Leitsch asked him to cooperate, promising that he would help with the bar’s legal issues. Leitsch and the others tried two other bars but, unexpectedly, when they announced they were homosexuals, they were served drinks.Īt Julius’, the bartender wanted no trouble. Julius’ Bar was the fourth choice for the group’s “sip-in.” The first place they went was the Ukrainian-American Village Restaurant, which had a sign in the window saying, “If you are gay, please go away.” But the manager closed the restaurant when a New York Times reporter tipped him off. Reporters came with Leitsch and the others. This was inspired by earlier “sit-ins” to desegregate diners in the American south. On ApDick Leitsch, Craig Rodwell and John Timmons walked through the door to engage in a “sip-in.” Randy Wicker joined them later. Homosexuality was defined as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association until 1973. (Before Stonewall, most pro-gay groups preferred the neutral word “homophile” to the term homosexual. Three men from the New York City chapter of the Mattachine Society, a “homophile” organization, decided to challenge this interpretation of the law in court. 2 But was that really what the law demanded? Kissing was certainly regarded as disorderly conduct. 1 In fact, drinking while gay in the early 1960s was considered illegal in New York state.Įvery bar or restaurant could be raided or closed for being “disorderly.” What was disorderly? According to the police, one man buying another man a drink, or chatting him up in a flirtatious manner, was enough grounds to be charged with disorderly conduct in New York City. In fact, Julius' has been open at 159 West 10th Street and Waverly Place since the 1860s, although not always as a gay or gay-friendly bar.
Unlike the Stonewall Inn, Julius’ Bar-just around the block from the Stonewall-had a liquor license. NPS / John Warren When drinking while gay could get you arrested