A Queer Uprising 60 Years Before Stonewall: The 1905 Les Douaires Riot
In the early 1900s, Les Douaires, a youth detention colony in Normandy, France, held an increasing number of boys aged over 16. Rumors circulated about frequent sexual interactions among the detained boys.
The 1969 Stonewall riot marked a significant moment in LGBTQ+ resistance and is commemorated annually by Pride events each June. However, Stonewall was not the first queer rebellion.
Recent research published in the Journal of Homosexuality revealed a queer uprising at Les Douaires in 1905, more than six decades before Stonewall, at a youth detention site in France.
Context of Queer Life in 19th-Century France
During the 19th century, a discreet queer culture emerged around Parisian bars and brothels. Same-sex relationships were also frequent in single-gender environments such as the military and prisons, though they were socially disapproved.
By the late 1800s, fears about queer sexualities increased, with such relationships often being pathologized as medical conditions.
Youth Penal Colonies and Same-Sex Relationships
In some youth penal colonies in France, same-sex relationships had become common. These institutions incarcerated working-class youths aged 8 to 21, often for vagrancy or theft, subjecting them to harsh agricultural and industrial labor for months or years.
Les Douaires was one such facility, specifically for boys detained in northern France.
"The 1969 Stonewall riot, a pivotal episode of LGBTQ+ resistance to a police raid, was a turning point in the western gay rights movement."
"In 19th-century France, an underground queer scene was developing around bars and brothels in Paris."
Author's summary: The 1905 Les Douaires riot reveals an early queer resistance in France, predating Stonewall by over 60 years, highlighting the recurring struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and recognition.