A Walk on the Dell, A Walk on Christopher Street

Walking around the Dell during the summer months is always jarring. There is a lot more silence and a lot fewer students. It’s almost as if the squirrels went on summer vacation, too. 

As I was walking around the Dell full of trees and green space earlier this week, I started thinking about an historic event where people walked around a small green park in New York City across from Stonewall Inn. 

Stonewall Inn was a mafia-owned bar located on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, across the street from a small city park. Since it was illegal to be openly gay at the time, Stonewall became a known oasis for the LGBTQ community. However, the New York police department would regularly raid the bar and would often publicly out individuals at the bar or those they decided to arrest. On the evening of June 27th, 1969, nine plain dressed police officers raided Stonewall Inn and started arresting numerous individuals. In response, people fought back and a protest grew until the entire street was shut down. 

To commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Inn uprising, members of the LGBTQ community formed the Christopher Street Liberation Day March on June 28th, 1970. Hundreds of people circled the block and marched up to Central Park. This event is considered the day the LGBTQ community collectively stood up to oppression and was the beginning of what are now known as Gay Pride Parades. 

Reflecting on this event while I walked around the Dell filled me with deep gratitude for the LGBTQ ancestors who fought oppression so all could be included. Of course there is more work to be done in creating a more equitable and inclusive society, but I am grateful that on our campus today we hold similar values that ensure all LGBTQ individuals are included, accepted, affirmed, and valued on campus. 

Such inclusion makes us a better and fuller campus. Such inclusion allows people to openly be their truest and fullest selves.

May we all be people who stand up against oppression, create change, and model deep love and acceptance of all people. Happy Pride.