Stonewall combatant Sylvia Rivera later recalled, “All of us were working for so many movements at that time. Everyone was involved with the women’s movement, the peace movement, the civil rights movement. We were all radicals. I believe that’s what brought it [Stonewall] around. You get tired of being just pushed around. We are people. We are gay people.”

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people brought valuable experience to gay liberation that they had acquired as activists and leaders in the union movement, tenant and unemployed organizing, defense of political prisoners and the civil rights movement.

Left-wing gay liberation sought solidarity with all who were oppressed. The gay movement itself was made up of many nationalities, countries of origin, sexes, genders and ages.

The Gay Liberation Front was originally conceived not as an organization but as a political front—a left-wing umbrella group. In early November 1969, at a GLF meeting, a vote to support the Black Panther Party was defeated. A week later, a GLF member called for a recount. This time, the majority—including reportedly all the women—voted to support the Panthers, who were the target of vicious state repression.

Angered by the vote, GLF members Marty Robinson and Jim Owles resigned, walked out and became founders of the Gay Activist Alliance.

The split and the formation of GAA had national implications. Ostensibly, the divide was over “priorities.” Those who created GAA claimed that Gay Liberation Front was not focused enough on gay issues.