This Year’s Proposed Stonewall Day Marks the 55th Anniversary of The Stonewall Rebellion, As Well As The Opening Of The Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center;
In Collaboration with Pride Live, Gillibrand Is Leading Members of Congress To Support The Commemorative Date In Recognition Of The Stonewall Rebellion
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Congressmen Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), and Dan Goldman (D-NY-10) introduced a bicameral resolution to designate June 28th as “Stonewall Day.” This commemorative date marks the historic Stonewall Rebellion, a pivotal event and turning point in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and full equality. On June 28, 1969, the police raid at the Stonewall Inn sparked a days-long community protest. The first Pride marches took place to recognize the one-year anniversary of the uprising on June 28, 1970 in cities across the country. This resolution acknowledges the critical role of key leaders such as Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy in the Stonewall Rebellion and the broader LGBTQIA+ movement. Furthermore, it recognizes the inspiring efforts of the community and their allies who have worked tirelessly for decades to achieve full equality amidst discriminatory policies and barriers. In 2024, data shows that transgender individuals, LGBTQIA+ people of color, and LGBTQIA+ youth still face disproportionate violence and hate, highlighting the urgent need for federal civil rights protections. The resolution was drafted in collaboration with Pride Live – a leading social advocacy and community engagement organization for the LGBTQIA+ community – which hosts the annual Stonewall Day benefit concert and is opening the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center on June 28.
“The events at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 were a turning point for the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. I led this resolution to establish June 28th as Stonewall Day in honor of the brave protestors who used their voices to fight injustice during the Stonewall Uprising and the activists who are still fighting for equality today,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center will be the first park visitor center honoring LGBTQ+ history, and I am honored to celebrate its grand opening after six years of planning. Recognizing these brave Americans and telling the full history of our country is important now more than ever as we fight growing bigotry and intolerance in the United States. The LGBTQ+ community is essential to the fabric of our nation’s culture, history, and diversity, and I will never stop fighting to ensure every person in America can live free from discrimination.”
“As the only openly gay member of Congress from the great state of New York and a Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, the immense significance of the Stonewall Uprising is never lost on me. I am able to live as an openly gay man in 2024 directly because of the bravery of those individuals at Stonewall who put their feet down and said enough is enough. We have made immense progress as a nation in accepting and celebrating LGBTQIA+ rights in the 55 years since Stonewall, but there is still so much more to be done,” said Congressman Torres. “I am proud to join Congressman Goldman and Senator Gillibrand in introducing this resolution today to ensure that the nation never forgets what happened on June 28, 1969 in New York City. From Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, to Miss Major Griffin-Gracy — the heroes of Stonewall must be remembered as American heroes for years to come. I urge my colleagues in the House to join me in passing this crucial resolution.”
“The Stonewall Uprising was the beginning of the modern-day LGBTQIA+ equality movement, an inflection point in the movement towards a more just and equal society. The Stonewall Day Resolution is a recognition of those protestors’ bravery and sacrifice, as well as a recommitment to ideals of equality and justice for the LGBTQIA+ community that remain as relevant today as they were that night in 1969. While we celebrate how far we have come as a country, we must recognize the sacrifice of those in the past and remain vigilant against the concerning rise in anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment nationwide.” -Congressman Goldman
“The designation of Stonewall Day is a monumental step forward for the community and our continued fight for full equality,” said Ann Marie Gothard (she/her), Chair of the Board of Directors, Pride Live. “We are deeply grateful to Senator Gillibrand and our allies who have raised their voices to make this change possible. This resolution reflects the collective efforts of everyone involved, and coinciding with the opening of the Visitor Center, it is incredibly inspiring to witness these significant moments in the LGBTQIA+ movement.”
In addition to Representatives Goldman (NY-10) and Torres (NY-15), cosponsors include Senators Padilla (D-CA), Fetterman (D-PA), Wyden (D-OR), Baldwin (D-WI), Welch (D-VT), Duckworth (D-IL), Blumenthal (D-CT), Klobuchar (D-MN), Coons (D-DE), Warren (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Cardin (D-MD), Murphy (D-CT), Booker (D-NJ), Schumer (D-NY), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Casey (D-PA), Bennet (D-CO), Kaine (D-VA), and Whitehouse (D-RI).
This resolution has been endorsed by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), Christopher Street Alliance, GLAAD, GLSEN, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Henry Schein, Human Rights Campaign, ID, Lambda Legal, National Basketball Association (NBA), National Parks Service, National Parks Conservation Association, NBC Universal, Related Companies, The National LGBTQ Taskforce Action Fund, The Trevor Project, TransLatin@ Coalition, Trans Tech Social, Visit Philadelphia, Amazon, and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), as well as Alok Vaid-Menon, Chelsea Clinton, Johnny Manuel.
A copy of the resolution can be found here.
The Stonewall National Monument was established as the first unit of the National Park Service dedicated to LGBTQIA+ equality on June 24, 2016. Amidst the historic backdrop of Greenwich Village, the iconic Stonewall Inn stood as a beacon of resilience on June 28th, 1969, when the Stonewall Rebellion took place. 51 Christopher Street, where the new Visitor Center is located, was once part of the iconic Stonewall Inn and now stands next to it. The new space aims to honor the legacy of the Stonewall Rebellion, while serving as a hub for learning about LGBTQIA+ history and the ongoing struggle for freedom. The SNMVC officially opens on Friday, June 28, and entry for the public is free of charge. For more information on hours and the visitor experience, please visit https://stonewallvisitorcenter.org/.
Pride Live played an instrumental role in working to establish this significant moment on the national calendar, which coincides with the grand opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. As part of Pride Live’s commitment to honoring the legacy of Stonewall, the organization produces Stonewall Day, a free annual benefit concert that commemorates the historic Stonewall Rebellion and galvanizes all generations to drive progress forward for LGBTQIA+ rights to build a more inclusive and equitable future for all. First beginning as a fundraiser for LGBTQIA+ groups and causes, this annual celebration is now dedicated to raising funds for the SNMVC. Working closely with Senator Gillibrand’s office, Pride Live secured endorsements for the resolution from nonprofits, corporations and community leaders. With the introduction of the resolution to solidify Stonewall Day on the calendar, the organization’s efforts come to life in impactful changes that echo the power of community engagement and continued LGBTQIA+ advocacy.