26th Annual Student Research Conference
The Dance of the Forty-One and the Stonewall Riots:
Watersheds of Queer History in Mexico and the United States
Noah C. Edwards
Dr. David Robinson and Dr. Sherri A. Palmer, Faculty Mentors
The 1901 Dance of the Forty-One in Mexico City and the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City are often considered to be turning points in the queer history of their respective countries. The Dance of the Forty-One is considered the beginning of the modern concept of homosexuality in Mexico, while the Stonewall Riots are widely regarded as the beginning of the modern gay rights movement in the USA and worldwide. While these incidents are unique, their shared status as watershed events in queer history merits a comparison of the societal climates in which they developed. This can be examined through initial, first-hand reactions to each event as well as the continued interpretation of them. This paper will examine each event within its unique historical and cultural contexts, compare the events themselves, the dialogue and discussion that surrounded them, and, finally, evaluate the roles they played in queer history.
Keywords: Queer History, Stonewall Riots, Dance of the Forty-One, LGBTQ History
Topic(s):History Senior Seminar
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 102-5
Location: VH 1236
Time: 9:00