The Stonewall RiotsIntroOn June 28, 1969, an event occurred that would be the beginning of one of the most powerful movements in United States history. That Friday in June, New York police raided a popular Greenwich Village bar, the Stonewall Inn, on suspicion of operating without a liquor license. The raids usually took place undisturbed by those involved, but during this raid the area around the hostel exploded into violent protests. The repercussions and multiple conflicts that resulted from the initial raid would be known as the Stonewall Riots. The Stonewall Riots marked the beginning of the gay rights movement and inspired members of the gay community to fight for their rights instead of being condemned for their rights. their sexuality. Even today, American homosexuals use the Stonewall incident to educate young members of the gay community. "The younger generation should know about Stonewall so that they realize that it is possible to bring about change. It is possible to overcome ingrained and institutionalized prejudice, discrimination and intolerance. And so that they can live a life to the fullest equal." (Frank Kameny, aarp.org) This is the message that many in the gay community continue to spread after the Stonewall Inn incident.BackgroundIn 1969, the United States was preparing to land the first man on the moon , the first case of HIV/AIDS was confirmed and members of the gay community were severely discriminated against because of their sexuality. Family incomes have begun to fluctuate and become unstable, and conflicts with the police are common among the population. On a balmy Friday night in 1969, a riot broke out in Greenwich Village after a police raid that sparked the rebellion. Police raids on bars whose patrons were suspected of ...... middle of paper ...... were mentally ill or psychotic. Frank Kameny, leader of the gay rights movement, perpetuated the idea that "homosexuality is not a disease... but simply a preference, orientation, or propensity, comparable to and not different in kind from heterosexuality.” (Sherry Wolf, Sexuality and Socialism) Some schools have even gone so far as to create safe public spaces for gay students, such as the Student Homophile League at Columbia University. Today, people are well aware of the presence of the LGBTQ community, and its members even attempt to educate people who seem ignorant or bigoted. Many people are currently devoting a good portion of their lives to learning and teaching about the gay rights movement and how it works today. The community has evolved to include transgender, asexual, pansexual, and non-binary people as well as a multitude of other labels and identities..