Earlier this month, while visiting my sister in New York City, I visited the  place where the modern LGBT movement began, Stonewall Inn. I got chills as I walked through the doors of such a historic and meaningful place. Although, that might have also been due to the cute cute bouncer with soft hands who stamped the back of my hand as I entered.
Fourty-four years prior, police stormed the very place I was standing in the early morning hours of June 28th. New York City Police stormed inside, however, unlike other raids in the 1950s and 1960s, the drag queens fought back, fought for their right to have a place to congregate, drink, and enjoy each other’s company. Their courage, showed the nation that LGBT would not be marginalized, persecuted, or discriminated against.
Decades later, twelve states have legalized same-sex marriage, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell has been overturned. Not all, but students and schools are welcoming transgender and LGB students. Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better Campaign” compels young people (both at heart and in age) to hang in there because life will get better. And while we’re still miles away from the promised land, we’re drastically closer than we were in 1969.
In 2013, we have gays and lesbians in Congress, running Fortune 500 companies, hosting television shows, and playing sports as professional athletes. Athletes such as Jason Collins,  a center for the Washington Wizards and Brittney Griner was the the Number 1 pick for the WNBA. These two weren’t the first, nor will they be the last to come out; nor were they welcomed with opened arms by everyone, including their teammates.
I’m proud to say my rowing team, DC Strokes founded in 1991,  is the oldest LGBT supportive rowing team in the country team where LGBT members and allies row along side each other, every morning and most afternoons, working toward a common goal of winning regattas on both the national and international stage.
In 1994, Stonewall Regatta was born in NY and Strokes adopted the regatta to pay homage to the LGBT movement’s roots by remembering the riots at Stonewall. Collegiate and community teams around the Washington, D.C. area and beyond, 175 boats and around 30 teams, compete on the Anacostia River. Stonewall is the only LGBT regatta in the country to be officially sanctioned by the rowing’s official governing body, US Rowing. Together, all athletes spend the day on the water together, competing, and having fun.
DC Strokes creates a safe space for LGBT rowers to compete, even though everyone’s views on LGBT issues haven’t evolved. Rowers have faced anti-gay slurs such as “don’t let the fags beat us,” during races, but our presence is standing up to their bigotry. In fact, when the team competes at the Head of the Charles, the organizers refuse to recognize Strokes as an LGBT team. Our presence let’s other either closeted athletes or up and coming high school rowers know that it does get better and whether they’re gay or straight, we welcome everyone.
Stonewall is not only important to DC Strokes and the LGBT community, but also to Washington, D.C. by bringing in tourism, introducing more people to the Anacostia River, and empowering people adjust their perceptions of Sough East D.C. Some of the wildlife I’ve seen are beavers, bald eagles, fish, ducks, geese, as well as other species of birds.
Over the following two weeks, I’m going to be posting interviews I’ve conducted with members of the team. These members will be sharing their experiences, what it’s like to be a leader in the organization, representing the team in the community, or having been part of the team that founded Stonewall. Their stories are inspiring and while they’re not professional athletes, they’re still role models for all LGBT youth.
While the Stonewall Riots happened 44 years ago, DC Strokes brings the passion and integrity to life from those drag queens to life and if you want to be a part of this magic, mark your calendar for June 2nd. Come out to the Anacostia Community Boathouse during the hours of 8:30 AM – 5 PM to cheer on the Strokes to victory! We look forward to seeing you there.
If at the end of the day, you’re interested in learning more about the team and maybe one day joining it, we’re ALWAYS looking for coxswains (which is how I started) and the team will offer all the training. I can promise you, the time you spend on the will be the best part of your day.
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