The Stonewall is closing
The historic Stonewall Inn, the birth-place of the LGBT rights movement, is closing in Greenwich Village, NYC.
I found the news via Towleroad and the New York Observer.
My Carolinian column next week deals with the issue. I had planned to write on a different issue but decided after seeing this news last night I’d hold off on the other things.
The Stonewall Inn and the “Stonewall Riots” mark an important point not only in LGBT history and American history, but also in the history of the entire world. On June 28, 1969, the world was changed and the path to LGBT equality began.
I’m glad I had the chance to visit the Stonewall in June (ironically) and I’m glad I actually had the chance to go inside. I visited it when I was in high school, during a school trip, but that visit was during the day and it was closed (even if it were open, I was under 18 at the time). I will forver remember my one, real visit to the Stonewall.
The LGBT community cannot forget Stonewall. We cannot forget the oppression of the past. If we forget it… If we become complacent, we will be bound to fail.
The LGBT community should band together in order to save the Stonewall and, like the Woolworth’s Building in Greensboro, turn it into a museum or maybe a community center.
Stonewall’s international, historic value and legacy is too great to forget. The Stonewall must not die.
Technorati Tags: New York City, Greenwich Village, Stonewall Inn, Stonewall Riots
About the Author: Matt
6 Responses to “The Stonewall is closing”
ahh shit, this news really depresses me. I really hope the LGBT community rallies to save it.
By Samantha on Aug 24, 2006
Hopefully they will. I really think that HRC, NGLTF, New York’s Stonewall Foundation and the National Archive of LGBT History (run by the New York LGBT Community Center) should band together in order to turn it into a museum or community center. Heck… the Stonewall Foundation could do both… use part of it as a museum AND community center (the bar part) and use the rest for its offices.
By Matt on Aug 24, 2006
why are they closing it? But don’t worry, since it’s such a historic site I’m sure they’ll keep it in tip top shape and more than likely make it into a museum or historic landmark or something
By Natasha Sell on Aug 25, 2006
Financial problems and hardships. Kind of sad really.
By Matt on Aug 25, 2006