5 Pre-Stonewall Events That Shaped The LGBT Community: Trailblazers

From: NewNowNext

The Sip-In At Julius’

1966

In New York, bars were technically not allowed to serve homosexual. In 1966, a group of well-dressed, mild-mannered gay men, members of the New York branch of the Mattachine Society, challenged that law.

From the Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation:

With reporters in tow, four activists declared they were gay and asked to be served at Julius’. While Julius’ was a historically gay bar, they had recently been raided, which meant they were under observation. Their denial of service helped launch a court case, which declared that the New York State Liquor Authority could not stop service to gay patrons.

Thankfully, Julius’ is still around—and still serving gays as New York’s oldest existing gay bar.