The history of Pride Celebrations began in 1969 in Greenwich Village, New York City at the Stonewall Inn.
At the time, it was common all over the United States for police to raid gay and lesbian bars. While they were purportedly looking for liquor law or other violations, patrons were arrested and dragged off to jail with no legitimate charges.
When police raided the Stonewall Inn, the LGBTQ community fought back. The bar patrons threw bottles and rocks at the police. They chanted, “Gay Power!” For several nights crowds grew outside the Stonewall Inn.
Word quickly spread around the country about the people who fought back against the police. The event became known as the Stonewall Rebellion or Stonewall Riots. Although there was a small gay rights movement around the country prior to Stonewall, after 1969 the movement changed.
Ever since, LGBTQ people celebrate pride and call for basic civil rights by commemorating Stonewall. Across the US and all over the world, we remember the brave individuals of Stonewall every June.