THE STONEWALL INN
CHRISTI SCOFIELD
18” X 24”
Mixed Media on Board
Cocktails & Curiosities
On View at Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor NYC
The Stonewall Inn is New York’s most famous gay bar and “where pride began.”
In 1969 the Mafia owned the bar and welcomed openly gay customers. Police raids were common. Typically, female-looking customers were lined up and if they were transvestites, they were arrested. On June 28, 1969, the patrons finally had enough and fought back against the police. A series of violent clashes ensued that became known as the Stonewall Riots. The protests were the start of the gay rights movement in America and within two years there were gay rights groups in every major American city.
Today the Stonewall Inn is a National Historic Landmark and an icon for the LBGT community. It tends to be a celebratory meeting spot for all gay pride events. In the summer of 2011, New York legalized gay marriage. The community’s celebration began at the Stonewall Inn.
Learn more in Greenwich Village Tour #2 of the Cocktails and Curiosities App Series.