Craig Rodwell and the Oscar Wilde Bookshop

Former location of Oscar Wilde Bookshop, founded by Craig Rodwell, at the corner of Gay and Christopher Streets.

NPS PHOTO

An LGB "Reading Room"

Since this bookshop stood at the corner of Gay Street and Christopher Street, let's clarify first that “Gay Street” was not named for LGB people. It has had the same name since at least 1827. In New York at the time, many streets were named after local families, so that may be the origin of the name, but no one knows for sure.¹

During the first night of the Stonewall rebellion, Craig Rodwell could be seen and heard yelling “Gay power!” even before the police had barricaded themselves inside.² Two years earlier, he had founded the original Oscar Wilde Bookshop at a different location. The bookshop moved to 15 Christopher Street in 1973. It has been claimed that this was the first bookstore devoted to gay content.³

Even if he had never opened the bookstore, Rodwell would be one of the major names in America’s LGB history. He was one of the four members of the New York Mattachine Society to attend the “sip-in” at Julius’ Bar.⁴ In fact he wanted to join Mattachine as soon as he arrived in New York from the Midwest, but had to wait until he was 21.⁵ It was his idea in 1965 to organize an annual picket at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia on July 4 to call for lesbian and gay equality before the law.⁶ These “Annual Reminder” pickets lasted five years until 1969, the week after the Stonewall uprising.

After Stonewall, the Annual Reminder seemed outdated. People wanted to organize in more open, defiant ways. Rodwell moved on to commemorating the Stonewall rebellion every year by organizing the first “Christopher Street Liberation Day” in 1970.⁷ Early meetings to organize the march took place at the bookstore when it was located on 291 Mercer Street. This was the start of gay pride parades throughout the world. Most pride marches take place in late June, like the Stonewall rebellion.

Rodwell died of stomach cancer in 1993 at the age of 52.⁸ The bookstore outlived him by 16 years, with multiple owners. It closed for good in 2009,⁹ but has inspired countless bookstores for LGBQ people throughout the world.

---

¹ Berman, Andrew. "What's in a name? Gay Street," 6sqft.com, September 27, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2019.

² Carter, David. Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution, St. Martin's Press, 2004, p. 147.

³ "Craig L. Rodwell, 52, Pioneer for Gay Rights," June 20, 1993, New York Times (nytimes.com). Retrieved June 25, 2019.

⁴ Carter, p. 50.

⁵ Carter, p. 38.

⁶ Carter, p. 110.

⁷ Carter, pp. 230, 247-248.

⁸ "Craig L. Rodwell, 52, Pioneer for Gay Rights," June 20, 1993, New York Times (nytimes.com). Retrieved June 25, 2019.

⁹ "Venerable Bookstore to Close in Village," February 4, 2009, New York Times (nytimes.com). Retrieved June 25, 2019.