gasps and tears.
Anyone who knows their LGBTQ history knows the importance of the Stonewall Inn. The Stonewall Inn is the site of the Stonewall riots, which was a series of violent confrontations between the LGBTQ community and the New York City Police. It’s considered to be the pivotal event that led to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for gay rights.
This year is the Stonewall riots 50th anniversary, and Madonna was recently named a Stonewall Ambassador in order to raise awareness about the 1969 uprising.
In her speech, Madonna talked about about how “50 years of standing up to discrimination, hatred, and worst of all, indifference,” started at the Stonewall Inn.
“Let us never forget the Stonewall riots and those who bravely stood up and said ‘Enough!’ Enough brutatlity. Enough violence inflicted on this community. Enough stigmatism. Enough oppression. Enough pain and suffering,” she said to the crowd gathered for the iconic location’s new Year’s Eve celebrations.
Madonna also recounted how the years before the Stonewall riots involved constant police raids at gay sanctuaries across the country, with the raids often becoming violent and humiliating. Aside from calling on the LGBTQ community to never forget that, Madonna also underscored how important Stonewall has become since then.
“A half a century later, Stonewall has become a defining moment and a critical turning point in history — catapulting LGBTQ rights into public conversation and consciousness, and awakening activism,” she proclaimed.
Watch the entire speech below:
Do any of our Adam4Adam members still recall the days before and after the Stonewall riots? Do you have any memories or stories to share with our younger users? Share your experiences with us in the comments section below.
I feel like Larry David now. It’s not a surprise appearance, Madonna, if you announce it ahead of time!
I can speak for the 1980s. Gay Pride went from being a march to achieve equal rights to being a degenerate parade. The first step was when they starting having floats with porn stars riding them, exploiting the event to make money. The more it got focused on sexual acts rather than love, the worse it got. And so did the epidemic. New York was full of simply sleazy behavior, it was rampant. And too many innocents were seduced and murdered by sleazy guys who didn’t care. So much unnecessary death and suffering. And somehow, like children, brats, they then expected the government to fix everything. No wonder Reagan turned his back. And sadly, that sex-based culture remains, young guys getting the completely wrong idea about being gay, and even deliberately getting themselves infected. Such self-destruction. Being Gay is supposed to be a truthful, beautiful loving thing. But so many insist on spoiling it, spoiling themselves, mutilating their bodies. Shameful. It will very possibly result in us losing our hard-won rights. Think about that. Backlash cannot always be controlled. The pendulum swings both ways.
POINTS: In the place where PRIDE started … Awakening activism …
How easily so many HERE take for granted the RIGHTS these activists earned us by standing up to discrimination and police brutality. Once upon a time in AMERICA, police would enter known gay establishments for a little fun and beating on the weirdos … and that behavior was not only acceptable but routine! How many self loathing officers participated? How much internalized homophobia did citizens spew Fighting the FEAR of the UNKNOWN? Some were flamboyant, some militant, and some just wanted to be THEMSELVES, and they started an action that SERVED US ALL, and I find it sad when our community marginalizes those same voices. As is often pointed out, WE DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT (or even stand up and be counted) TODAY, however, we should have the courage and honor to RESPECT the struggle of our brothers and sisters everywhere. I wonder where we would be without this fight 50 years ago?
Also, I want to speak about our brother NATHAN who 50 years ago fought for our nation, while serving in silence. My FRIEND, every time you speak your TRUTH here, I realize how blessed I am. [I wrote to you on the 2018 Christmas blog]
-Hunter
In addition to those who chose activism to advance acceptance, we cannot overlook the legions of gay men who lived their lives over the recent decades as great and valued shop owners, pharmacists, teachers, pastors, brothers, friends … and countless others … while choosing (as it was their right) to be discreet about their sexuality. Over time, it would become known/obvious they were gay by those close to them who would eventually say “he’s gay? I guess so. He’s a great person, not at all like the gay guys you see parading in the streets in the news.”
Activists seem to feel entitled to/owed all the credit for advancing acceptance when rightfully that credit needs to be shared with guys who took a different road that also advanced acceptance.
