ANNIVERSARY OF JUDY GARLAND'S DEATH, STONEWALL RIOTS

ANNIVERSARY OF JUDY GARLAND'S DEATH, STONEWALL RIOTS

PHILADELPHIA (Wireless Flash) -- Next Tuesday (June 22) will mark the 30th anniversary of the day Judy Garland died in London from an overdose of sleeping pills. Five days later on June 27, the Stonewall Riots broke out in New York City -- an incident many historians believe was the beginning of the gay rights movement. University of Pennsylvania gay historian Larry Gross says there's may be a connection between the two events. Garland had a huge gay following, and since the riots began the night of her funeral, it's possible some men were with distraught with grief and simply snapped during the police raid. Gross also thinks the name of the gay bar -- the Stonewall Inn --- is one reason why the rioting occurred there as opposed to other New York gay spots which tended to have "birdy names." In his words: "It's hard to imagine a riot occurring in a bar called the Pink Parrot."

CONTACT: Larry Gross, ****1/2; Philadelphia, PA; (215) 898-5620