The Sip-In participants, (from left) John Timmins, Dick Leitsch, Craig Rodwell, and Randy Wicker, Julius' Bar, New York City, April 21, 1966. Photo c/o Getty. As of 1966, due to New York State Liquor Authority regulations regarding refusal of service to "disorderly" customers and the fact that New York City's "indecent behavior" law necessarily classified LGBTs as "disorderly," bar owners needed only to suspect someone of being gay in order to refuse them service. The Mattachine Society of New York decided to highlight this unequal treatment by having the press follow members in a quest to get a drink. Thus, on April 21, 1966, fifty years ago today, a group of Mattachine members went to three bars, identified themselves as homosexuals, and ordered drinks; after being served at the first two establishments, the manager at the third, Julius' Bar, refused the men service. "I think it's the law," he said, placing his hand over one of the men's drink. Based on that, the Mattachine Society sued the New York State Liquor Authority, which eventually abandoned its unequal application of the "disorderly" regulation. The newly-won right to drink, however, was not free from interference by the Mafia, on the one hand, and police raids, on the other, so the typical gay bar experience remained one of frustration, at best, or harassment and violence, at worst. Many argue that the Sip-In, as the Mattachine Society referred to its protest at the time (with a not-so-subtle reference to the Sit-Ins of the African American Civil Rights Movement), increased the tensions that eventually made Stonewall possible. Julius' Bar, for its part, is still in business, having since become a gay bar; each month, Julius' holds a party called "Mattachine." #lgbthistory #lgbtherstory #lgbttheirstory #lgbtpride #juliusbar (at Julius, Bar)
