For over 50 years, The Stonewall Inn has been a beacon of hope as one of the original safe spaces and community centers for the LGBTQ+ community. Inspired by the struggles and ideals of the LGBTQ+ rights movement born from the Stonewall Inn Rebellion of 1969, The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI) continues the legacy through awareness campaigns, educational programming, candid public dialogue, and fundraising in support of grassroots organizations and marginalized communities across the globe, where progress toward equality has been slow and most needed.
Tonight at 8 pm, Tom D’Angora and Michael D’Angora, with co-producer Victoria Varela, present The Stonewall Inn Safe Spaces Concert, which will benefit SIGBI’s Safe Spaces Community Partners in select areas across the country, and serve as The Stonewall Inn’s official Pride kick-off. The Safe Spaces standards and certification process identifies and designates entertainment venues, food and beverage locations, stores, businesses, and other public venues as Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ members of the community. All proceeds from the event will help raise funds and awareness for Community Partner LGBTQ+ centers and safe spaces as they reopen physically.
The event will feature musical performances and appearances from a diverse group of members of the LGBTQ+ community. They include Desmond is Amazing, Lance Bass, Michael Judson Berry, BETTY, Alexandra Billings, Matt Bomer, Pierre Boo, Jiggly Caliente, Nicky Champa, Margaret Cho, Garrett Clayton, Jackie Cox, Alan Cumming, DJ Chauncey Dandridge, Alex Blue Davis, Ariana DeBose, Lea DeLaria, André De Shields, Shea Diamond, Billy Eichner, Emily Estefan, Thatianna Fermin, Brita Filter, Harper Grae, JJ Hawkins, Perez Hilton, Lance Horne, Amanda Lepore, Demi Lovato, Andreas Moss, Isaac Mizrahi, Chelsea Piers, Randy Rainbow, Lisa Ramey, Anne Ramsay, Anthony Rapp, Jai Rodriguez, Jason Rodriguez and House of Eon, Rosé, Angelica Ross, George Salazar, Omar Sharif, Jr, Leo Sheng, Justin Teodoro, Angelica Torres, Tree, Michael Urie, and Sasha Velour.
The illustrious roster of LGBTQ+ stars will be joined by proud LGBTQ+ allies Sophia Bush, Alyson Cambridge, Chelsea Clinton, Diana DeGarmo, Donna DeLory, Fran Drescher, Morgan Fairchild, Niki Haris, Kiesza, Michelle Kwan, Lorna Luft, Julianna Margulies, Melissa McCarthy, Debra Messing, Julianne Moore, Beto O’Rourke, Amy Poehler, Jordin Sparks, Renée Taylor, Nia Vardalos, Martha Wash, Rita Wilson and Ace Young, with remarks by US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
The Stonewall Inn Safe Spaces Concert streams on Tuesday, June 1, at 8 pm, on Facebook and YouTube. Viewing is free, but donations are requested.
The rewriting of gay history is so out control anymore. But we’re in the world of “If You Believe It hard Enough, It’s True” world. The Stonewall Inn was not a “Community Center.” It was a broken down dump of a bar run by the mafia and raided repeatedly by the police because they served underage boys who were also hustling from inside the bar. Police would raid a straight bar that did that. It was most certianly not a “safe space”. NYC didn’t do “safe spaces” in 1969. No one used to come to NYC for safety. It’s not really a “safe space” now. it’s a bar. And it’s not even in the building where the riots took place. it’s next door. Do a profile on Julius. It’s not as colorful but more important.
Yes, Stonewall has a long history, but since the 1969 Rebellion, more than 50 years ago, it has been a cornerstone for Gay Pride and Gay Rights (which is what the June 1st benefit honored), and the uprising is widely recognized as the most important event to launch those movements, as well as the Pride Parade, which is held annually in June to commemorate the Stonewall Rebellion of June 28. Prior to the Gay Liberation Movement, LGBTQ+ people could be arrested for slow dancing together and for wearing what then was deemed gender-inappropriate clothing, not only for the Mafia-related activities you cited. The property was also the first LGBTQ+ site listed by NY State, the US, and NYC as a Historic Landmark and National Monument. It has since remained a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and in addition to being a bar, the present venue hosts a variety of events. But this feature was not intended to be about the entire history of The Stonewall Inn, it was about The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative and last night’s fundraiser.