'Stonewall Day' Proposed Ahead Of LGBTQ Rebellion's 55th Anniversary

Jun. 24—STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Three New York officials are proposing to make June 28 "Stonewall Day."

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D — NY), alongside Congressman Ritchie Torres (D — NY) and Congressman Dan Goldman (D — NY), presented the legislation ahead of the Stonewall Rebellion's 55th anniversary, according to a written statement.

The rebellion began after police stormed the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969, spurring protests that lasted for days, the written statement explained. LGBTQ+ leaders, like Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Stormé DeLarverie, and Sylvia Rivera were involved in the protests and continued to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in the years after the uprising.

Additionally, the statement said that the rebellion's anniversary inspired the very first Pride marches as people across the country gathered in support on June 28, 1970.

"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," Gillibrand said. "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 stopfighting to ensure every person in America can live free from discrimination."

Furthermore, Democratic senators across the country are banding together alongside Gillibrand, Torres, and Goldman as cosponsors: "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 year's anniversary of the uprising coincides with the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center's opening, the statement said.

"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," Torres said.

"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."