Stonewall Inn to be the first LGBT national monument
The Stonewall Inn was a safe haven for the LGBT community during the late 60’s and was the center of the Stonewall riots in New York. In June, President Obama will offical establish the Stonewall Inn as a national monument, making it the first LGBT national monument. Photo attributed to Charles Hutchins on Flickr.
by Hannah Zeitner, junior entertainment editor
Stonewall Inn’s 1969 riots launched the modern gay rights movement and the annual New York City pride parade.
Now, the Greenwich Village bar, where many people in New York gather to protest and celebrate civil rights victories, is becoming the first ever national monument for LGBT rights.
President Obama will most likely approve the monument in June, which is LGBT pride month. By approving the monument, The Stonewall Inn and its surrounding areas will become a National Park Service monument.
“Stonewall Inn has so much history and I think it’s so important that it’s getting monument status,” junior Briana Pistone said.
Stonewall Inn was the center of the “Stonewall riots,” which took place after the police raided what had become a safe place for the LGBT community in 1969. That moment has been called the beginning of the modern gay rights movement. Celebrations took place there when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage last year.
“I think it’s awesome that the Inn will be a monument for LGBT rights. I can’t wait, it’s always a place I’ve wanted to visit,” New Palestine High School graduate Mary Merlau said.
In June 2015, The Stonewall Inn was granted landmark status by the New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.