The Stonewall Inn at 53 Christopher Street could become the City of New York's first landmark designation based on significance to the LGBT community following an 18-month campaign spearheaded by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, the group reports.
Said GVSHP's Executive Director Andrew Berman:
“I am deeply gratified that the City of New York will finally consider the Stonewall Inn for landmark designation. This is a long-overdue move to recognize the incredibly important role this site and the riots connected to it have in the struggle for LGBT rights in this country and worldwide. It is critical that the history of sites like Stonewall and the immeasurably important role they played in making our country a more just, open, and accepting place, is recognized and preserved. I am glad that the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has followed in the footsteps of our state and federal government, which in 1999 recognized the unique importance of the Stonewall Inn to our history. But because only New York City landmark designation can protect this site from alteration or demolition, this action is especially important. This is the first time the New York City has recognized a site with potential landmark designation based solely upon its LGBT history, but it is important that it not be the last."
Berman said that the group has asked the Landmarks Preservation Commission to consider other critical LGBT history sites such as the iconic Greenwich Village gay bar Julius, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, and the former Gay Activists Alliance Firehouse.
The GVXHP will hold a press conference on Monday at 10:30 am at the Stonewall Inn to urge the City to move on the Stonewall proposal. The consideration has been calendared for June 2. After that, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission can schedule a public hearing and vote on whether it will be officially designated.
