Overview
On June 28, 1969, New York City police officers raided the Stonewall Inn, a tavern in Greenwich Village known at the time for its support and patronage by the City’s LGBTQ+ community. The raid would go on to set off six days of riots and clashes in the surrounding neighborhood from protestors who wanted to send an emphatic message: the LGBTQ+ community was ready to fight for their rights to socialize and live openly without fear of arrest.
A year later, bisexual activist, Brenda Howard, commemorated the Stonewall Uprising by organizing Gay Pride Week and the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade—now the New York City Pride March. Similar parades were soon organized across the United States and around the world. Then in 1999, President Bill Clinton became the first U.S. president to officially recognize June as Pride Month. Since then, Pride Month has become an annual celebration commemorated by citizens and organizations across the country and around the world.
During Pride Month, and every month, it’s important to honor the LGBTQ+ pioneers and the dreamers who fought for equality through art, culture, civic action, community service, and more. And while it would be nigh impossible to list ALL of individuals who have made a positive impact on the broader LGBTQ Rights Movement, the following resources will certainly help you gain a better understanding of LGBTQ+ history and the community’s ongoing fight for civil rights here in New York and beyond.
Resources
Untapped Cities, 10 Influential Figures of NYC’s LGBTQ Rights Movement
Often considered to be at the forefront of the LGBTQ Rights Movement, New York City is home to many influential people and events that helped to create and define the LGBTQ+ community as it exists today. The 10 Influential Figures of NYC’s LGBTQ Rights Movement resource provides a great overview of the City’s LGBTQ+ history.
LGBTQ Historic Sites Project
The LGBTQ Historic Sites Project is an innovative and interactive project documents historic places connected to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in New York City and tells the often untold story of their influence on broader American history and culture. Explore the interactive map, view curated themes, or browse an index of over 385 sites.
Making Gay History Podcast
Learn about the largely hidden history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement directly from the voices of the people who lived it in the Making Gay History Podcast series.
Reading Material
- The DOE’s “Come as You Are” LGBTQ+ Ebook Collection on Sora, Come as You Are LGBTQ Collection
- Featuring a range of contemporary and historical titles concerning LGBTQ+ topics, characters, and events, including fiction and non-fiction works, this collection of over 180 ebooks and 30 audiobooks is available free to NYC public school students on Sora—log into Sora to get started!
- New York Public Library, Love & Resistance: LGBTQ Memoirs
- LGBTQ writers talking about their own experiences, in their own words.
- New York Public Library, A Beginner's Guide to LGBTQ Manga
- Celebrate Pride Month with Japanese manga featuring LGBTQ characters and themes.
New York Public Library, Pride at NYPLThe New York Public Library is celebrating Pride Month throughout June. Discover book recommendations, join the library for free online events, explore illuminating resources, and much more—for all ages.
Video and Audio Resources
Events, Exhibitions, and other Learning Resources
Additional Resources for Educators