How Stonewall’s 1969 Rebellion Sparked a Global Queer Rights Revolution
A new book by author and literary scholar Thomas Sparr examines the lasting impact of the Stonewall uprising. Published by C.H.Beck, Come Out! How the Christopher Street Rebellion Changed the World explores how the 1969 protests reshaped queer identity and rights. The work arrives in bookshops on 10 January 2025.
The Stonewall uprising began on 28 June 1969, when queer patrons at New York’s Stonewall Inn resisted police brutality for the first time. Their collective defiance ignited a global movement for LGBTQ+ rights. Over time, the rebellion contributed to major legal changes, including the repeal of Germany’s Paragraph 175, which had criminalised homosexuality.
Sparr’s book traces how the uprising transformed self-perception and visibility for queer communities. It also connects the event to modern Pride celebrations, showing its influence on activism and culture. A trained scholar in literature and philosophy from Marburg, Hamburg, and Paris, Sparr brings deep expertise to the subject. Beyond this project, he has edited works at Suhrkamp Verlag and written a biography of Paul Celan’s poem Death Fugue. At the Leipzig Book Fair, Jan Feddersen, editor-at-large for our website, will host a discussion with Sparr about the book’s themes. The conversation will likely explore how Stonewall’s legacy continues to shape queer rights today.
The book’s release on 10 January 2025 adds to ongoing discussions about queer history and activism. Sparr’s analysis highlights the uprising’s role in legal reforms, cultural shifts, and the rise of Pride events. Readers will gain insight into how a single moment in 1969 reshaped lives worldwide.
