STONEWALL INN

The 'Stonewall Inn' was the site of the famous Stonewall riots of 1969, which have come to symbolize the beginning of the gay liberation movement in the United States. It is located at 53 Christopher Street, between West 4th St. and Waverly Place, in Greenwich Village, New York City. Stonewall is regarded as the single most important event that led to the modern movement for gay and lesbian issues.

Contents

Stonewall Riots

Interim

New Stonewall Inn

References

External links

Stonewall Riots

Main articles: Stonewall riots

The riot took place in the night at about 1:20 of June 28, 1969, hours after Judy Garland's funeral. Some believe those who fought back against police at Stonewall were saddened over Garland's death. (She died in London on June 22, 1969). She had been a gay icon, particularly in the latter half of her career in the 1950s and 1960s. Whether Garland's funeral played a part in the riots is cause for question, but it has become part of gay history and lore. George Segal's sculpture, "Gay Pride," with its plaster figures of same-sex couples, was erected in Christopher Park (across the street from the Stonewall), to commemorate the event.

Interim

The Stonewall Inn closed in late 1969. Over the next twenty years, the space was occupied by various other establishments, including a bagel sandwich shop, a Chinese restaurant, and a shoe store. Many visitors and new residents in the neighborhood were unaware of the building's history or its connection to the Stonewall riots. In the early 1990s, a new gay bar, named simply "Stonewall" opened in the west half of the original Stonewall Inn. Around this time, the block of Christopher Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues was given the honorary name of "Stonewall Place" by the Borough of Manhattan.
Each year during the Pride March crowds gather outside the Stonewall Inn to enjoy its rich history.
In 1995 the movie "Stonewall" was released. Written by Rikki Beadle-Blair and loosely adapted from Martin Duberman's book of the same name, the Film won awards and was wildly received at Film Festivals the world over.
The Film's Screenwriter has just adapted his Screenplay for the Stage and "Stonewall" the Stage show had it's World Premiere in London in July 2007 before heading to for the 2007 Edinburgh Festival in August of the same year.
In June 1999, the Stonewall Inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historic significance to gay and lesbian history. (National Historic Landmark #99000562)
It was revitalized in the late 1990s and became a popular multi-floor nightclub with theme nights and contests. The club gained popularity well into the new millennium gaining a young urban gay clientele until it closed again in 2006, after the management lost its lease.

New Stonewall Inn

In January 2007 it was announced the owners of the famous Duplex Piano Bar next door to The Stonewall Inn were renovating and reopening the Stonewall in February 2007. On January 3 2007, Chris Shott in the ''New York Observer'' reported "It's a marvelous day for Gayville! Its rehab comes at the behest of the bar's new management, which includes Kurt Kelly, Bill Morgan and Tony DeCicco of the neighboring Duplex piano bar."

References

★ The Stonewall Inn, National Historic Landmark - U.S. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places website

External links

★ The Stonewall Riots - About.com

★ Original Stonewall Inn to close - Pinknews.co.uk

★ Stonewall Inn and more