June may be over, but the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights continues! Find out more about the first Pride in 1969 that happened at the Stonewall Inn in New York City.
Video Description:
(Roy, B-GLAD Community Outreach, signs with a black background and images appear on top left corner with GLAD, OCDEAF, CODIE, BGLAD, and TCGLAD logos in top right corner. Black-and-white image appears of group of people crossing their arms on each other’s shoulders in a hug, surrounded by “Gay Pride” related protest signs.)
The years before and during the 1960s were not welcoming times for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans. (B & W image of a LGBT crowd being pushed to the back inside a building by police) For example, event flyers and any other promotions of LGBT relations was illegal in New York City. Because of reasons like this, LGBT individuals went to gay bars and clubs, places of refuge where they could express themselves and socialize openly. But these “safe” places were targeted, too. (Image of a sign inside building that reads “This is a raided premises. Police Dep’t City of New York”) For example, the New York State Liquor Authority penalized and shut down places that served alcohol to known or suspected LGBT individuals. Why? Because they saw the gathering of LGBT people as “disorderly”.
(B & W image of Stonewall Inn building with string lights and text “Stonewall Inn – 1969”) On June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village, in NYC. (B & W image of police assaulting LGBT people and pushing them to the ground) The police raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents as police roughly hauled employees and LGBT patrons out of the bar, leading to six days of protests for LGBT rights and violent clashes with law enforcement. (B & W image of crowd holding up sign that reads “Stonewall means fight back! Smash gay oppression! Gay Caucus Against War & Fascism”) The Stonewall Riots was a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the U.S. and around the world. This became what we call Pride Month today.
(Color video of Progress Pride flag waves in background) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, intersex, asexual, and gender fluidity and gender diversity (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June
(Color image of Stonewall Inn building today, covered in rainbow flags) to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City. Happy Pride Month! (Screen changes to show video of Progress Pride Flag including purple and yellow intersex colors waving in the wind. Text appears: “Happy Pride Month!” with GLAD, CODIE, BGLAD, TCGLAD, and OCDEAF logos.)
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