NEW YORK — President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden and legendary singer-songwriter Elton John were in New York City on Friday to attend the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Centerin memory of the riots that sparked the gay rights movement in 1969.
“It has been an example, I am not exaggerating, for the whole world. That is what this center, this monument, this month is all about,” said Chairman Pres. Biden said.
“It reminds us that our differences are precious and our similarities are infinite,” the first lady said.
Opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center
The Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village officially opened to the public on Friday and admission is free.
Officials say it is a tribute to the legacy of the uprising and a place where people can learn about the history and ongoing struggle of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
“For generations, LGBTQI+ Americans have gathered the courage to live proudly, even when it means putting their lives in danger. 55 years ago on the stonewall inn in New York, brave LGBTQI+ individuals did just that and formed a movement that would transform our nation,” Pres. Biden wrote on X before speaking at the opening.
Organizers hope the center will teach visitors about LGBTQ+ history and the ongoing struggle for liberation.
“I think it is very important that people of this generation understand the struggles of the past. We often forget that acquired rights can just as easily be lost,” said visitor Rohin Naio.
“It is here to honor all the elders who fought for our rights. It is to give hope to all the young people who still suffer or feel oppressed,” said Steve Love Menendez.
Menendez told CBS New York that he visits Stonewall every day check out the rainbow flags on display.
“I’m the creator of the rainbow flag exhibit here in the park,” he said. “So I come every morning to restore missing flags and make sure everything looks beautiful for everyone to enjoy.”
The Stonewall Inn became a national monument in 2016, the first LGBTQ+ visitor center recognized by the National Park Service.
55 Years Since the Stonewall Riots
Friday marked 55 Years Since the Stonewall Uprisingwhich sparked six days of clashes between police and LGBTQ+ protesters.
The Stonewall Inn is considered the birthplace of the gay movement.
On June 28, 1969, when homosexual acts were still illegal in New York City, police raided the bar. This bar was a haven for the gay community and often the target of harassment.
The community had had enough and the riots that followed led to a rise in LGBTQ+ activism in the United States.
“To be here in this place where history was literally made is pretty powerful. And to hear it being celebrated in such a way adds even more power,” said Monica Jaso, who is visiting Stonewall from Chicago. “It just kind of reinforces that we have a place in history.”
The inn is accessible via the recently renamed Christopher Street-Stonewall subway station.
“Renaming this station is a recognition of that tremendous struggle in our history,” said MTA CEO Janno Lieber.
NYC Pride March and weekend events
The annual Pride March in New York City is this coming Sunday, June 30. It dates back to 1970, one year after the uprising.
The march starts at 12:00 noon and begins at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue, near Madison Square Park.
This year’s theme is ‘Reflect. Empower. Unite’, with a focus on the power of people coming together for ‘Queer liberation and joy’.
Pride events were held throughout the month, focused on a future without discrimination, where all people have equal rights under the law.
Here are some upcoming events this weekend:
- Youth Pride, 12:00 noon Saturday at South Street Seaport Museum
- SATURGAY by Hot Rabbit, 9pm Saturday at CIRCO Times Square
- Masterbeat’s main event, Saturday 10pm in Terminal 5
- PrideFest street market, 11 a.m. Sunday in Greenwich Village
- Bliss Days, Sunday 2pm on The DL
See the full list of Pride events and more details here.
