The Stonewall Inn, located in the West Village, New York, is a historic gay bar and site of the pivotal Stonewall Riots of 1969. The riots began in the early hours of June 28, 1969, when police raided the establishment, provoking a series of spontaneous and violent demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community. This event is widely considered the catalyst for the modern gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.
The Stonewall Inn was originally two adjacent stable houses built between 1843 and 1846. These buildings were later combined into one and converted into a bar and restaurant in the 1930s. By the 1960s, it had become a popular venue for LGBTQ+ patrons, primarily because it was one of the few bars where dancing was allowed. At the time, many bars refused service to gay customers, and the few that did were often subject to police raids.
One lesser-known fact is that the Stonewall Inn operated without a liquor license, relying instead on payoffs to local police precincts to continue operations. The bar was run by the Mafia, which saw an opportunity for profit in serving the marginalized gay community. This partnership was not uncommon during an era when LGBTQ+ establishments were frequently targeted by law enforcement.
The night of the raid, police entered the Stonewall Inn under the pretext of enforcing liquor laws. However, as patrons were being arrested, the crowd outside grew restless and began to fight back. The ensuing chaos marked a significant turn in LGBTQ+ activism, giving rise to organizations like the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance, which sought to promote gay rights more aggressively.
Another intriguing piece of trivia is that Judy Garland's funeral, held just days before the riots, has often been cited as an emotional trigger for the unrest. Garland was a beloved icon within the gay community, and her death added to the already heightened tensions.
In 1999, the U.S. National Park Service placed the Stonewall Inn on the National Register of Historic Places, making it the first LGBTQ+ site to receive such a designation. In 2016, President Barack Obama designated the site and Christopher Park as the Stonewall National Monument, recognizing the location's vital role in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights.
Today, the Stonewall Inn continues to operate as a bar and serves as a symbol of LGBTQ+ resilience and activism. It remains a must-visit site for those interested in the history of civil rights in America.