The Patch (bar) facts for kids
The Patch was a special club located in Wilmington, California. It was a place where people who loved others of the same gender could gather. In August 1968, The Patch became very important in the fight for equal rights. It was one of the first places where people openly stood up against unfair treatment by the police. This event, along with similar actions at the Black Cat Tavern, helped start a big movement for fairness and equality.
The Patch: A Place for Change
The Patch was managed by a comedian named Lee Glaze, who was known as "The Blond Darling." Many different people went to The Patch, including men and women. Some women who were part of local roller derby teams also visited the club.
Police often told Lee Glaze that he had to follow strict rules to keep his club open. They wanted him to stop certain performances and limit how people interacted. Glaze tried to follow these rules at first, but his business started to struggle.
So, Glaze found a clever way to warn his customers when police were around. He would play the song "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN" on the jukebox. This was a secret signal for everyone to follow the police rules until it was safe again.
Standing Up for Rights
One weekend in August 1968, The Patch was full of people. Police officers suddenly came into the club. They asked for IDs and arrested several people without clear reasons. For Lee Glaze, this was too much.
Glaze quickly jumped onto the stage and grabbed the microphone. He bravely shouted, "It's not against the law to be homosexual and it's not a crime to be in a gay bar!" This moment turned a police raid into a powerful protest. Glaze encouraged everyone to chant, "Fight for your rights!" and "We are Americans too!" He also promised that The Patch would pay for anyone's bail and legal fees if they were arrested.
Afterward, Glaze led the crowd to a flower shop nearby. He bought all the flowers (except pansies) and gave them to the people. Then, at 3:00 AM, he led them in a peaceful "flower power" protest outside the police station. The police officers were surprised by the large group of people standing up for their rights.
A New Church Begins
The events at The Patch and the Black Cat Tavern deeply affected Rev. Troy Perry. He was a minister from Tennessee. Rev. Perry was at The Patch with his friend Tony Valdez, who was arrested that night. After Tony was released from jail, he felt very sad and said, "God doesn't care about us."
Rev. Perry felt great sympathy for Tony. This experience made him realize he needed to create "a church for all of us who are outcasts." In October 1968, Rev. Troy Perry started the Metropolitan Community Church. The first meeting had only twelve people in his living room. Today, the church has grown to include over 43,000 members around the world.
Before Lee Glaze passed away in December 2013, he shared his thoughts about the 1968 events in a letter. He said that his customers were brave and believed they were doing nothing wrong. He wrote that they were "standing up for their rights as individuals."
