A particularly seminal event in LGBTQ+ history was the 1966 “Sip-In” at Julius’ Bar in Greenwich Village, around the corner from the Stonewall Inn, where the Stonewall Riots would happen three years later.
Drinking while gay in the early 1960s was considered illegal in New York State (and most states). In response to laws that prevented businesses from serving members of the LGBTQ+ community, gay rights organization the Mattachine Society organized the “Sip-In,” based on the “sit-ins” against segregation at Southern lunch counters.
Located in a ca. 1825 building, Julius’ opened at the corner of West 10th Street and Waverly Place in the 1860s, making it one of the longest operating bars in New York City.
The Julius’ Sip-In was one of the very first planned actions of civil disobedience for LGBTQ+ rights at a time when the New York Police Department could arrest a man buying another man a drink, or chatting him up in a flirtatious manner.
On April 21, 1966 Dick Leitsch, Craig Rodwell and John Timmons walked through the door to engage in a “sip-in.” Randy Wicker joined them later.
In 1967, the courts ruled that indecent behavior had to be more than same-sex “cruising,” kissing or touching.
Gay people could legally drink in a bar, but getting a liquor license for an openly gay bar was not possible, and many were owned or operated by the mob or paid protection money to them, which was passed on to local police officers.
You can listen to an interview with Dick Leitsch about the Sip In here.
In 2022, Village Preservation placed a plaque on the building to commemorate this important location for LGBTQ history. That same year, the building was landmarked following a successful campaign led by Village Preservation.
The image above is included in Village Preservation’s Fred W. McDarrah: Iconic Images of the Village & East Village from the 1950s and 60s historic Image archive collection. McDarrah was an author and staff photographer at the Village Voice, who captured hundreds of iconic village moments such as this one.
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