“He’s the Greatest Dancer” was the commercial breakthrough for Sister Sledge. Written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers in 1979, it was a top 10 hit in both the U.S. and the UK.
The song also became a huge gay disco favorite.
Tag Archives: 1979
#OTD – Remembering The White Night Riots of San Francisco: May 21, 1979
On May 21, 1979, San Francisco witnessed a pivotal moment in the history of gay and lesbian rights —the White Night Riots. These riots erupted in response to the lenient sentence given to Dan White, a former city supervisor, for the murders of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. The events of that night not only showcased the anger and frustration of the gay community but also marked a turning point in the fight for equality and sparked a renewed determination for change.
To understand the significance of the White Night Riots, it is important to understand the context leading up to that fateful day. Harvey Milk, a prominent gay rights activist, had become the first openly gay elected official in California. His election symbolized hope and progress for the gay community, which had long suffered from discrimination, violence, and police brutality. However, their hopes were shattered when Milk and Mayor George Moscone were brutally assassinated by Dan White, a former police officer and colleague.
The trial of Dan White gripped the nation, as it brought to light the inequality faced by the gay and lesbian population at the time. However, the outcome of the trial was met with widespread outrage and disappointment. White was charged with voluntary manslaughter rather than first-degree murder, a decision that many believed downplayed the severity of the crime and used the infamous “Twinkie defense”. The lenient sentence handed down—a mere seven years and eight months—sparked fury among the community and their allies as a blatant miscarriage of justice.
On the evening of May 21, 1979, thousands of protesters gathered at City Hall in response to the verdict. Initially, the demonstration was peaceful, with people holding candles and mourning the loss of their leaders. However, as the night wore on, frustration turned to anger, and the situation escalated. The crowd vented their outrage by breaking windows, setting police cars on fire, and engaging in confrontations with law enforcement. The rioters’ display of anger and frustration forced society to confront the systemic biases that had allowed for the lenient treatment of Dan White. It galvanized support for gay rights and fueled a wave of activism that reverberated far beyond the borders of San Francisco.
The White Night Riots of May 21, 1979, will forever be remembered as a pivotal moment in the gay rights movement. These riots were born out of frustration, outrage, and a deep desire for justice. They served as a wake-up call to a nation grappling with inequality and discrimination.
The riots should serve as a history lesson to a new generation of activists highlighting the importance of perseverance in the pursuit of equality for all. The legacy of the White Night Riots continues to remind us of the ongoing struggle for justice and the necessity of collective action to create a more inclusive world.
![WATCH: Jane Fonda Speak Out For Gay Rights In 1979 Following The The White Night Riots [VIDEO]](https://i0.wp.com/www.back2stonewall.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Jane-Fonda-Gay-Rights-1979.png?resize=604%2C270&ssl=1)
GAY HISTORY – WATCH: Jane Fonda Speak Out For Gay Rights In 1979 [VIDEO]
In a resurfaced video from 1979 Jane Fonda was being interviewed following the White Night Riots in San Francisco, and the death of her friend Harvey Milk.
Fonda was interviewed by a TV reporter. Firing back the most brilliant and eloquent of thoughts after being asked if gay people were ‘using’ her organization, the Campaign for Economic Democracy.
Asked: ‘Do you feel that the gays in San Francisco, who are very powerful and very strong, need support? Are they still being discriminated against?’ Fonda emphatically replied: ‘Oh, absolutely. Culturally, psychologically, economically, politically – gays and lesbians are discriminated against. ‘They are a very powerful movement, especially in San Francisco, they don’t need me, but they like me, they like our organisation, the Campaign for Economic Democracy, because they know that working together we can be stronger than either entity is by itself.’
Gay History – January 20, 1979: Gloria Gaynor’s Gay Anthem “I Will Survive” Released – Five Facts You Didn’t Know
On January 20, 1979 Gloria Gaynor’s recording of I Will Survive was released and started its way up the music charts.
“I Will Survive” became one of the quintessential anthems for the Gay Pride that year and has held strong as a favorite of gay men everywhere.
But did you also know………
1. The song was released as a B-side
Gaynor originally released “I Will Survive” as the B-side to her cover of the Righteous Brothers’ “Substitute” in 1978. It wasn’t until radio DJs around the country took notice of “I Will Survive” and began giving the song airplay that the song quickly rocketed to the top of the charts and became a dance club staple.
2. Gaynor won the only Disco Grammy
Gloria Gaynor won the Grammy award for Best Disco Recording in 1980 for “I Will Survive.” This was the first and only time the Grammys offered this category at the awards and soon eliminated it after the fall of disco.
3. It doesn’t feature any background singers
Unlike many disco hits recorded at the time, “I Will Survive” is recorded without any background singers adding to the sound. Gaynor also recorded the song at a higher vocal register than she normally sings and the track wasn’t overproduced like her earlier hits.
4. The song has charted in every decade
Dozens of artists have covered Gaynor’s hit anthem, helping it achieve a timeless status on the charts. Since its release in the ’70s, “I Will Survive” has re-surfaced on the Hot 100 chart every decade in a variety of forms. In the ’80s, R&B singer Safire released her version that peaked at #53 in 1989. Singer Chantay Savage’s jazzy ballad peaked at #23 on the Hot 100 in 1996. In 2009, pop group the Pussycat Dolls sampled “I Will Survive” in their hit “Hush Hush; Hush Hush” that peaked at #73 and the hit show Glee helped bring the song back in 2011 with its Destiny’s Child mashup with “Survivor” that peaked at #51 on the chart.
5. “I Will Survive” has become a source of empowerment
The song has played an important part in many people’s lives as a source of inspiration and empowerment to overcome any obstacle in life. It not only serves as a break-up anthem for women that rouses up strength and power to move on from a relationship, but as the quintessential empowerment song in the gay community to those who leave them behind, and even to Gaynor herself.
Just before recording “I Will Survive,” Gaynor spent six months in the hospital from a back injury and the song served as her own source of motivation to survive and overcome the injury. Since its release, “I Will Survive” has been translated in 20 different languages all over the world, and remains one of the most popular karaoke songs to this day.
Now that you know a little more behind the tune, watch and sing along with Gloria Gaynor’s timeless PRIDE anthem below.