“The Stonewall National Monument will pay tribute to the brave individuals who stood up to oppression and helped ignite a fire in a movement to end unfair and unjust discrimination against LGBTQ people,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The announcement is especially significant following the horrific massacre in Orlando, a heartbreaking reminder of the hate and violence we continue to face as a community. In the early days of our movement, the brave individuals who fought back at Stonewall and at other historic moments, helped inspire countless others. It is our hope that by honoring these pioneers, this new national monument will be a source of inspiration to a new generation of Americans across the country standing up for equality and uniting to show the world that love conquers hate. We are incredibly grateful for President Obama’s leadership in recognizing the LGBTQ community’s contributions to our nation’s march towards liberty and justice for all.”

Throughout the course of American history, there have been a number of events that have shaped the United States as we know it today, and the riots at Stonewall Inn and Christopher Park are a pivotal part of that history. Prior to 1969, there were no LGBTQ pride parades, and few well-known examples of people living open, authentic lives. The riots at Stonewall -- one of several acts of resistance by early LGBTQ advocates -- helped spark a revolution in the LGBTQ equality movement, bringing us together collectively as a community and as Americans.

The park will now be the first national monument in the U.S. National Park System solely dedicated to telling the story of the LGBTQ American experience, which is often overlooked on the national level.

The White House released this video about the announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywtvJyXDWkk

HRC was proud to partner with the National Park Conservation Association to help lead the effort in urging the administration to establish a national monument to commemorate the events at Stonewall.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.

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