Hmmm, I don’t believe that when you are being beaten with a club that reaching out and taking that club is activism; it is literally a life or death struggle. It’s interesting you chose “discreet,” as that is the form of the Latin word ‘discretus’ [separate] as in holding things in a confidential manner. I find it better to be discrete, as in DISTINCT from others. We could all fool ourselves that everyone who ‘just lives or works around us will grow to understand we are gay and good.’ It is too easy to pass, and trust me I passed many times when Evangelicals decided to tell me how ‘those gays’ were going to hell … no amount of silence will shut them down and I promise you, no positive good life will make them believe you are anything but an affront to THEIR God. As further proof I will offer many White Evangelicals, spreading ‘gossip of bigotry,’ who have attempted to tell me what is wrong with ‘Blacks’. Not to worry, I am well versed in taking on all those fights. All because I understand how bigotry undermines those good deeds of ALL communities, including the Evangelicals I consider good people and friends. I may not consider myself an activist, but if I consider myself a Christian, then I am called to action when someone distorts what Christ stood for, therefore you bet I call it out here when I see it in the blogs. Being Christian doesn’t mean I have to hide it here (trust me I see, hear, and read a lot of anti-Christian things, and I absolutely understand why many believe that way, for years many of my brothers were abused in the name of God, and therefore it is MY DUTY to display myself as NOT that MAN, but a man of ACCEPTANCE and LOVE). If I consider myself a gay man, then I must too, choose whether I want to be an exemplar of this community; it’s MY choice, no one else’s, and it doesn’t allow me to pat myself on the back (or complain because I carry twice the load). I ended a relationship because my ex kept saying: I don’t like Asians”, and you know what, I knew it, because I heard it, I saw it shared, I saw it posted every where! I always wonder WHY? What purpose is served when we believe ourselves to be different from others? To your point, the ‘hard working, good gay community,’ may feel as entitled as the ‘gay guys parading in the news,’ however, ENTITLEMENT speaks to what is in our own hearts, WHAT we believe WE DESERVE, and my community is made of ALL the guys here, the good ones, the bad ones, the flamboyant, masculine, rainbow of cultures, faiths, and ethnicities. The ones who reply to a message even though there is no interest, and the ones who block, for who-knows what reason. They are positive and negative, and they often display bigotry. For all my good qualities, and my haphazard luck, I am as flawed, and imperfect as the rest of you. We are discrete, and within that distinction, I am no better than ANY of my brethren.
Hello, Hunter!
I did not have a trying time in the Military. I knew “nothing” about Homosexuality as would be expected born in 1946. I knew that I liked males and had no interest in females but I did not “equate” it as Homosexuality.
The USMA was quiet about that sort-of-thing; yes, we all heard about such persons, but for the few, all who attended knew the “Talk,” knew the “Walk,” and acted…accordingly. If you did the aforementioned, you were given the benefit-of-the-doubt and left alone.
Yes, there were those who asked: “Nathan, you have a girlfriend”? I said no, but, quickly said: “But, I do not have a boyfriend, either”! Those who had a good head on their shoulders, took it for what it was and laughed and left it alone.
When, I got to “In-Country,” the soldiers asked if I had a “Girlfriend back home”? I replied: “Not a boyfriend back home, either”!
They remarked: “Nathan, you must be desperate”? I answered, “Yes, I am…aren’t we all?” They chuckled and came to understand what their Medic was saying. I served and they observed. I was respected but never quite knew if I were, proportionally, liked?
I left it alone, and they left it alone. There were those soldiers who took a liking to me, and, of them, one or two, I was with…both died as one was a helicopter pilot, and the other was a infantryman.
As I already wrote: the Major was my “unrequited love” and remains that today. I chose to serve and do so with the understanding that I would not bring disgrace upon my “late brother’s uniform” or mine.
I did well and I continue to do well. I will “Thank You” for the blessing but, I knew many of us who served equally as well and of them, quite-a-few did not come back vertical. I visit their graves as an honor to them as all-of-us!
Nathan
Ummm –what the purpose point there are hater’s in the world and there will always be haters in the world..”50th anniversary & same sex marriage dont matter to narrow-minded haters’.
