RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 40th anniversary of Stonewall.
Whereas the Stonewall Inn opened on or about March 18, 1967, at 51-53
Christopher Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York
City, New York;
Whereas the Stonewall Inn was a bar primarily patronized by a diverse
cross-section of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community
and it became a very popular institution;
Whereas at around 1:20 AM on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, closing the bar and forcing patrons outside;
Whereas such raids were among the many ways in which government
harassed and discriminated against members of the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender community during this period, which included,
for example, prohibiting dancing with a person of the same sex or
wearing clothing more typical for another gender, terminating one’s
employment, and using entrapment to arrest people;
Whereas early on the morning of June 28, 1969, after the raid, years of
frustration and anger among members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender community at being harassed and unfairly targeted by
government boiled over into a conflict with police;
Whereas thousands returned to the Stonewall Inn on the night of June
28, 1969, to express their support of basic freedoms, equality, and
fair treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans,
chanting such slogans as “Gay Power”, “We Want Freedom Now”, and
“Equality For Homosexuals”;
Whereas protests occurred again around the Stonewall Inn on the night of July 2, 1969;
Whereas the series of protests at the Stonewall Inn, often referred to
as “Stonewall”, marked a watershed event in which lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender Americans dramatically showed a growing
determination to publicly resist government discrimination and
harassment;
Whereas Stonewall sparked a remarkable increase in activism and action
by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans across the country
to advocate for equal rights;
Whereas on June 28, 1970, thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender Americans took part in the Christopher Street Liberation
Day march from Greenwich Village to Central Park to mark the first
anniversary of Stonewall;
Whereas people in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco also marched
or gathered on June 27-28, 1970, to remember the first anniversary of
Stonewall;
Whereas in 1989, the section of Christopher Street in front of the Stonewall Inn was renamed “Stonewall Place”;
Whereas in 1999, the building at 51-53 Christopher Street that used to
be the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the immediately surrounding
area were listed on the National Register of Historic Places;
Whereas in 2000, the building at 51-53 Christopher Street that used to
be the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the immediately surrounding
area were listed as a National Historic Landmark;
Whereas inspired by Stonewall, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
pride parades and festivals occur in cities across the country and the
world every June;
Whereas in recognition of Stonewall, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month is celebrated every June; and
Whereas a great deal of progress has been made in achieving equal
rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans since
Stonewall occurred 40 years ago, but much work remains to be done: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives –
(1) recognizes the 40th anniversary of Stonewall;
(2) honors those who participated during Stonewall and since that time
in the civil rights struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Americans; and
(3) recommits itself to protecting and providing equal rights for all
Americans, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or
transgender.
