What Does the Stonewall Inn Mean to New York's LGBTQ+ Community?

The Stonewall Inn, located in the heart of Greenwich Village, has become synonymous with New York City's LGBTQ+ Community.  But what is the significance of this establishment and what does it mean to the queer community in NYC and beyond? Let's talk about The Stonewall Inn's impactful history and how it is intertwined with the beginning of the gay liberation movement.

Building History

Constructed as stables during the 19th century,  and eventually converted to a storefront bakery,  Bonnie's Stonewall Inn opened as a bar and restaurant in 1934.  Bonnie's operated as a gay bar throughout the 1930's after the end of prohibition. The establishment experienced frequent run-ins with law enforcement who targeted gay patrons for public displays of affection as innocent as slow dancing. Eventually, Mafiosa purchased the establishment and paid off law enforcement, allowing a safe space for gay patrons who were often excluded from public spaces.

The Stonewall Riots

Under new management, the Stonewall Inn opened its doors as a private gay club in 1967.  The "private" club was meant to circumvent issues with law enforcement and protect its patrons from routine police raids that often led to arrests. Bribed police officers tipped off the Stonewall Inn to impending raids, allowing patrons to clear out before they happened. However, this didn't always work.  After years of being bullied by police, patrons became increasingly frustrated. A police raid of the establishment on June 28th 1969 led to what we know today as the Stonewall Riots and is celebrated annually as New York City's Pride Parade.

The riots began after patrons were forced out of the establishment and clashed with law enforcement.  Hundreds of people filled the streets outside of the Stonewall Inn in protest. Demonstrations continued throughout New York City over the following days, giving way to a movement in support of LGBTQ+ rights. Leading the charge was Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans activist, who resisted arrest during the raid and became instrumental in organizing protests over the following days.

Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson is revered by the LGBTQ+ community and was seen as a mother figure to the youth she took under her wing. Marsha was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey as Malcolm Michaels Jr. but relocated to Greenwich Village as an adult on a self-discovery journey. Turning to sex work as a means of survival, Marsha was known in the community first as Black Marsha before changing her name to Marsha P. Johnson. The "P", standing for "Pay it No Mind", was a response to questions about her gender identity.  She went on to work and perform as a prominent drag queen under this name.

Aside from being a fixture in the Greenwich Village LGBTQ+ community, Marsha is known for co-founding the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), which worked to provide resources to homeless LGBTQ+ youth in major cities throughout the United States and England. 

Tragedy struck in 1992 when Marsha's body was found in the Hudson River on July 6th. Her death was ruled a suicide by the NYPD, but community members believed her cause of death was something more sinister. In 2017, her case was reopened by the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP).

Continuing the Fight

Not long after the historic Stonewall Riots, the Stonewall Inn closed its doors and was replaced by various businesses throughout the 70s and 80s. It wasn't until 1990 that the bar reopened as New Jimmy's at Stonewall Place, eventually renamed Stonewall. New management took over in 2006, reinstating the Stonewall Inn name that we know and love today.  The Stonewall Inn is the first LGBTQ+ site in the country to be named as a National Historic Landmark.

The fight for LGBTQ+ rights continues today and the Stonewall Inn is vocal in their support. As recently as June 2021, the Stonewall Inn announced a ban on Anheuser-Busch products in their establishment. Anheuser-Busch, makers of Budweiser and Bud Lite, markets pride-themed bottles and cans throughout the month of June, but behind the scenes they contribute thousands of dollars to anti-LGBTQ+ legislators. The ban supports the "Keep Your Pride" campaign which aims to highlight the hypocrisy of such companies that use Pride as nothing more than a marketing tactic.

Legacy

The Stonewall Inn remains a fixture of New York City's LGBTQ+ community. The facade is adorned with Pride flags representing various LGBTQ+ identities and continues to serve the local community and tourists alike. Their website boasts "Where pride began ... one steamy summer night in 1969. And, now  the place ... Where Pride lives".