I was only 25 years old in 1969– In gay slang, a “friend of Dorothy” is a gay man. The phrase dates back to at least World War II,
This is why I can’t be “gay”. Sure, I fuck men, love men, only want men, but never will I be “gay” so long as it means elevating fag hags as icons. We should be supporting MEN not looking for the next Madonna or Cher etc.
You are so scared so you bash gay men, and you are right, you don’t deserve to be counted among us, until you stop using all that bile on us. You don’t have to like Madonna or Cher (Lord knows I am not crazy for either of them) but how dare you bash Madonna for taking the time to do something I never see you do here, SUPPORT A GAY CAUSE! Instead you TALK about loving men, but you really don’t and it is sad. Start loving yourself, when you do you will start to feel better about yourself and that will help support the idea that a man who loves men is OKAY and is worthy of LOVE, but until you do feel worthy of that, you will only be a cymbal clanging your sad cacophony here
How is he scared? Where did he bash Madonna?
He expressed a view that was an alternative to the stereotypical presentation of gays so often promoted by the leaders of this blog. Sure, it wasn’t presented with butterflies and unicorns sweetess. But it sure doesn’t deserve the lambasting and hateful response, RANTTRWP/Dave.
Doing so makes the blog leadership look just as negative as those it derides for being. The telling point here was the use of “us”. It exposes the single minded view/demand that being “gay” comes with a long list of trumped up lock-step requirements when it comes to lifestyle choices such as music, style of dress, demeanor, political views, grooming, sexual practices, and more. All of these are so often not supported by what many members put in their profiles and state in the blog. But the leadership “plays on”.
I’m not an “us”. That does not mean I believe anyone who is an “us” needs to be eradicated. If a guy fits the “us” mold, fine. His life, his choice. The blog leadership who is “us” here do not seem to want to practice the respect for diversity they demand and claim they are owed. They don’t seem to want anyone who isn’t “us”, often telling those who are that “they” to not read, not post, and should just go away.
It’s long past time that the leadership shows acceptance that gays come in a rainbow assortment by becoming more tolerant and expanding blog topics beyond the stereotypical.
exactly! Madonna just wants to remain relevant. her star is fading. she should be in jail after her comments about burning down the White House, regardless of who is president. I used to be a HUGE fan until the entertainer turned political activist.
Your statement is exactly how I feel. I don’t know why someone such as her who has made such on impact on us in that era, would choose to go out this way rather than remain such an icon for those of us.
Buck up little camper, no matter how good entertainers behave, most are pretty political, and tend to be pretty liberal or conservative (few speak out if they are marginal, so you often see the polarity here.) The Madonna you were a HUGE fan of 30 years ago regularly pushed religious boundaries and was a shit-starter from her start, therefore this neither surprises or shocks me. However, I do believe that Trump sets the tempo when he regularly uses profanity, tweets capriciously, and behaves in a chaotic manner, I could forgive an entertainer, but expect much more from the president of the USA! Perhaps because he was an entertainer it is evident why we feel similar ways about an expectation of ‘adultness’
I was not a Madonna Fan really ever … but when she made the comments about burning down the White House I really began to respect and appreciate her. Madonna’s support of the LGBTQ Community is consistent and impressive. She has been a huge star and didn’t need to show up and much less say those supportive things – but she did. I am NOT a Fag-hag type of guy … but I Love and respect this lady even more now!!
Exactly……
I want to suggest a blog idea but have no idea how to contact the author, Dave. Can anyone help me? If so I’m at ‘travelingbimmny’ on a4a. Thank you.
send your suggestion at [email protected]
Thanks – just sent.
I used to be a HUGE Madonna fan, but these days, she’s lost her mind. Her White House comment at the women’s march was the last straw. Follow her Instagram page long enough and she comes across as a bitter, preachy man hater under the guise of feminism, taking horrific selfies to get attention. But nobody cares anymore. Only the most delusional of psycho fans still worship her and yet she would have nothing to do with them unless they were buying her album or supporting her causes. It took me a long time to see what a fake user she really is. I wish I had listened to my parents.
I think the gasps and tears are from seeing Madge’s fake booty she showed off.
she’s irrelevant