Stonewall Was a Riot
It wasn’t the Stonewall focus group
or the Stonewall business case
It wasn’t the Stonewall let’s-present-
our-most-acceptable-face
Long years of asking nicely had not
got us anywhere
Our rulers did not hear us when
we whispered: it’s not fair
So when re-writers try to say
we won by being quiet
Remind them of our history –
that Stonewall was a riot
It wasn’t the Christopher Street parade
or carnival with floats
No candidates turned up and smiled
to win themselves some votes
It wasn’t the Stonewall letter or
the Stonewall resolution
It fought all night to light the dawn
of the gay rights revolution
When glossies feed you tales that serve
a bland and spiceless diet
Remind them of our history –
that Stonewall was a riot
Starbuck’s did not sponsor it
nor Barclays Bank nor Nike
It wasn’t led by lobbyists
but drag queens, fags and dykes
The advertisers did not book
a rainbow centre spread
And coppers did not dance with queers
but beat them till they bled
When corporations claim our cause
then comrades – do not buy it!
Remind them of our history –
that Stonewall was a riot
Now, every tactic, loud or quiet
is welcome on our stall
But unless we’d had the Stonewall riot
we’d have no Pride at all
