Thread by @ajplus

50 years ago today, demonstrators fought back after New York police raided the Stonewall Inn, a refuge for the LGBTQ community.

Known as the #Stonewall uprising, it was led by gay and transgender people of color.

The demonstrations galvanized the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

At the time of the #Stonewall riots:

▪️ No U.S. laws protected gay people from discrimination
▪️ Homosexuality was still classified as a mental disorder
▪️ LGBTQ+ people could be arrested for dancing together, touching or not wearing enough 'gender-appropriate' clothing

It took 50 years for the New York Police Department to apologize for raiding the #Stonewall Inn in 1969 — during which it arrested and beat dozens of patrons and employees — admitting its actions were "discriminatory and oppressive."

Transgender and gay people of color were on the front lines of the #Stonewall riots.

Marsha P. Johnson — who founded an organization to help homeless gay youths with Sylvia Rivera — is remembered as one of those key figures, and is reputed to have thrown the first brick.

The Stonewall Inn honored 50 key figures of the LGBTQ rights movement on a wall of honor, 50 years after the #Stonewall uprising.

They include:
▪️ Marsha P. Johnson
▪️ Sylvia Rivera
▪️ Harvey Milk
▪️ Matthew Shepard
▪️ Michael Callen

50 years after the #Stonewall riots, which were largely led by transgender people of color:

▪️ Only 21 states have non-discrimination protections based on gender identity, says @lgbtmap
▪️ Only 20 states have laws addressing hate crimes based on gender identity, says @HRC