Harassment at the Wigwam, April 1972
In light of the recent repeal of the cross-dressing laws in Champaign and Urbana, power in the local GLF had shifted from the "consciousness-raisers" to the direct-action activists. Kathy McCabe and Ed Lisowski were out. William Stanley and I were in. My censure by the organization was quickly forgotton on the heels of the Champaign victory. I was elected treasurer and my roommate, Roger Walther, elected president.
On March 31st, 1972, management of a campus bar called the Wigwam which catered to hippies, radicals and growing number of gays and lesbians, began a campaign of harassment against its gay and lesbian clientele. Ash trays and beers were dumped on patrons by the manager, accompanied by homophobic slurs.
When we found out, our new militant GLF called an emergency meeting.
Dramatization of GLF emergency meeting in response to Wigwam harassment [1]
The Gay Liberation Front voted to have a "Stonewall" at the Wigwam. I found this cool yellow helmet at the Woolworths with the word GAY printed accross the front that I wore for the occaision. Why it was made and for whom, I have no idea. It was the only helmet on the toy shelf.
On April 8th, over 20 of us marched over from the Illini Union to the Wigwam and took up four or five tables. As it turned out, the manager responsible for the attacks was not present and we were all treated with the utmost courtesy. Slowly we began to filter out, considering it a victory, until there were just four of us left. And then, it happened.
