Every year, people from around the world come to New York City to explore LGBTQ+ history with Christopher Street Tours. For many queer folks and allies, NYC is synonymous with Pride – a city often recognized as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement. So it’s no surprise that when they visit, they want to walk the same streets, see the landmarks, and connect with the LGBTQ+ history that shaped our community.
On tour, there’s often a defining moment – when we arrive at the Stonewall Inn. Phones come out immediately and everyone wants to capture the moment. Some gasp, sharing sentiments like “I’m finally here!” Others quietly wipe away tears, moved by the weight of legacy and the courage of those who stood in that very spot decades ago.
For those well-versed in LGBTQ+ history, it’s no secret that the Stonewall Inn is often seen as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement. The bar proudly displays the slogan “Where Pride Began,” and with good reason – the history of Pride traces back to the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
There are many ways to learn about the history of Pride, but there’s something uniquely powerful about joining an LGBTQ+ walking tour. Seeing these historic sites in person, standing in the very spots where activists once gathered, protested, and demanded change…it creates a profound connection with the present day. It feels deeper than reading a history book or listening to a podcast. It makes it feel real. It’s meaningful, emotional, and powerful.
That feeling is exactly what we try to evoke on our tours – the same sense of purpose, defiance, and community that patrons of the Stonewall Inn might have felt back in 1969. Of course, we also dive into the historical facts, but as a gay tour guide, I’m less interested in giving you the minute-by-minute breakdown of the riots (though if you’re looking for that, I always recommend Stonewall by Martin Duberman or David Carter’s book of the same name). Walking tours are about sharing impactful stories. And when we arrive at Stonewall, we tell them.
We talk about what it meant to enter a mafia-run gay bar in the 1960s. We talk about Stormé DeLarverie, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera – the brave individuals who helped ignite change. We talk about why Stonewall mattered. But to me, the specifics of who threw the first punch, bottle, or brick aren’t the most important part. In fact, I’ll even go a step further and say that it’s not the riot itself that defines Stonewall’s significance. Because, truthfully, it wasn’t the first uprising. There were several others – Julius’, Cooper Do-nuts, Compton’s Cafeteria, Black Cat. What made Stonewall different wasn’t what necessarily happened during those nights, but what happened after. It became a spark that lit a movement. A moment transformed into momentum.
In the wake of the Stonewall uprising, something shifted. What had once been isolated pockets of resistance began to unify. Within weeks, the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) was formed, one of the first organizations to emerge directly from the momentum of Stonewall. Unlike earlier, more assimilation-focused groups, the GLF was bold, radical, and intersectional in its approach. The group wanted more than acceptance. Instead, they demanded liberation.
The GLF challenged not only anti-gay oppression but also the systems of racism, sexism, capitalism, and imperialism. Their activism was loud, visible, and unapologetic. They marched, organized, published manifestos, and refused to remain in the closet. Aptly, the name of their publication was titled “Come Out!” They also paved the way for other groups to form, like the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA), which focused more on political lobbying and grassroots change.
One year after the Stonewall Riots, another major milestone occurred in LGBTQ+ history. To honor the 1969 spark of Stonewall, activists organized what they called Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day, a march from Greenwich Village to Central Park on June 28, 1970. Thousands showed up. They walked in broad daylight, chanting, holding signs, and proclaiming pride for themselves and for their community. For many, it was the first time they had ever seen or participated in such a powerful public display of queer identity. Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day spread to other cities, states, and countries all around the world, and it has now evolved to what we know as Pride.
So, when we talk about Stonewall, it’s not just about what happened inside that bar in June of 1969. It’s about what it ignited. It’s about the courage of those who came out of the shadows, stepped into the streets, and said, “We will not be silenced.”
And that’s the legacy we carry on every time we give a tour. Every time we tell these stories. Every time we stand at Stonewall and remember not only the moment, but the movement that followed.
