50 years after Stonewall riots, LGBT rights are in 'midst of a backlash,' says activist

Read Story Transcript

Nearly 50 years after the Stonewall riots in New York City that marked a pivotal turning point in the LGBT rights movement, one activist says we still have much further to go in the fight for equality.

"The reality is we're second-class citizens [in the United States]," Mark Segal told The Current's guest host Megan Williams.

"You can get married today anywhere in America, but an hour later, you can be fired by your boss in most states in the United States simply because you got married and you're gay," he said, acknowledging that there is no U.S.federal law protectingLGBT people from being discriminated against in the workplace because of their sexual orientation. There are, however,some protections for federal workersand attempts are underwayto enact broader anti-discrimination laws.

On the morning ofJune 28, 1969, police raided a popular gay bar called the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan's Greenwich Village.

At the time, it was illegal to solicit same-sex relations in the city. Canada had just decriminalized same-sex activity the day before.

Segal recalls police barging into the bar, slamming people against the walls, calling them derogatory names, and then taking money from their wallets. When police finally let patrons out of the bar and ordered them to disperse, they refused.

"We picked up whatever was around us stones, cans and just started throwing them at the door," said Segal, explaining that police eventually became blocked inside the bar.

Although there has been progress to celebrate since that cataclysmic moment, he said, "we're in the midst of a backlash against our rights."

"It's happening now stronger than ever because it has a leader in the name of Donald Trump and Mike Pence."

In 2015, Pence, then Indiana governor, drew criticism for signing a bill into law, allowing business owners torefuse service to gay and lesbian customersin the name of "religious freedom." In March, Trump ordered that most transgender people be barred from the military.

Increasingly, some groups, particularly,black trans people, are falling through the cracks, said Olivia Nuamah, executive director of Pride Toronto.

Fifty years after Stonewall, trans women are still being murdered, she said. This, despite the fact a black trans woman, Marsha P. Johnson, is often credited with throwing the first stone of the 1969 riot.

"I'd like to see the legacy of Stonewall be a complete turning of the situation [for trans women of colour]," said Nuamah, adding that there needs to be greater visibility and discussion around subject.

Click 'listen' near the top of this page to hear the full conversation.

Written by Kirsten Fenn. With files from CBC News. Produced by Imogen Birchard.