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When we first started our journey through pride with you, we told you about how the Stonewall was able to operate in the highly homophobic era without a liquor license. They sold alcohol and had patrons dancing the night away. But how did they do that? Take a look 
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When you think of the mafia or âthe mobâ as other people call them, you think of high-profile crimes, drug raids and shootouts. That and probably toxic masculinity which upholds homophobia and well, a good case of misogyny.
So how on earth would the mob and the LGBTQ community have a connection? Well, you have to go back about 60 decades to find out...
In the 1960s the âgay sceneâ was just beginning to blossom. The end on prohibition laws that prevented drinking meant people had places to go to let loose and have a good time. Well, not entirely everyone.
According to Phillip Crawford Jr., author of the book âThe Mafia and the Gaysâ, âAfter Prohibition was repealed, state agencies regulated bars with vague standards against disorderly premises and moral indecency, which were interpreted to prohibit serving gays.â
This meant only straight people were allowed in bars and nightclubs. This is where the mob came in. With tons of queer people trying to enjoy the luxury of going out in public and getting a chance to have fun and meet new people just like them, the mob decided to get into...
the business of âgay bars. They helped run the bars without liquor licences and even paid the New York Police Department (NYPD) and liquor authorities who upheld discriminatory laws to turn a blind eye to what was happening in the bars.
The mafia didnât care much about enforcing societal norms let alone, respecting the government so they were the perfect fit.
Vito Genovese, a popular mob boss in Greenwich Village owned some of the most famous bars such as the Bon Soir and the Lion. The lion is famously known for being the first place that singer Barbra Streisand made her first ever appearance as a singer.
But perhaps what is more important to note is that Genovese owned...you guessed it, the Stonewall Inn. The Nightclub famously known for being a shelter for the LGBTQI+ and of course the birth place of the Stonewall riots or Stonewall uprisings that shaped LGBTQ rights today.
The story all seems very cool at this point. The mob are amazing allies with loads of money trying to save the LGBTQ community, what could possibly go wrong?
Well in our research, we came to find out about the (not surprising) highly exploitative system the mob had on members of the LGBTQI+ community.
High profile gays were made to pay large amounts of money to avoid being outed by the mob, the bars ran on cheap costs and took advantage of the need for persons of the LGBTQ community to want to have a good time.
Patrons were treated to dirty conditions with tales of the establishments having no washrooms or running water systems. It was said that glasses used for alcohol were washed behind the bar in a tub filled with dirty water.
Members of the community couldn& #39;t complain because they were threatened with closures or outing to the very violent and intolerant NYPD. The bars also served watered down alcohol at a high price.
The mob enjoyed the monopoly they had over âgay barsâ for several years many complaints about the mobâs exploitation were made and went unheard. But the gruesome behaviour of the mob doesnât end there.
One of the more chilling stories was how many members of the mob and people as low as bouncers at the bars would pimp out underage and vulnerable patrons. They would exploit them for large cuts from sex work which was sometimes forced or âsurvival sex work.â
A story was recounted about how a former wrestler named Ed "the Skull" Murphy, who became a gay bar bouncer would pimp out young boys and take them to every bar he worked at.
The mob was also known for being highly homophobic and they often executed and beat up members who were âoverly enthusiasticâ about working with the LGBTQ community. They only wanted to exploit the LGBTQâs blossoming nightlife scene.
Research suggests that a part of the Stonewall riots was also a way for LGBTQI+ persons to fight against the highly exploitative system the mob run.
A handwritten message was found at the scene after the riots which read âGay Prohibition Corupt$ Cop$ Feed$ Mafiaâ the Gay Liberation Front famously known for the Stonewall riots actively advocated against organised crime and the mobâs presence in the bars.
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